One of the most critical characteristics of success in sports is confidence, something the Palo Alto High School boys’ water polo team does not lack.

“I expect us to be in a situation to win our league this year, as well as make a competitive run in CCS,” head coach Aaron Johnson said. “We may have lost a big part of our team from last year, but the guys that are stepping up in their place know they have big shoes to fill and the bar is set high.”

Senior left-handed driver Bryan Look shares a similar projection for the season.

“We are looking forward to another great year of Paly water polo,” Look said. “Once again we are looking to win two championships, both leagues and CCS.”

Coming off a successful 2016 season (16-11, 12-2) that ended in a second place finish in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and a quarterfinal defeat in the Central Coast Section tournament, the boys now look ahead to the upcoming season.

Palo Alto’s primary competition in league play is the Gunn Titans (18-7, 11-0). Both of the Vikings’ losses in league last year came at the hand of the Titans, who also defeated the Vikings in the championship game of the SCVAL tournament.

With the Viking Class of 2017 gone, the boys must replace five of seven players from its 2016 starting lineup.

According to Look, last year’s bench players (non-starters) will need to step up into the starting lineup and perform at a high level throughout the season in order for the team to have a strong year.

This season, the Vikings will start three seniors, three juniors, and one sophomore. Senior Jack Andersen and junior goalie Ben Rapperport are the only returning starters from the previous year and will provide veteran leadership for the team in the pool.

The boys open their season at 4 p.m. at Junipero Serra High School on Aug. 30.