Boys water polo: Warren keeps making strides
Warren's Santiago Currea remembers a couple of years ago well.
That's when Warren's boys water polo team formed, and its inexperience showed, as the Blue Devils won just one game in its inaugural season.
Fast forward a couple of years and the Devils are looking every bit as seasoned as the next team.
"I'm a senior now and feel like I was born with this (program)," Currea said. "It's been amazing to see the growth. We have close to 18 on varsity and close to 40 overall in the program."
Warren added its fourth victory already this season by upending visiting Vernon Hills 16-10 in Gurnee on Wednesday evening.
"It's really cool to see us growing like this," said Gustavo Kolicheski, who started on JV but has been on varsity two years. "Our confidence and ability in our play have definitely risen."
Vernon Hills is also an up-and-coming program and has the growth and numbers to show for it as well.
"The varsity is gelling," Cougars assistant coach Jim Pardun said. "The guys are good buddies outside of the water, and I think that makes for good teammates in the water."
The Cougars (1-5) got off to a fast start, going ahead 2-0 with 2:56 left in the first on goals by Ruslan Khamdulaev and Remington Boes. Boes finished with 3 goals.
But Warren (4-3) bounced right back with three unanswered scores to take the lead for good at 3-2 after the opening period of play.
Sam Aiello rebounded his own shot and scored. He then assisted Jarrett Lobitz a minute later, and Jeremy Gunter scored on a penalty shot, one of his 5 goals.
Warren used the momentum to outscore the Cougars 4-2 in the second for a 7-4 halftime lead with Currea scoring twice.
Then came the third, when Warren seemingly shut the door, outscoring the visitors 7-2 to create separation and 14-6 after the frame.
"That was big for us to come out strong in the third," said Currea, who finished with the two goals. "We lit it up as a set. We just need to guard against getting too lazy on defense."
The "D" did its thing in the third, holding Vernon Hills to just 3 shots on goal. Gunter scored the hat trick in the third, while Aiello added two.
Vernon Hills wasn't going quietly, though, outscoring the Blue Devils 4-2 in the fourth.
Ben Ravenscraft scored twice, while Sasha Vasilevich and Boes added a goal apiece at the final horn.