2003 Frontier League champs stand proud

Malibu Times Staff writer

Coach Mike Mulligan has now watched his team win the Frontier League Championship 10 years in a row, and pile up an unbelievable record of 76-0 in league play. Malibu High School beat Nordhoff High School last week to clinch the 2003 title. 

In the past two weeks, the Sharks beat Santa Monica and Crespi (a division one school). This is a scrappy and dedicated group of boys that has overcome adversity from day one. The team's number one and number two goalies did not return this year, and it lost several other top players. However, at the end of the day, the Sharks completed the season with a winning record of 20-6, a league championship, a tournament championship and a spot in CIF.

October, 2003

The Malibu High School Sharks varsity water polo team

With the season just starting, the Sharks went to Zack Hahn Tournament at Calabasas High School with only one thing in mind: To "take home the gold"...and they did just that.

After defeating Rio Mesa and Culver City in the first and second rounds last Thrusday, the boys went back to the Shark Tank on Friday and practiced very hard. Saturday they found themselves in the semi final game against the home team, Calabasas. There is a big rivalry between these two teams, so the stage was set for who would make it to the Final Championship Game---The Calabasas Coyotes or the Malibu Sharks? In the first quarter of play it was all about defense until, with one minute left, Hayden Goldberg on a fast break found himself in front of the defense with just the Calabasas goalie between him and a score.  A couple of pump fakes later and the score was 1 to 0. That ended the first quarter. Coach Mike Mulligan told his team that if they would keep their focus and play "Shark" water polo, the victory would be theirs.  They beat Calabasas convincingly.  The championship game was set, Crespi vs. Malibu.  Crespi beat Burbank, Westlake and Crescenta Valley to make it to the finals. This was a well-played game on both sides. However, with the relentless defensive attack, led by Nick Keitel (First Tournament Team) and a steady offense led by a determined scrappy Cody Shirk (Most Valuable Player of the Tournament),  Matt Ochinananek in goal who blocked a 4-meter shot late in the game, and  Hayden Goldberg who put the icing on the cake with the less than 2 minutes to go, popping up in the middle and putting in a high corner shot, it was too much for Crespi to handle. The threat of every Malibu player was evident throughout this game and tournament, either from the hard shooting of Jerry Wolf Duff Sellers or the never-quit attitude of  Colby Trivette, the speed of  Steven Gary, lefty  Parker Mitchell, secret weapon,  Joey Large, Kelly (the thief) Jacobson, the quickness of  Eric Kramer, the aggressive play of  Joe Mahon, and the outstanding performance by  Nick Rollins, who always had a smile on his face, this team came to play with talent, a positive attitude and class.  Every player contributed to this win. Everyone scored and made great defensive plays.