LJ b water polo: LeBeau aboard

Viking varsity and JV hopefuls are led by Jake LeBeau
(top) in egg-beaters at first practice for the fall season.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

It was only 30 minutes into the new season's workouts, and Jake LeBeau, a 2015 graduate, was barking instructions to Viking varsity hopefuls to do egg-beaters across the pool.

"It's leg work," the former LJHS star said at morning practice Mon., Aug. 6. He has come on as an assistant to long-time varsity head coach Tom Atwell. The water polo players, grouped in fours and fives between the lane ropes, proceeded across the width of the Coggan Pool with both arms raised in the air.

"Egg-beaters are a circular kick," LeBeau--tanned, matured, entering his final year of a history major at UCSD, where he played water polo--explained to a visitor patiently. "The ones who are doing it correctly are raised the most out of the pool."

In answer to a follow-up question, the former Viking star said that a goalie uses the egg-beater to stay up in the water while watching the opposing offense, then on a shot he lunges off the power of a breaststroke kick, which shoots him forward.

Atwell, in the opening practice, with the Vikings' initial contest coming five days later in the Draz Classic at Granite Hills High Sat., Aug. 11 at 2:30 p.m., seemed only too happy to let his assistant and former player run the egg-beater drill.

Prior to that, LJHS swim assistant coach Tudor Lacey, in his 12th year at the school, ran the team candidates through crawl, breaststroke, and so forth, in what Atwell said was an approach for fuller conditioning.

"I had a few more days I could have run practice," the head coach said. "I could have started Aug. 1. But most of the guys play club water polo, and the time off helped them."

Atwell acknowledged the free days at the end of last week afforded him a break, too.

Morning practices this week commence at 7:30 a.m. at Coggan. Evening practices will come Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.