The cupboard isn’t entirely bare for the San Benito High School
boys water polo team this season, but head coach Tom Agan’s
coaching ability will be sorely tested in 2003.
Gone are some outstanding seniors that paved the way for the
second league title in school history. The Balers were co-champs
once, but that was by forfeit of a Live Oak player and Agan doesn’t
count that.
The cupboard isn’t entirely bare for the San Benito High School boys water polo team this season, but head coach Tom Agan’s coaching ability will be sorely tested in 2003.
Gone are some outstanding seniors that paved the way for the second league title in school history. The Balers were co-champs once, but that was by forfeit of a Live Oak player and Agan doesn’t count that.
“We’re real young,” said Agan, who begins his 13th season. “We’re green, but many of the kids played summer polo with Larry Barr. I give Larry a lot of credit. These kids know a lot about the game so we don’t have to start totally from scratch.”
Agan returns just two players from last year’s varsity team and both played quality minutes.
Senior Robbie Shattuck started and will do much of the sprinting this year and junior Lucas Zepeda will get first crack at the 2-meter offense for the Balers. Shattuck will start out at 2-meter defense.
“We have a lot of fresh talent out here,” Shattuck said. “We have to practice hard as a team to make up for any individual talent we may have lost. We’ll have to play smart because all of our players are under six-feet tall. And many of the teams that we beat last year will be out for revenge.”
Nick Dain, a senior who was the junior varsity goalie the past three years, gets first save chance in goal this year. Junior Alex March is next in line at the goalie position.
Agan is counting on sophomore Joel Smith to provide speed, skill and work in the 2-meter area at both ends. Zack Bainter, a junior, was one of the top JV scorers last year and should find himself in the starting lineup at driver. Sean Russell is a first-year senior out for the team and Agan likes what Russell, another driver, brings to the water.
“I’m really glad Sean came out,” Agan said. “He’ll help us this year.”
Agan lists Live Oak as the team to beat.
“I think they’ll take it,” he said. “Salinas will also be tough. They’ll be three to five teams fighting it out for third.”
Agan’s club will have to perform well in some difficult tournaments up on the polo power peninsula to acquire the points necessary to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
“Our goal is to make CCS,” Agan said.
The Balers open the Tri-County Athletic League season Wednesday when they play host to Gilroy.
