Boys water polo: Could a CIF title be in JSerra’s near-future?
September 9th, 2009, 8:09 am · · posted by DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com
Up next next in our in-depth look at the top-ranked boys water polo teams in Orange County is an emerging power from the Trinity League.
No.5 JSerra
League: Trinity
Division: II
Coach: Petar Asic
2008 highlights: Defeated La Canada, 11-10, in OT to reach CIF-SS Division II semifinals for first time
Outlook: The Lions’ faithful should be pumped. JSerra’s young program has produced its best squad, which is certainly talented enough to challenge for Trinity League and CIF Division II titles. JSerra returns its core from last season’s Division II semifinalist team. The standouts are juniors Luke Hewko, an attacker, and Mac Carden, a center, but the senior class is outstanding. There’s key defender Garrett Glore along with Nick Santala, Ben Clinkenbeard and Chris Meinhold. The newcomer is senior goalie Michael Garberich. The key for the Lions will be defense because they appear to have the balance to score. JSerra will play in the America’s Finest City Invitational and Villa Park Classic but is still seeking to add a third tournament. While filling out its schedule will be important, the main obstacle remains rival Mater Dei. But this fall, the Lions get the defending Division II champs at home in league. If JSerra can build some momentum going into to its Mater Dei match on Oct. 20- perhaps final in a tournament or two – the Monarchs could be in for a heck of a match.
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Yes the key point here will be defense. After watching Asic with his club and high school teams over many years, his emphasis seems to be on offensive players with defense and defensive players undervalued.
thanks for continuing to provide your outlook for each team and not just your short list in brief … Your next challenge is to get waterpolo more prominent on the main page!
Keep up the good work Dan
I want to second that Dan does a great job. Try to find information about high school water polo in other parts of the state (San Diego, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Northern California)–we all know they play and love water polo in those areas, but you can hardly find out any information.
Dan Albano and OC Varsity does a great job of highlighting and shining a spotlight on high school water polo in Orange County, and I know for a fact that many college coaches follow OC polo by looking at OC Varsity.
Thanks Dan!!
The JSerra Mater Dei game on the 20th will be the match of the year. If you are a water polo fan and would enjoy to watch a battle. I highly suggest you make it.
Dan the answer to ur question is no. Nothing more need be said.
Some girl – JSerra might surprise you this fall – I think they’re going to be really good – the Lions do need to get off to a fast start, though
Dan,
I agree that JSerra will have a strong team this year. Just as they had last year. They will win many games – but can they win the big one. If not this year then what??
Dan my reasoning is that with jserra’s style of play will they be able to keep all their star players out of fights? I dunno if u heard about their game with my school el toro this summer but five players from each team were thrown out for fighting. With that kind of play how long do u think it will be before one of peters boys really hurts someone or is thrown out for the season or playoffs?
Wasn’t there a rucus last year also with jserra and mater dei? Is the problem the boys or that the jserra coach teaches this style of play?
In response to you, “some girl” the brawl involving JSerra and El Toro (of which my child attends and I was present at the game) was very one sided. Even to the parents on the El Toro side, it was clear that JSerra was not the catalyst nor the instigator of the fight. While it is clear the violence was a direct result of outside rivalries et al, the fight cannot and should not be counted as a strike against either one of the schools. Peter Asic, whom I have known for a very long time, coaches in a style that many American coaches find “rough” or “too physical” which I think is both a testament to the superiority of European style of play and to how well the Lions have done in their first four years of having a water polo team. Lastly, while I do think the JSerra program needs a few more years to show whether or not it will be a consistent top-spot contender, it is obvious that they will play a large part in this season’s championship.
Oh Come on ElToroParent, which you are NOT, have the cajones to say who you really are – someone from JSerra, who is trying to clean up your dirty diaper which is displayed in front of the whole water polo world. It is no wonder no one wants to play you.