Garden Grove League Beginning to Come Around

The only Southern Section title won by Fountain Valley Los Amigos High came from its boys’ water polo team in 1992. The Lobos are the only water polo team in the Garden Grove League with that distinction.

But there are signs of improvement from other schools in the league. Garden Grove Bolsa Grande had not won a game in the previous three seasons, but already has two victories this year under its first-year coach, Victor Reyes, a 2000 graduate of Los Amigos.

Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos finished third last season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1977, and Westminster La Quinta is defending a league title for the first time in 21 years. Many credit the improvement to stability in the coaching ranks.

“I picked up this program because I was tired of seeing a new coach every year,” said La Quinta Coach Brian Quinlan, a 1997 graduate of the school. Quinlan is one of three coaches in the league in their fourth season with the varsity, the longest tenures in the league.

At Garden Grove High, the dedication of Coach Eric Henninger has been instrumental in keeping the program above water. Henninger is a 1995 graduate of Garden Grove, but never played water polo. The school did not field a team during his freshman or senior years, but he swam for the Argonauts.

He took over as boys’ swim coach in the spring of 1998. That fall, the water polo position became available. Henninger was worried that if no coach could be found, the team would again be scrapped for the season, leaving many unable to play.

“I didn’t want that to happen,” said Henninger, who works in the computer lab at Garden Grove. “I still regret not playing water polo in high school and I didn’t want some of these kids feeling the same way later on in life.”

Quinlan has not only brought La Quinta to the top of the league standings, but he’s instilled some class in his players. He and assistant coach Chris Kaps wear a shirt and tie during games, and his players wear them during the commute.

“We do a lot of psychological stuff,” Quinlan said. “We’re very passionate about this sport and we want to instill that same passion in our players.”

*

Return to action: Los Amigos goalkeeper Mikal Marchbanks and his twin brother, Howie, made their league debut Tuesday night. Mikal and Howie were away from the team for the first two weeks of October while on a church retreat in Missouri.

Because their Christianity-based religion observes the Sabbath from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, they do not participate in some tournament games and practices. Howie, who plays the two-meter and driver positions, said he doesn’t mind the limitations to his athletic schedule.

“I really don’t know how to live any other way,” Howie said. “I was born into [my religion] and will stay with it my entire life.”

*

Triple the fun: None of the schools in the Garden Grove League have a regulation pool on campus, so the league rents Golden West College’s pool one night a week for a tripleheader.

Coaches say it’s a great opportunity to scout other teams..

“I love the way we set up our league games,” Henninger said. “I like to have a close relationship with the other players and coaches in this league and it helps having us all here together.”