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Sports

Miramonte Boys Water Polo Preview: Matadors Lose Key Contributors, Still Appears to be Team to Beat

Matadors look to continue their title roll, looking for a sixth-straight NCS crown.

School: Miramonte
Sport: Boys water polo
Coach: James Lathrop
2009 record: 23-4 (4-1 DFAL)
Key returners: Tyler Barker, senior; Aleck Ryner, senior; Nick Deaver, senior; Charlie Wiser, sophomore.
Quote: "I think we got a good young team. I think there are a lot of good kids who weren't on varsity last year who are going to come in as they improve throughout the year, and be really positive contributors to this year's team." James Lathrop said.
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There is no such thing as a down season for the Miramonte High boys water polo program.

The last time the Matadors didn't win the North Coast Section championship was 2004, the second season of coach James Lathrop's tenure. With a young roster, however, this year's road to the NCS finals could be tougher than others. The team had three All-Americans graduate last season, leaving a big void in the pool.

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"Every year is a new challenge and we lost some key components from last year's team. We're going to try to find a way to move on without them," Lathrop said.

The Miramonte graduate is hoping his young squad will improve as the season unfolds.

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With the team's success over the past few years, the Matadors have been considered one of the best water polo teams in the country. The team will try to keep the reputation alive at three out of the area tournaments, including a trip to Southern California and two to San Jose.

"We play a schedule that makes us go out of section a lot," Lathrop said.
"We're trying to do as best we can in all of those tournaments just to themselves against the best and see how we do each year."

Team co-captain Joey Fabian displayed a work ethic that not many players may equal at practice Tuesday, when he showed up to practice 40 minutes early.

Fabian got the chance to play with the Under-20 U.S.  water polo team in a tournament in Italy over the summer.

"He's the kid who's super funny, and out of the pool he's super happy-go-lucky, but when you get in the pool, he's kind of got a switch," Lathrop said. "He's very tough and very aggressive. Still has fun playing the game but is definitely a tenacious player. He's definitely going to be a key contributor this year."

Lathrop also expects his senior goalies, Tyler Barker and Aleck Ryner, to step up big. He said they were just about as good as any other goalie in the league last season, but both played behind All-American Jon Sibley and didn't get much playing time.

"On most other high school teams I think they would've been the starting goalie and played the whole game, every game," Lathrop said. "On our team they didn't. I think they're going to surprise a lot of people."

For more information on the team, visit its website.
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