The numbers are there. The players are in place.
The numbers are there. The players are in place.
When the San Benito water polo team opens its season today against visiting Gilroy at 4:30pm, coach Tom Agan will have a chance to see if his team will be competitive this year.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” Agan said. “But it is sometimes hard to really tell until you have had your first game and have seen how everyone gels together. I think we got the talent to challenge for a championship, but I can’t tell until after the first game.”
Although there is some good competition in the league this year again, he expects to finish in the top three teams.
Live Oak again may be untouchable this year with Ryan Gautschi and Justin Fast. Even when the Acorns don’t have the best talent, coach Mack Haines is always able to create something from nothing.
“We’re going to have to have a great day, and Live Oak will have to have a mediocre day for us to beat them,” Agan said. “If we’re mediocre and they’re hot, we’ll have trouble.”
Another team that will be right up there this year is Stevenson with senior 2-meter player Brandon Segerini.
Usually Agan will carry 10 or 11 players on the varsity team, but this year he has 14 players. He plans to do a little mixing and matching to see where everyone fits in.
“It will be tough to get all the guys playing time,” Agan said. “But with some of them, I gave them the choice of playing JV or varsity. I am sure there will be some tight games where not everyone plays.”
Senior Lucas Zepeda once again returns to anchor the 2-meter spot, and senior Alex Marks will be taking over as goalie.
Agan also expects several of his sophomores to step up this year.
