DOWNEY - The Warren High School boys' water polo team is gearing up for their fall season.The Bears have had a busy summer which included a daily summer camp June 25 through July 26. The Bears competed at several different sites over the summer in addition to having an intense practice schedule. The Bears had games at Kennedy, Garden Grove, El Rancho and Orange High Schools, in addition to Cerritos College. The Bears had their C.I.F. mandated "dead period" from July 28 through August 17 in which no practices were scheduled or held. The Bears fall practices resumed on Monday, August 20, in preparation for their first preseason game. Warren will take part in their annual "alumni game" on Friday, August 31, followed by their first official games at the El Rancho Tournament from September 6-8. The El Rancho Tournament will be followed by hosting Santa Fe on September 11 and participating in the Los Altos Tournament September 14-15. Warren will open league play at cross-town rival Downey on October 2. Warren is looking to build off of their 9-16 overall record and 3-2 league record from last season. Warren has several key players returning. Goalie Bernabe Perez, leading goal scorer Jonathan Iglesias and drivers David Romero, Oscar Orozco, Micah Lopez and Diego Lucas all return with more experience and skill. Coach Nichols and his players are certainly looking forward to the start of the season. Nichols had a young squad last year and made the C.I.F. playoffs from the San Gabriel Valley League as the number three team. Coach Nichols is confident his team will be more competitive and make a strong run at the San Gabriel Valley League title and perhaps, a longer run in the C.I.F. playoffs. Nichols maintains that Cerritos and cross-town rival Downey will provide tough competition as league games get underway.

********** Published: August 30, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 20