PREVIEW:Something for everyone

Len Shonka Jr., who is a three-time club champion at Chevy Chase Country Club, will be flanked by senior Andrew Szot and a core of underclassmen that will include juniors Adrian Guy and Patrick Degnan and sophomore Chris Campbell.

"I'll be counting on them because they are going to have to all be playing well in our matches every time out," Durfee said. "Teams like Loyola and Harvard-Westlake are going to be stacked once again, and everybody in our league will be better.

"If we are good, we can compete with the better teams."

Flintridge Prep placed third in the Prep League last season under Coach Bob Loughrie, who will begin his 21st season with the Rebels.

Loughrie said it might take a while for the Rebels to gel, but he's not concerned with the return of junior Hasan Doxey and seniors Mac Carroll, Drew Titus and Shane Pattummadith.

"I think we'll have a run in us," Loughrie said. "We won't be great to start, but we'll get better.

"We'll make our move in April."

Glendale and Hoover will look to capture the Pacific League's B Division after finishing third and fourth, respectively, in league last season.

The Nitros and Tornadoes will each return several key athletes to their lineups.

Those expected to compete for Glendale, who are coached by Anthony Mohr, are juniors Michael Reyes and Matthew Zari and sophomore Tammy Panich.

Hoover, which is coached by Vigen Jilizian, will turn to seniors Spencer Lere, Dylan Lacom and Andrew Rubino and sophomore Joseph Wingco.

Mohr and Jilizian said they are eager to see how their teams perform in the league's new format.

"I expect us to win the B Division," said Mohr, who took over the program from Bob Francis.

Jilizian said it will be important that his athletes improve in each match.