Water Polo

BURBANK HIGH - Burbank High and coach Kristina Garcia didn't know much about Arlington from Riverside prior to the teams' CIF Southern Section Division V opening-round boys' water polo playoff match Wednesday. “We looked around on the Internet and we tried to find information about them, but there just wasn't that much,” Garcia said. “They weren't in the media a lot, so finding out about them was extremely difficult.” With little advanced information, the Bulldogs entered their opener with wide-eyed wonder.

Andrew Kushner VAN NUYS -- It's a good bet that not too many in the CIF Southern Section girls' water polo community expected Burroughs High to be in the Diviusion III semifinals. Along with finishing in second place in the Almont League behind No. 1-ranked Bell Gardens High, the Indians got little respect during the season, never being ranked among the division's top 10. But there they were Friday, in a final-four match against No. 2-seeded Harvard-Westlake High at L.A. Valley College in Van Nuys.

For Mike Scott, water polo has been a constant since the fifth grade. That was when Scott abandoned soccer, volleyball and swimming in favor of the age group water polo program in La Cañada ? a decision neither he nor his twin brother Max ever regretted. Since then, Scott has spent many hours in the pool en route to the pinnacle of his high school polo career, this year?s CIF Southern Section Division III championship game. Playing against Montebello for the championship for the third year running, Scott scored twice in the first quarter and again in the third to help his team to an 11-8 win to secure the Spartans?

When lightning that accompanied Tuesday’s rain storm struck close to Burbank High, that was a call to action. Not wanting to put athletes in possible harm’s way, officials from the Pacific League decided to postpone girls’ water polo and boys’ and girls’ soccer matches that were scheduled for Tuesday. One of the biggest events affected was the Pacific League water polo preliminaries. Host No. 3 Burbank was to take on No. 2 Pasadena at 4 p.m. and No. 4 Burroughs was to face No. 1 Crescenta Valley at 5. “We had some pretty big lightning strikes,” Burbank High girls’ water polo Coach Carlos Pelayo said.

Burbank High's LaChee Singleton has worked hard in the pool to get noticed among her girls' water polo peers. With cat-like reflexes, an uncanny ability to block shots, a driving passion to be successful and the willingness to be a leader, the senior has received her share of attention in her three seasons playing for the Bulldogs varsity team. However, Singleton has also had to deal with individuals who are preoccupied with pointing out just one thing about her — the color of her skin.

LA CRESCENTA — The Crescenta Valley High and Burbank girls’ water polo teams have recently enjoyed the spotlight in the Pacific League. The squads have combined to win the last five league championships. Crescenta Valley saw its bid to win a fifth straight league title derailed by Burbank last season. In search of regaining the top spot in league, Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio said he recently made it a point for the Falcons to attack early and often in their league matches.

BURROUGHS HIGH — With a convincing 18-3 victory Wednesday against cross-town rival Burroughs, the Burbank High girls’ water polo team completed a Pacific League sweep of its six league opponents. Accomplishing that feat in any other team sport in the Southern Section would give a team like the Bulldogs a league championship. However, in water polo, things are done a little differently. If Burbank wants to nail down its first-ever crown, it has to win two head-to-head matches against league foes in the Pacific League Tournament, which begins Tuesday at Burbank High.

BURBANK HIGH — Burbank High girls’ water polo Coach Carlos Pelayo said his team “suffered several mental lapses” and “played sluggish at times” Tuesday in a Pacific League match against Burroughs. A happy Indians Coach Carlos Ponce said his squad “played a very good game” and made the Bulldogs “play our type of game” in the cross-town rivalry contest. However, despite what the coaches’ comments seem to indicate, the outcome favored Burbank.

BURBANK HIGH — There was a playoff double dip taking place Tuesday at Burbank High. Not only was the girls' tennis team hosting Great Oak in a CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card match, just a few steps away the Bulldogs boys' water polo team was taking on visiting La Salle in a Division V playoff contest. Unfortunately for Burbank, both of the teams had something else in common beside playing at home: both suffered losses. While the tennis team was beaten, 11-7, the water polo squad fell, 10-6.

BURBANK HIGH — Jordan Card has definitely stayed busy with her athletic endeavors during her senior year at Burbank High. Currently, she is competing for the Bulldogs girls' swim team, as well as the girls' track and field squad. In the fall, she tried her hand on the links with the Burbank girls' golf team. However, it is in water polo that Card has been able to make her biggest splash. Despite the rigors of spending much of her time competing in athletics this school season, Card wouldn't have it any other way. "I like being active mostly," Card said.