Boys, girls prepared for BVAL elite
MORGAN HILL — It took three games for the Sobrato Bulldogs to show how far they have grown since 2009.
They opened the boys water polo season against a slew of traditional playoff contenders last weekend at the Lincoln Tournament and turned the event into a coming-out party.
With superb goalkeeping from Patrick Read and steady offense led by Adam Jasper and Mathew Byrne, Sobrato reeled off a 3-0 finish complete with a 13-8 victory over Burlingame in the championship match.
It all started with a 14-7 win over Santa Teresa, the one team the Bulldogs beat a year ago in their first Mount Hamilton Division campaign.
“I think we won by about the same margin,” said Byrne, a junior. “Last year, it felt like we were learning the game. We had a lot of young guys and a couple seniors who basically carried us. We all played a lot this summer and definitely improved.”
After winning its first division title at the Blossom Valley Athletic League B level in 2008, Sobrato was moved up to the A division despite graduating most of its starters and key reserves. The Bulldogs struggled mightily in 2009 but gained valuable experience.
Second-year coach Dave Letts is relieved his team was voted to stay in the Mount Hamilton.
“It’s a different game up there. It’s more physical, and the guys are a lot faster,” he said. “I think our guys learned to understand its a team game, and they need to communicate with each other. It makes it a lot easier when you’re able to do that.”
The players took it upon themselves to practice with Live Oak this summer.
“That’s the only way you’re going to get better, playing against good teams,” Byrne said.
With most of their starters back from last year, and a seven-person junior class, the Bulldogs are balanced well and eager to make headway.
The core of their talent includes Jasper, one of the team’s leading goal-scorers in 2009. Brandon Pham and Garrett Genks are a pair of reliable 2-meter drivers, and Giovanni Chau and Byrne provide speed and physical play defensively.
The rock of the team is Read, a second-team all-leaguer.
“Without him at goalie, we’d be absolutely nothing,” Byrne said.
Letts said his team has a good chance to challenge for its first Central Coast Section playoff berth.
“They’re young, they’re energetic, and they’re coming out ready to learn and improve every day,” he said. “You can’t ask for more than that.”
The Sobrato girls are in the same position the boys were a year ago after winning their first division crown in the Santa Teresa Division and graduating to the Mount Hamilton.
The Lady Bulldogs have ample speed but not much experience. They will rely heavily on seniors Devin Kohler (2-meter) and Jackie Whistler (driver/utility) and juniors Eve Okamura (2-meter), Kaleasha Acevedo (driver/utility) Josie Vo (utility) and driver Miranda Herrington. Each of them played a year ago.
Gabriella Smith will fill in well as a sprinter, and junior Erika Svenson should have a good year in the cage.
“Defense is going to be everything for us,” coach Kevin Paulsen said. “We’ll win games with defense; melt down the clock and have our offense so what it can. This will be a learning season.”
