The thing that stands out about Aiden and Liam Flanagan, starters on the La Jolla High water polo team, is that they complement each other as individuals and on their team: One tends to go first when asked a question (Liam). Aiden plays tough defense on the 1-2 side, often passing in the offense on the 4-5 side, while Liam scores a lot from the 2 position as a right-hander.
They’re probably their twin’s best advocates, too. “His best career moment was the game against Bishop’s (a 12-11 win in the CIF Open Division semifinals on Nov. 12),” says Aiden of Liam. “He had five goals, and propelled the team to victory.”
From early memories of their dad pushing them on a yellow surfboard at La Jolla Shores, through swimming beginning at age 10 for the Clairemont Rec Center team, the senior leaders of the Viking water polo team have had aquatics in their sight — culminating to this point in coach Tom Atwell’s team in the regional playoffs.
As far as inspiring younger athletes, the same way Liam admires pro surfer Mick Fanning for persevering through family and physical struggles—a shark scarily got entangled in his leash during a tournament competition — Aiden verbalizes it: “I feel like we both went through some rough experiences. We were on the JVs (at LJHS) as juniors, and benched.
“It’s a testament to our hard work and hanging in there, what it’s like to (persevere) and, hopefully, win.”
During their high school years, the pair heard “trash-talking” from their Bishop’s rivals after repeated losses in Western League and postseason head-to-heads. The recent triumph, with Liam’s five goals, including his last one with 1:50 to play to put the Vikings ahead by two goals for a safety pad, “meant a lot”, recounts Liam. “That’s why people were jumping in the pool” (from the La Jolla student section after the final horn).
Both not so secretly hold fantasies of playing for the Vikings football team. Unfortunately, the two teams play in the same season, and both require total commitment, so that wasn’t going to happen after Aiden and Liam played for the freshman football team three years ago, then switched to the school water polo program.
“Not unless he grows five inches, and adds a few more pounds,” says Aiden of his brother’s football fandom, which they play out in following the Chargers. “I was devastated when they left,” he says. “We were in the fourth grade.” On interview day, he is wearing a Chargers “bolt” shirt.
“What a loss at La Jolla for (football coach Tyler) Roach—I like to think that,” Aiden jokes.
Liam discusses music preferences: “I like Led Zeppelin, and the Alice and Mary Chain.” Aiden: “Stone Temple Pilots.” The latter clarifies: “I listen more to rap to get motivated (for games). To calm down and get back to being focused, I’ll listen to rock. Sometimes I’ll get amped (and have to bring it down).”
