While the opening tournament might not have gone the way head coach Mike Maroney would have liked the expectations are high for this year's Mustangs men's water polo team with a ton of talent back from last year's team.

 

Taking on some of the best teams in the state the Mustangs went winless but had leads before dropping two games by just one goal. "We had a chance to win two of them and just didn't quite capitalize," said Maroney. "We have been dealing with injuries and some sort of flu bug. Out of the 23 on the roster, we only suited up 12 last weekend and maybe have 11 this weekend."

 

Headed to their second of four tournaments to start the season the Mustangs will be at West Valley College before hosting a tournament at home next week.

"This is the first year since Covid that we have had a large sophomore class," said an excited Maroney about the potential for this season when everyone is healthy. "We have tons of talent, and this is the first year in a while that we have been deep enough to have really good training. We are really looking forward to this season."

 

Returning a majority of their offense from last season the Mustangs will have three players that scored more than 40 goals including one of their captains Jesse Reidt who scored 44 goals while also specializing at the defensive end. Another big body that can score goals is their other captain Jacob Herren as he led the Mustangs last season with 56 goals.

 

"We also have the Chacon brothers," said Maroney about the brothers who last season combined 84 goals. Older brother Jayson despite taking some time off from the sport showed up and scored a second-best 48 goals to earn All-American honors while his younger brother Jakee received honors as well after scoring 36 goals.

 

Another tough slate of games awaits them this weekend before they return home.

"Next weekend we host our own tournament and I'm really anticipating that we will have a chance to win it and our final tournament the following week as well. Come conference play we think we have a shot to be one of the top teams in our conference and we will be in contention to go far in the playoffs," said Maroney.