A new season underway, the Fullerton College Men’s Water Polo Team is ready to put last season’s misfortunes aside and strive for excellence. Last year’s Hornets, with a record of 10 wins and 16 losses, found themselves struggling from the outset.

The team had to compete without six of the seven members they had projected to be in their starting lineup caused by transfers and academic ineligibility. Coach Rhett Price, the full time Aquatics Coach since the 1990 season, however, has reason to be optimistic after last season’s dismay.

“We had to play the majority of last season with our second unit, but they practiced and worked very hard,” said Coach Price. “That work ethic is gonna put our team in the hunt this season.”

Coach Price’s new crop of recruits figures to be a promising one with talented but raw players. It will be his task to mold this group of kids.

“Our individual talent is exciting. The players are pretty aggressive and take getting better personally,” Price said. “Our game plan will be centered on our speed and outside shooting, along with our knowledge of the game of water polo due to our lack of size.”

In the game of water polo the “set” position, often associated with a “center” in basketball, is traditionally the anchor of an offense but this team will do things differently.

“It’s a pretty diverse group, but we are devoted to our speed since we don’t have much size,” said sophomore Ian Montgomery.

Montgomery is one of the five Sophomores returning this season. Their task will be to assist Coach Price in his efforts to bond together these new players into a cohesive unit.

Coach Price believes that their rigid conditioning, talent and passion will be the determining factors this season. However, they must face the Orange Empire Conference, which proved to be one of the toughest in the state with Golden West having won the State Championship last year.

“We are a very exciting team to watch,” Price said. “When we play Golden West at home, I promise it will be a barn-burner.”