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New coaches take over
BOYS’ WATER POLO: Burbank and Burroughs both have a lot in common — including young teams.
By Jeff Tully
BURBANK — A year ago, the Burbank and Burroughs boys’ water polo teams were both dominated by senior talent.
As a result, they enjoyed their share of success and both squads made the CIF Southern Section postseason together for the first time in years.
Unfortunately, those seniors have graduated, leaving the Bulldogs and Indians with young groups.
The programs are also dealing with new head coaches, although Carlos Pelayo at Burbank and Carlos Ponce at Burroughs both headed the schools’ girls’ programs last year.
“I think we lost eight or nine seniors from last season,” Pelayo said. “We will also have only one senior starter from last year’s team. So, we are going to be young.”
Ponce admits his team is dealing with the same problem.
“I am only going to have two seniors,” Ponce said. “We know we don’t have the experience that most of the other teams have, but that just means that we are going to have to work harder if we want to be successful.”
Here is a look at how the teams are shaping up:
A year ago under Coach under Coach Dro Hovanessian, the Bulldogs (18-7) finished second during the regular Pacific League season and placed third in the league tournament.
The team made history by winning its opening Division VI postseason match against Placentia Valencia, 7-5, for the program’s first playoff win. Burbank fell in the second round to Beverly Hills, 14-13.
However, all-league standouts from that team — Greg Fields, Hunter Pitkin, David Nelson, Gavin Darcey, Kelly Loney and Chas Harring — have moved on.
“One good thing for us is that we have a group of players up from the [junior varsity] team that I was coaching last season,” Pelayo said. “So, they know me and they know what to expect. I’m hoping those players are going to be able to step up and help us.”
Burbank’s lone returning starter is Sarkis Zargaryan, who was an all-league first-team selection last season. Pelayo said Zargaryan is a versatile athlete who can play a variety of positions.
“He’s even our backup goalie,” Pelayo said. “He can really play anywhere.”
Another returner is junior hole/set James Berman, who the coach said should give the offense a boost.
Senior Sean Castillo and junior Steven DeCarlo will be expected to shore up the Bulldogs defense at the hole/guard position.
Playing goalkeeper will be junior Sarmen Sinanian.
“We also have a group of sophomores who could be impact players for us,” Pelayo said.
In the race for the league championship, Pelayo said he expects a tough going.
“[Crescenta Valley] should be tough, and Arcadia and Glendale will have very good teams,” he said. “So, it’s the usual suspects.
“I’m just hoping we will stay competitive and be able to get back to CIF.”
Last season under Coach Kristina Garcia, Burroughs (11-12) finished fourth in league. The Indians fell in the first round of the playoffs to La Salle, 17-7.
Two of the standouts from that squad were Michael Peyton and Jarrod Przebieda, who both graduated.
“Last year almost all the offense went to Jarrod and Michael,” Ponce said. “Opposing teams knew they were going to get the ball most of the time.
“But we are going to be doing things a little differently this year. We and going to spread things around and give a lot of guys the chance to score.”
Ponce said look for his team to shoot, and shoot often.
“We will have a lot of players playing the wing this season,” he said. “If someone has an open shot, we want him to take it. You have to shoot to score.”
One of Burroughs’ key returners is senior wing Michael Singhanate, who earned second-team all-league honors a year ago.
Also returning is third-team all-league senior Robbie Giddens, who will also play the wing.
“Michael is a Rose Bowl [Aquatics] swimmer and Robbie is a very good player,” Ponce said. “They should both help us a lot.”
Two other players who will patrol the wing are junior John Elliott and sophomore Alex Ueno. Junior Bob Farmer will be the goalkeeper.
“I think we have six or seven juniors on the team,” Ponce said.
Like Pelayo, Ponce said he expects tough league competition from the Falcons and Apaches.
As a result, they enjoyed their share of success and both squads made the CIF Southern Section postseason together for the first time in years.
Unfortunately, those seniors have graduated, leaving the Bulldogs and Indians with young groups.
The programs are also dealing with new head coaches, although Carlos Pelayo at Burbank and Carlos Ponce at Burroughs both headed the schools’ girls’ programs last year.
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Ponce admits his team is dealing with the same problem.
“I am only going to have two seniors,” Ponce said. “We know we don’t have the experience that most of the other teams have, but that just means that we are going to have to work harder if we want to be successful.”
Here is a look at how the teams are shaping up:
A year ago under Coach under Coach Dro Hovanessian, the Bulldogs (18-7) finished second during the regular Pacific League season and placed third in the league tournament.
The team made history by winning its opening Division VI postseason match against Placentia Valencia, 7-5, for the program’s first playoff win. Burbank fell in the second round to Beverly Hills, 14-13.
However, all-league standouts from that team — Greg Fields, Hunter Pitkin, David Nelson, Gavin Darcey, Kelly Loney and Chas Harring — have moved on.
“One good thing for us is that we have a group of players up from the [junior varsity] team that I was coaching last season,” Pelayo said. “So, they know me and they know what to expect. I’m hoping those players are going to be able to step up and help us.”
Burbank’s lone returning starter is Sarkis Zargaryan, who was an all-league first-team selection last season. Pelayo said Zargaryan is a versatile athlete who can play a variety of positions.
“He’s even our backup goalie,” Pelayo said. “He can really play anywhere.”
Another returner is junior hole/set James Berman, who the coach said should give the offense a boost.
Senior Sean Castillo and junior Steven DeCarlo will be expected to shore up the Bulldogs defense at the hole/guard position.
Playing goalkeeper will be junior Sarmen Sinanian.
“We also have a group of sophomores who could be impact players for us,” Pelayo said.
In the race for the league championship, Pelayo said he expects a tough going.
“[Crescenta Valley] should be tough, and Arcadia and Glendale will have very good teams,” he said. “So, it’s the usual suspects.
“I’m just hoping we will stay competitive and be able to get back to CIF.”
Last season under Coach Kristina Garcia, Burroughs (11-12) finished fourth in league. The Indians fell in the first round of the playoffs to La Salle, 17-7.
Two of the standouts from that squad were Michael Peyton and Jarrod Przebieda, who both graduated.
“Last year almost all the offense went to Jarrod and Michael,” Ponce said. “Opposing teams knew they were going to get the ball most of the time.
“But we are going to be doing things a little differently this year. We and going to spread things around and give a lot of guys the chance to score.”
Ponce said look for his team to shoot, and shoot often.
“We will have a lot of players playing the wing this season,” he said. “If someone has an open shot, we want him to take it. You have to shoot to score.”
One of Burroughs’ key returners is senior wing Michael Singhanate, who earned second-team all-league honors a year ago.
Also returning is third-team all-league senior Robbie Giddens, who will also play the wing.
“Michael is a Rose Bowl [Aquatics] swimmer and Robbie is a very good player,” Ponce said. “They should both help us a lot.”
Two other players who will patrol the wing are junior John Elliott and sophomore Alex Ueno. Junior Bob Farmer will be the goalkeeper.
“I think we have six or seven juniors on the team,” Ponce said.
Like Pelayo, Ponce said he expects tough league competition from the Falcons and Apaches.
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