First published in the Oct. 1 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
The Burbank High School varsity boys’ water polo team continued its fine season by opening Pacific League action with a 17-9 victory at Glendale on Tuesday.
Senior Zack Gezalyan produced a game-high six goals and two assists while junior Raffi Gevorgyan collected three goals, five assists and four steals. Sophomore Gevorg Choginyan tallied two goals and two steals, senior Arman Hovhanissyan registered two goals and two assists, and junior Andranik Bilbulyan posted one goal, two steals and two assists. Sophomore Danny Agazaryan finished with one goal and two assists, senior Andy Gezalyan and sophomore Jack Babelyan each scored once, and senior Narek Abedian had three saves and two steals. Sophomore Christian Lazaryan notched one save, junior Hayk Atanasyan recorded two assists and one steal, and juniors Alex Kobalyan and Arthur Saryan had one steal and one assist, respectively.
The Bulldogs previously won the Claremont Tournament open division after winning all four matchups, including the championship game on Saturday over host Claremont, 14-10.
“It was some of the best water polo we played all year, especially the final — it was a close game and the way we won by a big margin was really good and showed a lot about us,” Burbank head coach David Arakelyan said. “As the season has progressed, we have really come into our own as a unit. Everybody is on the same page now and it’s the perfect time for that heading into league.”
Junior Alec Chalkdzhyan collected 11 saves and two assists, Choginyan registered four goals, six assists and two steals, Zack Gezalyan posted four goals, two steals and two assists, and Hovhanissyan tallied four goals and one assist. Gevorgyan produced two goals, one steal and one assist, while Atanasyan had one goal, two steals and one assist. Burbank defeated Brea Olinda, 12-5, in the semifinal match earlier on Saturday.
The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a dominant 14-8 victory over Birmingham High of Lake Balboa last Thursday. Zack Gezalyan racked up five goals, six steals and two assists, while Choginyan had four goals. Bilbulyan recorded two goals and three steals, Kobalyan posted two goals and one steal, and Gevorgyan finished with one goal, three steals and two assists. Hovhanissyan tallied five assists and two steals, Abedian registered three saves and one steal, Chalkdzhyan had two saves, and sophomore Eric Avetisyan produced one steal.
Burbank finished the first day of tournament play on Thursday by crushing Chino Hills, 12-5.
The Bulldogs (18-2 overall, 1-0 in league) will continue league action at Arcadia on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 3:30 p.m.
BURROUGHS
The Bears defeated host Pasadena Tuesday in their Pacific League opener, 20-7, as Harrison Zekowski led with a game-high six goals. Ian Duffield produced five goals, while Logan Turla scored four goals. Harrison Siegel tallied three goals, while Winston Bromhead and Ryan Rolando each registered one goal.
Burroughs was previously swept in the two-day Claremont Tournament; however, due to injuries and illnesses, several varsity players were absent for the three games. The Bears lost to Temple City, 14-10, and Claremont, 16-6, last Saturday, after falling to Birmingham High of Lake Balboa, 19-8, on the first day of tournament play last Friday.
JBHS (6-9 overall, 1-0 in league) will host Glendale in a league game on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 3:30 p.m.
