The history of sports is not told in terms of years, seasons or
even teams. It is told in terms of superstars. Those unbelievably
talented people whose numbers we wear, shoes we buy, and stats we
could recite at the drop of a hat. They are the athletes that
accomplish the impossible every game and carry the rest of their
incredibly lucky teammates to championships. Each team has its own
Joe Montana or Kobe Bryant ““ even our beloved Bruin teams
have players who shine a little bit brighter than the rest.
Fortunately for UCLA and Bruin fans, the 2006 water polo team has
more than one player sharing the spotlight. “Any guy can step
up on any given day,” coach Adam Krikorian said. “I
don’t think we have any one superstar, but we do have some
excellent players.” In previous years, men’s water
polo, like most other Bruin sports, has been fortunate to enjoy the
talents of superstars, one or two specific players a team can count
on to up the score. In the 2004 season, the national champions were
carried by Brett Ormsby, who led the team in scoring with 70 goals
throughout the season (the next closest scorer was Ted Peck, with
28 goals). However, last year foreshadowed the 2006 season, as
David Pietsch and Logan Powell led the team in scoring with 39 and
34 goals respectively during the season. This year, there is not
just one outstanding player, but a group of solid offensive
contributors. The four-time national championship team is enjoying
the implausible privilege of three high scorers ““ junior
Marco Santos, senior Logan Powell and sophomore Krsto Sbutega, who
are able to spread the offensive burden among themselves. Santos is
ranked 24th in the league with a total of 17 goals, Powell is 19th
with 19 goals, and Sbutega is ranked 15th with 21 goals. A couple
of other players follow closely in the rankings. “I like to
score goals, but we do have a very balanced offense,” Sbutega
said. “I also like to pass and set up and assist if
it’s needed, and it’s easier to know the other guys
will score,” he said. When asked about his lack of a specific
playmaker, Krikorian said, “I think sometimes it is better
““ you know, you don’t rely on one particular guy. But
[the fact that we don’t have just one], I don’t think
it’s that big of a deal.” Even with the lack of a
single standout, the men’s water polo team has found success
this season. The Bruins are currently ranked third, and are about
to face off against No. 2 Cal and No. 7 University of the Pacific.
UCLA’s accomplishments this fall contest that a team does not
need a superstar to be successful ““ just determination,
talent, and heart.
DEFENSE SHINES: After nine weeks of play, the
Bruins boast the best defensive stat in the MPSF league of the
lowest goals against average. Headed most recently by redshirt
freshman Chay Lapin in front of the goal, UCLA beats out the other
top-ranked teams allowing an average of only 5.71 goals per game.
“We’ve been doing a nice job defensively, which I am
very happy with,” Krikorian said. “We had been working
very hard in practice and it is paying off. Chay has been doing a
very nice job.”