The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach in 2025-26 is sponsored by Watersafe Swim School.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
First-year coach Ian Schubert has inherited a water polo program on the rise. With a veteran-led team and the debut of Lakewood’s new state-of-the-art aquatic facility, Schubert hopes to transform the program’s culture and grow the sport in the local community.
“We’re looking to expand the sport in the greater area and bring athletes to the sport of water polo,” said Schubert. “With such a beautiful facility, the next step is to bring the Lakewood and Northern Long Beach community in and have more people participating in water polo.”
The Lancers will rely on a group of juniors and seniors this year who have spent the last three years learning to play alongside one another. Schubert especially expects big years out of senior Daniel Marquez and junior Justin Munoz, whom he credited for the amount of work they’ve put in.
“These two have put in hundreds of hours since last season and have developed themselves into great players,” he said of Marquez and Munoz. “We expect them to be both our defensive anchors and our offensive presence in the majority of our matchups.”
Lakewood will also lean on senior utility players Maxson Hoke and Patrick Pascual alongside senior driver Javante Fearence and junior driver Noah Sturgis. Schubert boasted about having a selfless team and says it will be key for his players to come together and play as a team.
“The athletes have begun to develop a style of play that puts the better water polo play over the individual statistic,” he said. “If we can carry on to continue to play as a team, it could be a huge contributing factor to some of our games.”
Schubert’s goal this season is to have his team above the .500 mark which would be generally good enough for a bid into the CIF-SS playoffs. Lakewood finished with an overall record of 12-13 last year and fell to fifth place in the Moore League.
