Stability amidst liquid motion

Estancia High’s boys water polo team will have a temporary home this

season, but Coach John Carpenter said relationships built in four

years should provide the needed stability for the Eagles to reach the

postseason.

Carpenter, entering his 26th year at the helm, believes this

year’s team, which features five returners among an eight-player

squad, including four starters, has the ability to reach the CIF

Southern Section Division II playoffs.

The Eagles, who finished 9-11 last season, must navigate through

an entire season on the road, though the schedule says otherwise.

In May, Carpenter was told Estancia’s pool will be closed four to

five months for renovations that include replacing a buckling pool

deck, installing wiring for underwater lights, constructing new

starting blocks and inserting new bleachers.

Estancia has practiced at and will hold its home games at Costa

Mesa High.

Carpenter isn’t thrilled with the immediate inconvenience, but

said the finished product will be worth the wait.

“It’s one of those necessary evils,” he said. “But the fact that

it will be new, with lines painted on the bottom and new tiles at the

end of the pool ... it’s going to look really nice. It’s kind of a

morale booster coming to a new sundeck.”

Carpenter said the renovation coincides with other construction

improvements that continue on the school’s campus.

Carpenter said the Eagles should also improve from last season.

He has reason for optimism with the return of seniors Chad Kunert

and Danny Alderete, who both play in set and can also drive. Kunert,

who enters his fourth varsity season, led the team in goals last fall

with Alderete close behind.

Their quickness should yield many counterattacks, Carpenter said.

Kunert repeated as the Golden West League’s 500-yard freestyle

champion last spring.

Seniors John Kao and Devon Mellin also return to lead the offense

while junior Brock McDonald will start in goal after seeing

occasional time there and in the field last season.

Sophomore drivers Josh Young and Jeff Crosson make their varsity

debuts, as does 6-foot-6 senior Leonard Juska. Carpenter said Juska

may see time in goal and in set. Juska played on Estancia’s boys

volleyball team that reached the CIF Division III semifinals and went

undefeated in league last spring. The Eagles open against visiting

Pacifica at 5 p.m. Tuesday.