By Rick Assad
For the most part and on rare occasions it wasn’t the case, but the two local boys’ water polo teams have been usually strong.
Burbank High finally has a pool to call its own after multiple years of having to be the visiting team and a brand-new coach while Burroughs had an offseason a year ago and would like to have a better season.
No longer in the Pacific League, the two schools are now members of the Rio-Pacific Conference, and both are gunning for a run in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
David Arakelyan has stepped aside as the Burbank head coach and is now in charge of the water polo programs.
In his place is former Bulldog standout, Johnny Agazarian, who expects is team to be good.
“The team has been working hard, and I have high hopes for what we can accomplish this season,” he said. “With our pool finally ready, I think we’re in a great spot going forward.”
Burbank went 15-13 and finished 5-4 in Pacific League action.
Senior center AvVo Ilangesyan led the Bulldogs in scoring and should once again.
Also on the team is senior driver Sarkis Cholakian, senior right wing Arman Yegshatov, senior guard Erik Zarukian, senior left wing Armen Cholakian, senior guard Tigran Hovsepian, senior driver Harut Pogosyan, senior left wing Mikael Melkonyan and senior driver Darren Davidian.
The other Burbank players are junior driver Daniel Gemdzhyan, junior right wing Narek Sahakyans, junior center Tigran Shirvanian and junior guard Arman Mkrtumyan.
Burbank’s goalies include junior Dion Kesishyan, sophomore Vahagn Stepanyan and freshman Arthur Kharazyan.
Freshman driver Arsen Yeghiazaryan is also on the team and so is Arman Vopyan.
The rest of the squad includes Edgar Khachatryan, Noah Tahmassian, Timofey Goikhman, Monte Sarukhanyan, Edward Melkonyan and Christopher Graff.
Martin Ortega Jennison is the Burroughs head coach and has several quality players on his roster.
“We’re a young team with some experience. Overall, we’re more experienced than last year. We had some moments, but our youth showed,” he said. “It should be a battle between us and South Pasadena, which we match up well against. But Pasadena and Monrovia and South Pasadena are also good.”
A season ago. Burroughs fashioned a 10-13 mark and 3-7 in league play.
Senior Lincoln Morrow plays utility and is one of the leaders of the team along with junior attacker Landon Quiambao.
Other seniors on the team include utility Daniel Menchaca, attacker Donathan Akins, attacker Austin De Cunzo Steinglass, attacker Caleb Faris, goalie Rocco Quiroga, attacker Evan Keller and attacker August Burkhardt.
The juniors are center Roger Zelaya, attacker Owen Morris, attacker Anton Scherbakov, utility Lucas Spratt and attacker Logan Vescio.
The sophomores on the team are attacker Kyle Nakaza and attacker Roy Yuzna.
