The San Diego Mesa College men's water polo team started the season with a convincing 21-9 win over the Jets of Miramar College. In his first year at the helm, Coach Scott McCollum is optimistic about the team's potential in the competitive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. Initially unsure if he could field a complete team, McCollum managed to assemble this team and was impressed by how quickly they came together.
Two new players, Barrett Satre, and Santiago Gonzalez, made an immediate impact. Satre contributed five goals, six assists, and four steals, and Gonzalez scored six goals, 8 assists, and three steals. Sophomore Johny Dickerson led the team with seven goals, three assists, and three steals. Despite an impressive offensive performance, the game's standout was freshman goalie Elliott Gross, who made eight blocks in his first-ever water polo match.
McCollum acknowledged the team's inexperience and the challenge of integrating new and seasoned players. He emphasized the need for the team to work on transitioning from attack to defense more effectively.
Securing their first win of the season, especially against a conference rival, is significant and sets a positive tone for the rest of the year. McCallum anticipates some growing pains but is excited about the team's potential.