The Eastlake Titans and Hilltop Lancers each navigated undefeated courses through league play this season to earn berths in the San Diego Section playoffs. The Titans captured their third consecutive Mesa League championship with a perfect 6-0 run. Lancers won this year’s South Bay League title outright with an unblemished 10-0 league record after sharing the title each of the past two seasons with other teams.
Honored as the teams’ respective Player of the Year were two players who made their team go: senior Ian Muhlback for Eastlake and senior Juan Ontiveros for Hilltop.
Muhlbach, who fought off injuries for the bulk of the season, made his presence felt in the Titans’ first-round Division I playoff victory against Poway by scoring his team’s opening two goals in a game that doubled as the first-ever post-season win in school history.
Ontiveros was a steadying influence all season long for Hilltop and one wonders if the team’s first-round playoff game against Steele Canyon might have taken a different course had he not been ill.
Boys Water Polo
2010 MESA LEAGUE
All-League Teams
First Team
Ian Muhlbach (Eastlake) 12
Adam Hilborn (Eastlake) 11
Dylan Chase (Eastlake) 11
Mike Kowalski (Otay Ranch) 12
Adam Glick (Bonita Vista) 12
Bradley Bonney (Chula Vista) 12
Rhett McGinty (Eastlake) 11
Second Team
Mike Tong (Eastlake) 11
Eric Hum (Eastlake) 11
Josue Alvarez (Eastlake) 10
Manny Gambino (Chula Vista) 12
Zach Hamner (Otay Ranch) 12
Devin Brocklehurst (Bonita Vista) 11
Brian Porter (Eastlake) 11
Honorable Mention
Benjamin Metta (Bonita Vista) 12
Carlo Fiorillo (Otay Ranch) 12
Sergio Planko (Otay Ranch) 12
Daniel Lord (Eastlake) 10
Player of the Year
Ian Muhlbach (Eastlake)
Championship Team
Eastlake Titans
SOUTH BAY LEAGUE
2010 All-League Teams
First team
Juan Ontiveros (Hilltop) 12
Luis Ontiveros (Hilltop) 11
Tanner Franklin (Hilltop) 11
Raymond Lugo (Mater Dei) 12
Ivan Chavez (Mater Dei) 12
Matt Wilson (Mar Vista) 12
Justin Patacsil (Mar Vista) 11
Second Team
Rodrigo Perez (Hilltop) 11
Leonardo Perez (Hilltop) 12
Stuart Sokil (Hilltop) 11
Mark Laturno (Mater Dei) 12
Jose Martinez (Mater Dei) 12
Thomas Castillo (Mar Vista) 12
Jonathan Nicoloff (Mar Vista) 12
Player of the Year
Juan Ontiveros (Hilltop)
Championship Team
Hilltop Lancers
