Boys’ Water Polo Preview: Burroughs keeps sights set high
Following the success it enjoyed in the 2016 season, the Burroughs High boys’ water polo team might have hard act to follow.
The Indians enjoyed a historic run, finishing second in the Pacific League behind a tough Hoover team, sweeping Crescenta Valley for the first time and winning a CIF Southern Section Division Division V championship, the program’s first and only the school’s second team title.
Although Burroughs moved up to Division III and some key players graduated, coach Jacob Cook thinks his Indians could be poised for another successful campaign.
“We are looking to take it as far as we can again this season,” Cook said. “We want to keep our expectations as high as we can. And to tell you the truth, I think we have a stronger team than we did last year.
“I know it will be challenging going up in divisions and we’ll face some tough teams, but I think we’ll be ready for it.”
Burbank, which missed the playoffs last season, has its share of returners back and looks to make a return to the postseason.
Here is how the teams are shaping up heading into the 2017 season.
BURROUGHS
The Indians are coming off a season in which they went 25-6 and stormed to a CIF championship, defeating San Juan Hills, 12-7.
Burroughs lost five seniors to graduation, but returns its share of impact players from the CIF -title squad.
Leading the way is senior utility David Arakelyan. Last year he was honored as the Division V Player of the Year after scoring 80 goals and collecting 37 steals.
“David is really motivated and her is working and doing everything that he can to get better as as player,” said Cook, who was the 2016 All-Area Coach of the Year. “He is really focused and stepping up as a leader.”
Two other key returners are senior utility Marko Vucetic, an All-CIF selection who led the Indians with 94 goals to go along with 31 steals, and JJ Ambartsumyan, who notched 50 goals.
The team’s goalkeeper will be senior David Jimenez.
A transfer from Newbury Park who could bolster the lineup is senior utility Arthur Sefanyan.
“These guys have been playing club and been really working hard in the offseason,” Cook said. “Although we lost some key guys from last year, I personally feel the guys that we got to fill those spots will be better than the guys that we’ve lost.”
In the league race, Cook thinks the title might be up for grabs.
“Hoover lost like 11 seniors, so we are looking to get that league championship this year,” said Cook, whose program has not won a title since 1994 when it was a member of the Almont League. “But it’s not like Hoover completely dropped off. I expect them and [Crescenta Valley] to be right up there.”
BURBANK
With her team in Division VI, Bulldogs coach Allyson Young thinks her team could have success in the playoffs. However, it will first have to qualify for the playoffs out of the Pacific League, something it fell short of in 2016.
“I really think that if we get to the playoffs that we could compete and I think we could do well,” said Young, whose team went 10-13 and finished sixth in league. “Look what Burroughs did in the playoffs last year — they won it all.
“We just need to focus and work hard and get one of those four spots in league so we can make the playoffs. That is the main focus for us this year and we really want to make the playoffs.”
Burbank lost a few players to graduation, but a renewed interest in the program has left the Bulldogs with an influx of players.
“We only lost a couple of people, but we gained so many,” Young said. “It’s like everyone decided they wanted to come do water polo this year. It’s crazy, but pretty awesome. I will be carrying 15 guys on varsity, and that’s the most that I’ve ever carried. We even have players from other sports who have come out to play for us.
“We have our core players, and it’s just a matter of adding the new kids to the kids that I already have and teaching them what we’ve been doing all along. ... I’m really excited about this season.”
Returning to lead the Bulldogs is All-Area senior driver Brandon Wilson, who had 82 goals, 37 steals and 34 assists.
“He was just a very good player for us last year,” Young said. “I expect him to be right up there again for us. It’s great to have him be able to step up for us, but at the same time we’re just not going to rely only on him.”
Also returning are junior utility Arty Gasparyan, junior driver Varuzhan Bilbulyan, senior driver Daniel Azarian and junior driver George Sarkissov.
“In league, it looks like Burroughs might be the best team,” Young said. “They just seem to get the good players in. But Hoover and CV should be up there, as well.
“I’m just hoping we are going to be up there, as well.”
Twitter: @jefftsports
