Flintridge Prep water polo’s Barraclough splits top league honor
In coming through the ranks, Kasen Barraclough has emerged as a prolific player on the Flintridge Prep boys’ water polo team.
During Barracough’s three seasons with Flintridge Prep, he’s had the luxury of learning from older teammates who have continued to show him how to be a consummate leader and playmaker. It translated to Barraclough scoring timely goals and helping the Rebels remain atop the Prep League.
Barraclough raised his game to another level this season, culminating in the junior utility being named the Prep League co-Most Valuable Player along with Chadwick senior hole/set Sam Wheeler.
“I’ve taken the time to listen to a lot of my older teammates the last few years, especially Sean King, who was the league’s MVP last year,” said Barraclough, who finished with 79 goals, 74 steals and 37 assists. “You talk to people like Sean and he’s ready to help you out. That’s meant a lot to me.
“There are just so many great players in our league and it’s humbling to get an award like that. I knew I had to step up my game in terms of providing leadership and being an asset on offense and defense.”
Flintridge Prep (14-12-1, 8-2 in league) shared the league championship with Chadwick and Brentwood before reaching the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs. Flintridge Prep topped Brentwood and Chadwick in the final week of the regular season to rally to a share of its third consecutive league championship. The Rebels had last won three straight league titles from 1979-81.
Barraclough was clearly a vital part of the Rebels’ title rally.
“You don’t usually see too many juniors being named a league MVP in our league, but Kasen went out there and did so many things well,” Flintridge Prep Coach Dan Hare said. “He took his game to the next level and he made everybody around him better by getting the other players involved a lot more.
“He could score the big goals, but he could also play lockdown defense. He showed he could be a complete player.”
Scott Fordham and Ian Tien of Flintridge Prep earned spots on the first team.
Fordham, a senior two-meter, finished with 42 goals, 46 steals and 22 assists.
“Scott was a three-year starter and you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody with that kind of vision who can see the pool so well,” Hare said. “He could get back on defense and get in the lanes to break up a pass.”
Tien, a junior utility, collected 52 goals and 36 steals.
“Ian had an incredible season,” Hare said. “He’s just got that cerebral approach to the game and he could close out on his scoring opportunities.”
Flintridge Prep’s Evan Havunjian and Conrad Oakes were named to the second team.
Havunjian, a senior hole/guard, registered 55 goals and 47 steals. Oakes, a junior goalkeeper, finished with 236 saves and 25 steals.
--
Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
