The Malibu High boys water polo squad is going for its sixth consecutive Malibu Varsity Tournament title this weekend.
Malibu has been crowned the tournament’s champs 10 times in the event’s 16-year history, and senior Ary Kamen said he and his teammates are confident they can snag the contest title again.
“We refuse to lose at home,” he said, “and will give it our all to make this a reality.”
Sharks head coach Mike Mulligan said Malibu is entering the Thursday-to-Saturday water polo showcase as a team focused on succeeding at the nuances like “taking care of the ball, limiting turnovers [and] converting our man-up advantages” to win the tournament.
The Sharks will have to beat out 11 other teams to win the three-day clash, which is being held at the Malibu High pool. The other participants include Agoura, Brentwood, Calabasas, Carpinteria, Culver City, Flintridge Prep, Hueneme, Newbury Park, Oxnard, Pacifica and Palisades.
Malibu faces Calabasas at 3 p.m. and Culver City at 6:20 p.m. on the event’s first day.
Malibu had a 4-1 record at press time. The Sharks were scheduled to host Foothill Tech on Tuesday.
The squad went 3-1 in last weekend’s Conejo Classic at Thousand Oaks. Malibu began the tournament with an 11-9 loss to El Segundo—the event’s top team—before winning three straight contests.
Mulligan said the loss showed Malibu that they have to be more efficient in their man-up situations in the pool.
“We drew 10 ejections in that first game, and we didn’t score a single goal off those,” he said. “That was the difference in the game.”
Malibu, the defending Tri-Valley League champs, knocked off league opponent Villanova Prep on Sept. 6 to start the season.
The Sharks led 4-2 at the end of the first quarter and 11-4 at halftime. The team cemented the win after halftime. Tor Cole, Louie Putterman and Lars Peterson each scored three goals for Malibu. Kamen and Nate Jenson each drew four positive kick outs and had three steals.
“Drawing 13 positive kick outs and converting nine of 13 man-up advantages,” were the keys to victory Mulligan said. The head Shark said those plays and more proficient counter attacks are Malibu’s keys to a successful season.
Malibu returns only one starter from a 2016 team that went 21-7 and lost in the first round of the CIF playoffs. Mulligan said this year’s team has a lot of good qualities.
“I like their enthusiasm, I like their work ethic and their comradery,” he said.
The 16-player roster features seven seniors, including three in the starting lineup, a change to last year’s squad whose starting lineup was littered with 2016 graduates.
Kamen, one of this year’s seniors, said the lack of other seniors starting the game in the pool puts the onus on him and the other two elder starters to take a big leadership.
“The younger boys have to take more responsibility than before,” he added.
Mulligan said seniors Cole, the Sharks’ lone returning starter, and Kamen are Malibu’s leaders.
“They are seniors, talented players who can make everyone around them better,” he said. “They both understand the strategies involved in the game.”
Cole tallied 61 goals and 44 steals last season for Malibu. Kamen recorded 31 goals and 29 steals in 2016.
In describing other key players, Mulligan said Peterson has great vision, which makes him a good passer, and goal keeper Harry Lang, who had 120 blocks in 2016, is “super strong in the goal, aggressive, a great outlet passer.” Mulligan also praised first-year varsity player Lewis Baron’s “big impact at two meters.”
Kamen said Malibu has qualities beyond just physical talent.
“We are not the biggest team, meaning we don’t have that six-foot, five-inch beast or something like that, but we do have heart and grit,” he said. “Those two things combined with teamwork is a recipe for success. As long as everyone does their part and gives it their all we can beat teams of the highest caliber.”
The water polo player said he and fellow Sharks aren’t overlooking any opponent in the Malibu Varsity Tournament.
“It’s our tournament,” Kamen said. “We have won it many years in a row and plan on it again.”
Mulligan said his team can put together a good performance in the tourney.
“I think it will help their confidence,” he said. “They should be able to improve on the things that they didn’t do as well in [the Conejo] tournament.”
