BOYS' WATER POLO: MOORPARK AWAITS TEST IMPROVED WATER POLO TEAM TO FACE AREA'S TOP SQUADS.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

MOORPARK - There is something missing at Moorpark High boys' water polo games this season.

``Everyone doesn't laugh at us anymore as soon as we jump in the pool,'' Musketeers senior Ben Hadley says.

In just its fourth season of varsity play, Moorpark has gone from laughingstock to Marmonte League contender with a core group that has been with the program from the start.

The Musketeers (13-3 overall, 5-1 Marmonte), who were 0-28 their firsttwo seasons of league play, are about to find out just how far they have come, beginning a brutal stretch today in which they'll play three games against the Southern Section Div. IV's top twoteams in seven days. After facing top-ranked Royal of Simi Valley today, the teams meet again Monday in a makeup game, and Moorpark plays at No. 2 Agoura the following day.

``They have what it takes,'' first-year coach Thomas Smith said. ``They have the talent. They just need to put it together for four quarters.''

Smith knows what it takes to win in the competitive Marmonte League. He helped Thousand Oaks to the championship as a senior in 2001.

Back then, Moorpark wasn't even part of the mix.

Although a few of the Musketeers, such as goalkeeper Chris Huffman, started playing water polo before high school, most were simply intrigued by a new sport being offered at the school when they arrived as freshmen.

``I didn't even know what water polo was when I started,'' senior Ryan Resnick said.

Learning a new sport wasn't easy at a school without a pool. Until a pool was built at nearby Maverick's Sports Club, the Musketeers played nothing but road games for two seasons and shuffled among Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks and Westlake for practices whenever they could get pool time.

Practices at 9 and 10 p.m. weren't uncommon, according to the players.

A dedicated group of 11 seniors remain from those early days, giving the Musketeers the most experienced team in the league.

``I think the fact we all started together is a big part of it,'' Huffman said. ``We're all really good friends. Our team chemistry is really good.''

Moorpark made massive strides by going 20-9 last year, but it was denied its first postseason berth when the Musketeers lost a tiebreaker game in overtime after sharing third place with Thousand Oaks and Westlake of Thousand Oaks.

The league title became the goal this year for the group that once hoped simply for respectability.

Returning all-leaguers Hadley and Trevor Johnson pace the offense with 36goals each. Huffman has developed into a solid enough force in goal that he's receiving interest from college teams.

Smith, who replaced Peter Daland as coach, had high expectations for a team he took over shortly before the season began, and he hasn't been disappointed.

Moorpark is not among the five Marmonte teams ranked in the Div.IV Top 10, but the Musketeers have accomplished enough to make opponents take notice. It won the San Luis Obispo tournament last month, lost by just one in its first game against Agoura and beat Thousand Oaks, the team that edged Moorpark for the league's final playoff berth last season.

``I came in dry, not knowing any of these guys,'' Smith said. ``I wanted to win league. As soon as I saw them, I knew it was possible. They have the confidence now, too.''

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The improved Moorpark High water polo team will face Southern Section Div. IV powers Royal and Agoura over the next seven days.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer