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One of Irvine’s top players Josh Ramos takes a shot for the Vaqueros (Photo courtesy Irvine water polo).
Irvine High School’s boys water polo team, under Coach Tijmen Egtberts, is off to a fast start and is ranked No. 1 in this week’s CIF Division 3 poll ahead of No. 2 Portola.
“So far we’re on a winning streak of seven games after only losing our first game,” the coach said. “We played Long Beach Poly and, just like last year, had a tough first game and lost 14-11. We played them again three days later in their own tournament and beat them 12-6. “
Irvine won the Poly tournament defeating Canyon Crest Academy 9-4, Long Beach Poly 12-6, Westlake 17-6 and Poway 7-3.
Irvine also defeated Mission Viejo 18-8, Edison 18-5 and Costa Mesa 18-12.
“We have a group that basically played together last year,” Egtberts said. “Two starters graduated, who were both also team captains. However, the new group has picked up on the leadership and maturity from last year’s group and has rolled with it.
“Offensively we know we can score in a large variety of ways, so it’s just about executing and decision making. Our focus this season has been on high level defense.”
Irvine has been led by Josh Ramos, Camden Peterson and Sam Bowman.
The coach said Ramos, “in my opinion is one of the best center defenders in the nation. Incredibly smart and” causes problems players for any two-meter player.
“He’s averaging four steals, two field blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.5 goals per game,” the coach said. “Josh is the reason we have been able to play defense at the level we are playing at.”
Peterson is an “ambidextrous player who can play every position in the pool. He needs to be double teamed to be guarded. He averages four goals, two assists, two steals, two ejections drawn and one field block per game.
The coach said that Bowman is “another player who is unguardable in a 1 vs. 1 situation. He’s been averaging four drawn ejections per game this season, on top of scoring three per game as well as two steals.”
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