Sage headed back to CIF?

In the words of Coach Jeff Andrews, Sage Hill School boys water polo

players are extremely driven entering this season, in both mind and

body.

Andrews said Lightning players are hungry to improve upon last

season’s CIF Southern Section Division VI playoff berth, the first in

the program’s five-year history and advance past the first round.

They boast the speed to increase their chances of reaching and

moving through the postseason.

“We’re basically the same team we were last year, but this year’s

team is a lot faster,” said Andrews, who played at UC Irvine and

enters his third season at the helm. “The whole pace of play is

faster than last year.”

Sage reached 10 victories and clinched third place in the Estancia

tournament last season, signs the program is inching in the right

direction.

Five seniors return, giving Andrews optimism.

Chase Caillouette enters his fourth varsity season while Julian

Tooma, who tied John Neff for the team-lead with 47 goals last fall,

will be one of four options at two meters -- senior Jordan Cline,

along with sophomores Beau Caillouette and Ryan Barth, are the other

two players. Tooma enters his second varsity season. Neff, who

graduated, anchored that spot a year ago.

Seniors David Zilberberg and Chris Mazzo, junior Perry Pang and

sophomore Jimmy Miller will add to the offense while sophomore Danny

Harold will patrol the goal following the graduation of Trevor

Granger.

On the schedule for Sage Hill is a rematch with Chadwick on Oct.

9. Chadwick eliminated the Lightning from last year’s playoffs.

Sage remains a freelance team, without any league affiliation.

Andrews’ push for entry into the Garden Grove League hasn’t gained

any headway.

Andrews said he has been told that if CIF administrators grant

Sage’s request -- the league would include seven teams -- one of the

top three teams would not make the playoffs. Sage would have finished

third in the league the last two years.

Regardless of their standing, Andrews hopes his players learned

much from last season and the effort it will take to return and

improve upon the showing.

“They learned that if they work hard and set a goal for

themselves, they can achieve it,” he said. “You have to have the

expectation of winning water polo games. It’s not a time to get

cookies. Winning water polo games and qualifying for CIF is fun.

Getting your teeth kicked in is not fun.”

LINEUP

Ryan Barth So.

Beau Caillouette So.

Chase Caillouette Sr.

Jordan Cline Sr.

Danny Harold So.

James Miller So.

Chris Mazzo Sr.

Perry Pang Jr.

Julian Tooma Sr.

David Zilberberg Sr.

Coach: Jeff Andrews (3rd year)