First published in the Sept. 17 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
The Burbank High School varsity boys’ water polo team crushed host South Pasadena, 22-3, in a nonleague game Wednesday.
“Execution and consistency are key,” Burbank head coach David Arakelyan said. “I have been seeing a lot of that in the past four or five games. Ever since we lost our first game, we’ve just been picking up the consistency and it’s looking good all around.”
Burbank opened the game with six straight goals in the first four minutes and maintained the dominant lead throughout the match. Senior Zack Gezalyan collected four goals and three steals, sophomore Gevorg Choginyan tallied four goals, two assists and one steal and sophomore Eric Avetisyan scored four goals. Sophomore Jack Babelyan had two goals, three steals and three assists, senior Andy Gezalyan had two goals and one steal, and junior Michael Misakyan scored a pair of goals. Sophomore Greg Baboudjian had one goal, three assists and one steal, junior Alex Kobalyan finished with one goal and three steals, junior Raffi Gevorgyan had one goal, one steal and one assist, and junior Hayk Atanasyan registered one goal and one assist. Junior Alec Chalkdzhyan recorded five saves, one assist and one steal, while senior Narek Abedian posted four saves and two assists. Senior Arman Hovhanissyan produced two steals and four assists, junior Arthur Saryan logged two steals and one assist, and junior Andranik Bilbulyan notched two steals.
The Bulldogs narrowly won a nonleague game the day before at Temple City, 13-11, as Zack Gezalyan racked up five goals and two steals. Gevorgyan produced two goals, two assists and one steal, while Hovhanissyan tallied two goals, four steals and one assist. Choginyan had one goal, four assists and two steals, Bilbulyan registered one goal, three assists and one steal, Atanasyan collected one goal, one steal and one assist, and sophomore Danny Agazaryan posted one goal and one steal. Sophomore Christian Lazaryan tallied six saves and four steals, while Chalkdzhyan posted two steals.
Burbank previously finished fifth in the two-day Chino Hills Tournament last weekend, posting a 3-1 record. The Bulldogs picked up a pair of victories on the final day of tournament play, including one against Crescenta Valley, 12-6. Zack Gezalyan and Hovhanissyan each collected three goals, while Gevorgyan tallied a pair of two goals. Abedian and Lazaryan posted six and two saves, respectively, while Agazaryan, Choginyan, Kobalyan and Atanasyan each scored once
Burbank collected its second tournament win earlier on Saturday by dominating Pacifica High of Oxnard, 17-5. Lazaryan amassed 17 saves, while Hovhanissyan produced four goals. Gevorgyan recorded three goals, Zack Gezalyan and Avetisyan each had two goals, and Bilbulyan, Babelyan, Misakyan, Saryan, Agazaryan and Choginyan each finished with one goal.
The Bulldogs were edged by Rancho Cucamonga, 9-8, in sudden death overtime on the first day of tournament play on Friday. Zack Gezalyan recorded four goals, Hovhanissyan posted three goals and Choginyan registered one goal. Lazaryan and Chalkdzhyan notched seven and three saves, respectively
Burbank opened the tournament by dominating San Dieguito High of Encinitas, 15-6. Zack Gezalyan and Gevorgyan each had four goals, Atanasyan and Hovhanissyan each tallied two goals, and Avetisyan, Agazaryan and Choginyan each scored once. Chalkdzhyan tallied three saves, while Lazaryan and Abedian each finished with a pair of saves.
Burbank beat host Camarillo, 12-8, in a nonleague game last Thursday, as Hovhanissyan scored a team-high four goals. Choginyan notched three goals, Atanasyan and Gevorgyan each collected two goals and Zack Gezalyan registered one goal. Abedian and Lazaryan finished with five and three saves, respectively.
“It’s a great start, we just have to keep building from here,” Arakelyan said. “We don’t want to lose any more; we want to go from here as far as we can go until the very end.”
The Bulldogs (12-2 overall) will visit Buena High in Ventura for a nonleague game on Monday, Sept. 19, at 3:15 p.m.
BURROUGHS
The Bears lost a nonleague game against visiting St. Francis High of La Cañada Flintridge, 18-5, on Tuesday. Harrison Siegel scored a team-high three goals, while Ryan Rolando and Logan Turla each scored once.
JBHS competed in the two-day Malibu Tournament last weekend, finishing with a 2-2 record. The Bears routed Oxnard, 21-7, as Siegel amassed eight goals. Harrison Zekowski collected five goals, while Turla posted four goals. Ian Duffield scored twice, while Jean Paul Medrano had four saves.
JBHS also crushed Moorpark, 23-8, as Zekowski amassed nine goals. Turla posted seven goals, while Siegel tallied three goals. Duffield collected two goals, and Rolando and Winston Bromhead each finished with one goal.
Burroughs dropped a tournament matchup to Rio Mesa of Oxnard, 15-8. Turla produced three goals, Siegel and Duffield each recorded two goals, and Zekowski scored once.
JBHS also lost to Palisades, 13-7. Zekowski tallied four goals, Duffield registered two goals and Siegel had one goal.
Burroughs (4-6 overall) will compete in the three-day Claremont Wolfpack Tournament between Thursday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 24.
