LJ b water polo: Looking ahead to Western League

George Gayner (rear top left) guards the cage

while teammate Henry Glenister (black cap)

defends Jorge Solis (4) in the Saturday afternoon

game Sept. 20 against Damien in the AFC

Tournament.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Vikings have to feel very good about winning the AFC title, a worthy accomplishment in a long-running tournament.

One drawback, though, was that the America's Finest City water polo tourney in Coronado could not provide La Jolla any worthy competition.

On day one, Friday, Sept. 19, in group (pool) play (which the Vikings enjoyed in their home pool, Coggan), Le Jardin Academy fell to the able Vikings, 13-2. Not much of a fight.

Two hours later, Valhalla--whom La Jolla had beaten badly only the week before--succumbed, 21-8. No fight at all.

So, when Saturday, Sept. 20, came around, and there wasn't a lot of buzz around the finals at the tournament, Viking coach Tom Atwell had to be somewhat concerned. His boys are playing well, but who were they going to be tested by?

The afternoon game against Damien wasn't going to provide it, with a 15-4 result. The evening match, in which Canyon Crest student coach Jake Peeler told me, "Don't underestimate us," was no better at 21-8.

The count after one quarter in that game was 7-2, 16-2 after two quarters.

The same thing happened last year: La Jolla won the AFC tourney, then proceeded to tread in hard times during the Western League schedule.

Meanwhile, from up north, the news was that Cathedral Catholic--who took over supremacy of the Western League last year--lost to Newport Harbor, 12-7, in the championship game of the South Coast Tournament.

Bishop's, the other main competition for the Vikings in the Western League and their opponent this Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the league opener, was also vying in the South Coast Tournament.

That tourney would seem to afford a better test of the skills of Nate Thomson, superior defender on the 4-5 side, Dexter Black, great scorer  whether from the "5" spot or in the middle, Henry Glenister, 1-2 defender, and the rest in the black-and-red caps.

Maybe Atwell will have to rethink this one in the future. The legacy of former coach Randall Burgess at Coronado High is one thing, but the future of his LJHS program is another.