Sharks Water Polo Team Chomps the Spartans

The bus ride back from Rio Mesa High School was a lot sweeter this year after the Sharks easily handled the Spartans 15-5 in their match on Tuesday afternoon.

The Spartans beat the Sharks twice in 2010, including in the CIF Division 6 Finals. They beat the Sharks last year too, but the tide has turned and the
Spartans were no match for the Sharks this year.

The game was all Malibu from the start. The Sharks were up 4-0 by the end of the first quarter, with senior Emmet Pierson scoring twice on great passes from junior Jens Cole and senior Jordan Clarke.

The Sharks also dominated the second quarter. Clarke started the quarter with a nice goal on a rebound off the post and then sophomore Owen Franz scored a breakaway goal on a great pass from senior goalie Dane Sartorius. Franz ended the quarter with three goals and the Sharks led 10-2 at half time.

Clarke and Pierson scored the only goals of the third quarter and the Sharks had the bench players run plays for the fourth quarter and got goals from junior Arvin Abolfathi, junior Alec Wilimovsky and senior Shaan McPartlin. 

Goalie Jack Thompson played the fourth quarter and had three blocks. Highlights of the game included Pierson with four goals, Clarke with three goals and an assist and Franz with three goals, two assists and two steals. 

The Sharks JV team also swam to a big lead of 7-1 after three quarters. Phillip Campanella had four goals and Kai Schulz had two goals. The Sharks won with a score of 10-2.

The Sharks next play Thursday in their own Malibu Varsity Tournament at the Shark Tank, which runs through Saturday. The Sharks remained ranked third in division 6 after the latest coach’s poll.