Eagles relegated to fresh start

Estancia High boys’ water polo coach John Carpenter has no seniors on this year’s squad.

All that means, he said, is that the juniors will have to be ready.

“They’re pretty much all going to have to step up,” said Carpenter, entering his 27th year as coach. “They’ll be thrust into that varsity role, so hopefully they can respond.”

Although they weren’t starters in 2005, juniors Josh Young and Jeff Crosson are the only two returning players with much varsity experience.

“It was really hard for me to lose six seniors from last year,” Carpenter said. “Those guys all came up together as freshmen.”

Last year, the Eagles finished fourth in the Golden West League and advanced to a CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs with senior scorers like Chad Kunert and Devon Mellin.

The Eagles lost in the wild-card round to finish 13-15.

Kunert was a first-team All-Golden West League selection and was named to the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team.

This year, Estancia is one of three local teams in the newly formed Orange Coast League. Costa Mesa and Sage Hill are also in the league, along with traditional powerhouse Laguna Beach.

Sage Hill competes in the Academy League in other sports, but that league does not offer water polo.

“I don’t really like the change,” Carpenter said. “The Golden West League was much more competitive for us. In this league, there will be only two playoff spots. It’ll probably come down to Costa Mesa, ourselves and Sage Hill to see who gets the second playoff spot [behind perennially strong Laguna Beach].”

Carpenter said the team’s two-meter man will likely be junior Tyler Wayman.

Junior Ryan Esfahni and sophomore Shane Lyons are drivers.

Juniors Kyle Lux, Chris MacLean and Ramin Tasbihchi, as well as sophomores Kreger Todd and Jacob Watchman are also all in the mix.

Carpenter said Wayman is also the team’s best goalie, but likely won’t play there.

“We don’t really have a goalie yet,” he said. “We’ll have to work on a couple of different people since nobody’s got the full experience at goalie.”

One big plus is that Estancia has its own pool back. Last year, the pool was under renovation, forcing the Eagles to practice and play all but one home game at Costa Mesa High.

“That’s a nice bonus,” Carpenter said. “Last year, it was tough to recruit kids for the team, because we had them working out at night at other pools across town.”

Estancia will showcase its pool when it hosts the Estancia varsity tournament on Oct. 13 and 14.

But for now, the Eagles prepare for their preseason opener, also at home against Savanna High of Anaheim on Sept. 5.

“CIF isn’t the only goal,” Carpenter said. “We’d like to do well in our nonleague games and our tournaments. CIF is just the icing on the cake.”

THE EAGLES

Jeff Crosson Jr.

Ryan Esfahni Jr.

Kyle Lux Jr.

Shane Lyons So.

Chris MacLean Jr.

Ryan Tasbihchi Jr.

Kreger Todd So.

Jacob Watchman So.

Tyler Wayman Jr.

Josh Young Jr.

Coach: John Carpenter (27th year)