Varsity boys water polo won their first preseason home game 15-7 Tuesday, Aug. 20 against West Covina High School under 100 degree weather.
The excessive heat caused Walnut’s scoreboard and shot clock to overheat, forcing the team to play without a device to keep track of their ball possession. Players relied on their coaches and goalie, who shouted the time as it was counted down.
“Our staff was really on top of it and communicating so that helped us a lot,” head coach Bryan Canchola. “We did a good job of mentally staying in the game. A lot of [our players] have been playing for a long time, so they’re used to these technical issues.”
The game began with 4/5 attacker junior Anthony Santos scoring a high corner, followed by center junior Nathan Wang scoring a skip, allowing the Mustangs to take an early lead. Goalie sophomore Jared Rey defended the goal against the Bulldogs, and the first quarter ended with Walnut leading 7-0.
“I feel like I could’ve done a little bit more against the other team,” Rey said. “Especially from last year [and] even compared to the last game, I feel like I did a lot better. I’ve got better reaction time [and] better passes.”
The Mustangs lost their scoring streak in the second quarter, with the Bulldogs scoring three goals consecutively right after the quarter started. The quarter concluded with a score of 8-5, with Walnut holding their lead. The third quarter began rough, with the Bulldogs gaining first possession of the ball but the Mustangs soon stole it back. The quarter ended 13-5, with several saves made by Rey.
“If we shoot on them too much, our placing on CIF is going to be messed up. We had to balance how much they shoot on us and how much we shoot on them,” 1/2 attacker freshman Caleb Cobb said.
The Mustangs wanted to enter CIF with a manageable division, but having an unbalanced score may jeopardize their plan. As the fourth and final quarter proceeded, the Mustangs focused on their defense. The game concluded with Walnut’s victory, with a score of 15-7.
“We definitely came out how we should’ve came out – strong. It’s what’s expected at this point,” captain senior Jakob Villasenor said. “It was an overall successful game [and] I know we’re going to have a very successful season. I’m really proud of how my team played and I look forward to the future.”
