Malibu High Water Polo Takes Fifth in Conejo Classic

The boys’ varsity water polo team officially started the 2012 season with five games at the annual Conejo Classic tournament from September 7-8. 

But just to make it more challenging the team missed half of their starters due to the ACT test and illness for most of the games. Still it was a strong start for the Sharks and they ended up taking fifth place out of 32 teams.

The first game on Friday afternoon pitted the Sharks against the Division IV Yucaipa Thunderbirds and the Sharks won handily 16-9. Highlights included six goals a piece by senior Emmet Pierson and sophomore Owen Franz. Junior Henry Buckley had seven assists and starting goalie senior Dane Sartorius played in the field as the Sharks were short on players and had six steals and two goals.

The second game on Friday night was a hotly contested match against the Division II Newbury Park Panthers. The game was a back and forth battle and it looked bleak for the Sharks after Pierson was ejected early in the second quarter and they had to play with no subs. 

The Sharks were down 4-6 at half time, up 8-7 after three quarters and emerged victorious 12-10 at the end. Highlights included six goals by senior Jordan Clarke, three goals by Sartorius and two goals and three assists by Buckley. Junior Jack Thompson was solid in goal in both games.

Though the Sharks won their bracket on Friday; the next morning was not going to be easy. The team was missing seniors Pierson, Morgan Hathorn and Shaan McPartlin to the ACT test and Junior Alec Wilimovsky to a triathlon. Junior Cooper Bell played after having a fever the day before.

First up was past Conejo Classic champion and Division I powerhouse the Ventura High Cougars. Playing without half their starters and no subs the Sharks kept in the game until they ran out of gas at the end of the third quarter and eventually lost 16 to 8. Clarke had four goals, junior Arvin Abolfathi had two goals and Buckley had three assists in the losing effort.

The second game on Saturday was much closer, but still proved to be a large task with so many missing players. The Sharks lost to the Leland High Charges of San Jose by a 15 to 11 score. 

On a positive note the Sharks had six players score, including Buckley with three goals, junior Jens Cole with two, Clarke with two, Sartorius with two and Franz and Bell with one each.

The last game of the tournament for the Sharks was against the Division II Westlake Warriors.

And finally the Sharks had good news as they got back all of the boys that had been taking the ACT. It was a close battle the whole way and the Sharks emerged victorious with a quality 14-12 win. Clarke led the scoring with five goals, Franz had three goals and four steals, Pierson had three goals and three steals, Buckley had three more assists and Sartorius made 14 blocks and two steals in goal.

The Sharks start the season in pursuit of their first CIF championship. They have reached the finals twice before and they are ranked third in Division VI pre-season polls. 

But Tri-Valley League rivals Oak Christian Lions are ranked first and this looks to be a hotly contested season. Certainly senior starters Clarke, Pierson, Sartorius and Morgan Hathorn are going to have to come up big this year.

Senior McPartlin, juniors Cole, Bell, Buckley, Thompson and Abolfathi, as well as sophomores Franz and Wilimovsky will need to make big contributions to if the team is going to make it back to the finals this year.  Head coach Mike Mulligan and assistant coaches Hayden Goldberg and Jamie Jacobson have worked hard with the team over the summer so the team can be ready. 

The Sharks still have a few warm-up games before league play starts. Their next game is against the Division I Notre Dame Knights at Malibu High on Sept. 12.