Irvine High School - Citadel Yearbook (Irvine, CA)

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Poloists flounder in toughest league Finishing fifth in league and taking second in the fifth annual Heritage Invitational Tournament, Coach Greg Gray was satisfied with the varsity water polo season outcome. Overall the program is improving, said Grey. Our program is still in its early stages in com- parison to our competition. Grey ' s team was led by seniors Ed Crofts, the most valuable player and high scorers Rob Bowers, Scott Pierce, and Greg Klingman. Their league record was held at 2-5 and their overall record to 7-12 by losses in tough bouts with GIF finalist Santa Barbara and tenth-ranked fy illiken. We had the talent, said Bowers, a senior starter. We just were not able to work as a unit. Despite their low season record. Coach Grey felt his program was on schedule. In two years I believe that we will be a con- tender for GIF, he said. Irvine 17 25 8 4 6 6 8 League record Opponent El Tore 16 Saddleback 3 Costa Mesa 10 Newport Harbor 23 Corona Del Mar 22 Estancia 11 University 11 WITH ARM RAISED. Bruce Gavitt looks to block his opponent ' s pass in hopes of gaining possession. VARSITY WATER POLO TEAM, top row: Sean Meridith. Scott Pierce, Tom Wetzel. Greg Klingaman. Bruce Gavitt. Coach Greg Gray; second row: Ed Crofts. Chris Elliot. Greg Rich. Rob Bowers, Joe Kozlowski. bottom row: John McConnell, Steve Schroff. Matt Wetzel. Superstars gy Varsity Water Polo 1

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Rob Sotvers cranks him arm back and takes aim for a shot down pool. WITH THE BALL IN SIGHT. Ed Crofts raises him arm to catch a pass. GOING FOR THE BLOCK goalie Chris Bliot stiows determination not to let another ball through. UNDER PRESSURE: Rob Bowers prepares to pass the l all to an open man in a tough battle with Buena Park. f ' id g% Superstars lU Varsity Water Polo

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Ffosh-Soph wQtef polo learns about working as a team The frosh-soph water polo team, coached by Bryan Thomas, ended the league season with a 2-5 record and a seventh place finish in the Sea View league. With six out of seven starters being first time water polo players, Coach Thomas was pleased with his team ' s progress. My goal was to pull the players together as a team, he said. According to Thomas, the team was sparked by the fine play of Joe Uhlik and Mark Abrams. Thomas also said Mike Temps showed great pro- mise, but was sick for much of the season. The team was built on strong fundamentals and a team concept, Thomas noted. Their victories came against Saddleback and Estancia. The Vaqueros routed Saddleback 14-1, then, against Estancia, Irvine scored two goals in the fourth quarter to capture a 6-5 come-from- behind victory. Physically and mentally we had the talent for success. We needed a sense of team effort. In- dividuals don ' t win games, teams do, Thomas stated. This year we learned to work, think and play as a team, he added. League record Irvine Opponent 2 El Tore 5 14 Saddleback 1 6 Costa Mesa 8 4 Newport Harbor 12 6 Corona Del Mar 17 6 Estancia 5 2 University 17 PRESSURE: Eric Hobold has Joe Uhlik on the run during a practice. COACH Bryan Thomas points out some important strategy to the team. m c o 22 Superstars Frosh-Soph Water Polo