LJ b water polo: Q&A with Coach Tom Atwell

Tom Atwell (far right, seated) signals to his team

in the second quarter of the Vikes' 12-6 SoCal Regional

win over El Segundo Nov. 14. Atwell is in his

30th year of teaching, 22nd at LJHS.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Coach Tom Atwell of the La Jolla boys water polo team. Prior to the Vikings' 12-6 win over visiting El Segundo in the first round of the Southern California Regionals Tues., Nov. 14. He looked very relaxed, sitting alongside his fellow coaches next to the pool and new hot tub at Coggan.

Q: How are we set up?

We are the two seed, playing the seventh seed, El Segundo.

Q: Do you know anything about them?

I have no idea. They won Division 3 CIF in the Southern Section. So they could be really, really good. I have no clue.

Q: What would be the result?

If we win this game, then we play Friday (Nov. 17) up at Mt. SAC.

Q: And that could be Coronado, or someone said, Santana?

No. They're in Division 3. Different division. Vista, the eighth seed, is the other San Diego team playing today, and they're traveling up to San Marcos in Santa Barbara.

Q: Who do you want to step up today--individuals on your team?

I have no idea. It could be anybody. Literally, after you get to that CIF (San Diego semifinals) game, it could be anybody's game.

Q: Your pressing defense--what grade would you give it? Have you been pretty happy with it?

We've been playing a lot of zone for the last couple of weeks of the season. Today, though, we're gonna press, so we'll see.

Q: Press is man (to man defense)?

Yeah, we're gonna go hard, hard man-to-man, in your face, and see how it works out.