They’re alive! Lancers surge into CIF playoffs

T.O. secures second place in Marmonte League



THE LOWE POST—Thousand Oaks High boys’ water polo junior Dalton Lowe shoots during the Lancers’ 14-13 overtime win against Newbury Park on Tuesday on the road. Thousand Oaks secured second place in the Marmonte League standings and a playoff berth with the victory. Photos by RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

THE LOWE POST—Thousand Oaks High boys’ water polo junior Dalton Lowe shoots during the Lancers’ 14-13 overtime win against Newbury Park on Tuesday on the road. Thousand Oaks secured second place in the Marmonte League standings and a playoff berth with the victory. Photos by RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

BOYS’ WATER POLO /// Thousand Oaks Lancers

Zach Graper is the Victor Frankenstein of the Conejo Valley.

The third-year Thousand Oaks High boys’ water polo head coach has resurrected a struggling Lancer program, bringing to life a monster of a team that will be a force to be reckoned with in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

“I think we’re capable of beating any team in Division 4,” the coach said.

“Offensively, we’re going to have size and power that not many Division 4 teams have. While I have a lot of respect for teams like JSerra and San Juan Hills, they don’t have seven guys over 6-foot-1 that are working together as a team,” Graper said.

It took time for Graper, who assisted Jack Kocur on Oaks Christian’s CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship squad in 2016, to create a title contender.

“I knew I was coming into a program that was going to have a rough start,” the coach said. “I was pretty excited for that.”

GREEN MACHINE—Thousand Oaks’ Reef Lippa cheers during the Lancers’ win against Newbury Park.

GREEN MACHINE—Thousand Oaks’ Reef Lippa cheers during the Lancers’ win against Newbury Park.

Spoken like a true mad scientist.

Graper, a Royal High grad who played at Ventura College and Cal Lutheran, weathered the early storms. Thousand Oaks, which had not reached the postseason since 2014, was winless in the Marmonte League in 2017 and 2-6 in league outings in 2018.

This year, the Lancers, ranked No. 9 in the Division 4 poll, have racked up a 20-5 overall record, including 5-3 in league.

Graper credits a rigorous offseason training program and a new level of commitment from his players for this year’s success.

“We really began preparation a week after the season ended last year,” he said. “We’d train for an hour every day, lifting weights or doing swim conditioning. The boys really bought into the offseason, and I think that’s been the difference-maker.”

The players have noticed a difference.

“More people have the drive to get better,” said Greg Olsen, a junior captain and 2-meter defender. “We wanted to win more games.”

GRUDEN’S GRINDERS— Thousand Oaks head coach Zach Graper talks with junior Kuba Skoczen during the Lancers’ win against Newbury Park on Oct. 29 at NPHS.

GRUDEN’S GRINDERS— Thousand Oaks head coach Zach Graper talks with junior Kuba Skoczen during the Lancers’ win against Newbury Park on Oct. 29 at NPHS.

Victories came early and often during a 7-0 start, including a Conejo Classic title in September.

“After the first couple of games, that’s when I noticed this year was different,” said Braden Padberg, a senior captain and utility. “We’ve taken that momentum with us throughout the rest of the season.”

While the Lancers couldn’t knock off league juggernaut Oaks Christian, a Division 1 squad, Thousand Oaks defeated Westlake twice in one-goal victories on Oct. 3 and 24.

After losing to Newbury Park 11-10 Oct. 10, Thousand Oaks relentlessly battled back from numerous deficits to knock off the Panthers 14-13 in an overtime thriller on Tuesday afternoon.

Those battles have readied T.O. for the playoffs.

“It was a learning opportunity. We had to see what works with our team and how we all blend together,” junior attacker Conner Halvorsen said.

Thousand Oaks relies on a scary good lineup, including sophomore goalkeepers Braeden Sanders and Austin Berce.

 

 

Junior Dalton Lowe, Olsen and Halvorsen make plays on both ends of the pool.

Kuba Skoczen, a junior, and sophomores Reef Lippa and Presley Williams provide firepower on offense.

Lippa and Logan Morgan, another sophomore, transferred to Thousand Oaks from Newbury Park after their freshman seasons.

Noah Burr, Maison Van Item, Cade Rond, Carsen Peyton, Dylan Hearst, Andrew Liu, Cole Belavic and Matix Springer bolster a deep lineup. Rond is the son of Cal Lutheran men’s water polo coach Craig Rond.

Is anything going to stop this loaded lineup from capturing a Division 4 title?

The Lancers have talent. They have depth. They have camaraderie.

The only thing this title contender lacks is playoff experience, but the Lancers are confident they can still put together a lengthy run.

“I think we can come out on top, hopefully win CIF,” Sanders said.

Winning a CIF title would be a storybook ending to Padberg’s playing career.

“I’ve been playing since seventh grade,” Padberg said. “I’ve put in a countless amount of hours, and I’ve never really won anything like that. To end my career (with a CIF title) would be a super rewarding way to go out after all the years of sacrifice and hard work I’ve put into it.”

Padberg, a 4.77 GPA honors student who wants to study business in college, sent in his application for his dream school, the University of Pennsylvania, on Oct. 27.

Before he sets sail, the captain will savor his first playoff journey.

“This will be the last time in my life that I’ll be in this close of a team setting,” Padberg said. “They’re some of my closest friends. There’s a really special dynamic. I’ll still hang out with some of my closer friends, but it won’t be the same as having the consistent three hours with the same group of people. I’m enjoying the moment.”

Follow Jonathan Andrade on Twitter @J_ Andrade_.