Prolific Scoring Set Falitz Apart at Burroughs

Two words which describe The Times’ regional player of the year, Jason Falitz of Burroughs High: scoring machine.

After a prolific junior season that made him a marked man, Falitz shattered his own regional record a year later with 202 goals.

Falitz, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound two-meter player who scored 187 goals last year, seemingly scored at will despite being double and triple-covered.

“I didn’t expect to score more than last year,” Falitz said. “The only thing in my mind was going to the [Southern Section] finals.”

Although Falitz and Burroughs were eliminated by Crescenta Valley, 10-9, in the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs, the Indians set a school record for victories, finishing 23-5.

Falitz, the Almont League’s most valuable player, was the catalyst.

His skills have improved steadily since he began playing water polo four summers ago at the suggestion of a school counselor.

He had never swam competitively, but he thought the sport sounded like a fresh alternative after trying baseball, soccer and roller hockey as a youngster.

“When I was a freshman, the only thing I worried about was being able to swim for 10 minutes at a time,” Falitz said.

Although he experienced success immediately in water polo, Falitz wasn’t satisfied.

“He didn’t just rest on the fact that he was a talented player,” Burroughs Coach Rey Rivera said. “He worked at it every day.”

Falitz, who plays water polo year-round, joined the exclusive Harvard water polo foundation three years ago and honed his skills under the tutelage of Rich Corso, a former men’s Olympic coach.

“He loves to score and I think that is a great gift in a player,” Corso said.

Falitz, who ranks among the state’s all-time top five scorers with 455 career goals, leaves an indelible mark on the regional record book.

His goal totals of 202 and 187 rank No. 3 and No. 5 on the state single-season scoring list.

He scored a state-record 26 goals in a 38-1 rout of cross-town rival Burbank, breaking a 20-year-old mark held by Kevin Parkes of Colton.

“He’s a great player,” Rivera said. “I think he’s a once-in-a-lifetime player.”

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BOYS’ WATER POLO FINAL TOP 5

1. Harvard-Westlake 21-6

* Division I semifinalist

2. La Canada 26-3

* Division III champions

3. Royal 24-7

* Division IV finalist

4. Crescenta Valley 25-3

* Division III finalist

5. Ventura 22-6

* Division IV semifinalist