By Nick Michael
Assoc. News Editor
Photo by Stephanie Kim
The varsity boys’ water polo team coasted past the Monrovia Wildcats at home on Thursday, October 8, winning comfortably by a score of 18-6. Monrovia, who finished with an 0-8 league record last year, provided the Tigers with minimal difficulties.
“We played pretty well and with confidence,” junior Robert Decker said. “We have gotten off to a good start in league and hope to go undefeated.”
The two teams were relatively even at the start of the game, and the first quarter ended with the score tied at four apiece. However, from the second quarter on, South Pasadena was in complete control. The Tiger offense bombarded the Wildcat defense with goal after goal, culminating in an eight-goal fourth quarter. By the end of the game, every single South Pasadena starter had scored at least once. The Tigers’ defense dictated the game as well, shutting down the Wildcat offense and forcing them to take bad shots. Overall, the Tigers’ domination was truly reflected by the final score.
This game was yet another example of how well the team has played this season. The boys have seamlessly transitioned out of non-league play, and they now hold a 2-0 league record along with an exceptional 11-3 overall record. On top of all this, they are currently riding a four game win streak, which is tied for their longest of the season.
“Our season has been going pretty well,” Decker said. “Although some of our wins didn’t go the way we wanted, a win is a win.”
The Tigers have already shown incredible improvement from last season. This year’s 9-3 non-league record is almost the exact opposite of last season’s 3-8. In terms of league play, it seems very likely that the boys will exceed last year’s 3-5 record. The team is not only talented, but also shows great promise for the future. There are no seniors on the squad, so the team won’t lose any players next year.
For now, the boys are focusing on the task at hand: the current season. Their next game is arguably their most important game yet, as they will face the La Cañada Spartans, on Tuesday, October 13, at La Cañada High School. The Spartans finished first in the Rio Hondo League last year, so the game will surely be a challenge for the Tigers. With the way they’ve been playing recently, however, the boys are very confident that they can pull off the upset.