Strong Acorn team stays perfect in league play Seven seniors
– Shea Coleman, Justin Short, Bryson Bailey, Stevie Sendejas,
Mike Acevedo, Kyle Warden and Cesar Maldonado — played their last
game in the Live Oak pool on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Seven seniors – Shea Coleman, Justin Short, Bryson Bailey, Stevie Sendejas, Mike Acevedo, Kyle Warden and Cesar Maldonado — played their last game in the Live Oak pool on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
After winning all of their league games, and placing well in all the tournaments they’ve played, these seniors have a great deal to be proud of. Many of them have been playing since their freshman year, so they were on the first teams (Short and Bailey on varsity and the rest on JV) to grace the new Live Oak pool when it was built, and they are the last Live Oak team to play in the Tri-County league.
Shea Coleman, who many consider the best goalie in the league, followed in his brother Justin’s (class of 2001) footsteps, but quickly made a name for himself based on his own attributes. When he’s not blocking balls, he’s shouting to his teammates to get in their positions –and they listen. The team’s strength in defense also relies heavily on Bryson Bailey, who lets few balls through when he’s defending hole set, and since playing more and more offense, has become a double threat.
Justin Short is the lead player on offense, usually racking up the most goals, but passing to his fellow players just as much. Bailey and Short have been playing together since they were 12, and together, they led their team to many victories.
Cesar Maldonado, an exchange student from Ecuador, followed in his host brother Bailey’s footsteps and is playing water polo for the first time, but he has learned quickly and swims well, so he sees some action in the pool. Sendejas is a solid starter, and Acevedo and Warden contribute plenty when they can. Starting juniors Kyle Fast and Cameron Peachey and sophomore Sam Cretcher are also a strong presence on the team.
Their coach, Mack Haines, says, “I think this team exemplifies the 20-some years of Live Oak’s league dominance and excellent play in TCAL’s/MBL’s. Bryson is one of the most dominant two-meter defenders in northern California and one of the main keys to our defense. Shea, after recovering from early season injuries, has come on and solidified our defensive efforts which are the very strength of our team. Justin is our offensive leader and has had a tremendous year as an offensive scorer. Stevie gives us a strong left-handed presence, while Mike, Kyle, and Cesar give us depth and needed minutes coming off the bench.”
Even after juggling all the usual senior stresses with daily three-hour practices and playing almost every weekend after a game or two during the week, these boys wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“Water polo has been everything to me,” says Short.
Coleman adds, “I see our team as many players working as one to overcome overwhelming odds. Offense wins games; defense wins championships.”
“Each of us is like a puzzle piece – each with his own strengths that help cover any weaknesses of individual players – and when we are put together and focused, we are unbeatable,” Bailey agreed.
In Tuesday’s game against Valley Christian, Bailey scored the first goal and after two goals from Sendejas and two others from Short, the seniors had contributed five of the six goals by the end of the first quarter. After another goal from Bailey, three more from Short, and a final one by Acevedo, they easily beat Valley 15-7.
Last weekend, in their own Live Oak Polo Fest, they beat Sunnyside 10-3 Friday afternoon and Leland 11-4 Saturday morning. They ended up beating Clovis by one point in a nail-biting championship game that afternoon.
Haines says, “I’m really pleased with the continued improvement of the team, and I’m extremely proud of the opportunity to compete in the TruWest State Invitational on the last weekend in October.”
The seniors’ final games together will be TCAL’s at Santa Catalina the first weekend in November, and finally, CCS finals over Veteran’s Day weekend. Go Nuts!
