In only their second year after moving up from Division III, the girls water polo team won its first CIF-SS Division II championship, defeating San Clemente High School 13-12. The team won on a late goal by attacker Juliette O’Brien ’21 on a pass from fellow attacker Alexandra Button ’21. The team then held strong in the last minute of the match and prevented San Clemente’s Alex Higginson, who finished with nine goals, from tying the match. 

Girls Water Polo (@CIFSS Championship): Harvard-Westlake 13, San Clemente 12 Final @HwPolo pic.twitter.com/NjGGonVxR8

— Harvard-Westlake (@hwathletics) February 22, 2020

Captain and attacker Namlhun Jachung ’20 led the Wolverines with five goals, while O’Brien finished with three. 

The Wolverines entered the playoffs ranked third to last in CIF-SS Division II. In the first round, the squad defeated Woodrow Wilson High School 10-6. It then faced Oaks Christian School, a team that had already defeated the Wolverines twice this season, and won a close 9-8 match at home. In the semi-finals, the squad defeated Mira Costa High School 10-8, leading them to Saturday’s championship.

Center Adeline Jackson ’21 says that the win is so satisfying and says that she still can’t believe it.

“It’s still surreal,” said center Adeline Jackson ’21. “We’ve really been working so hard, and it feels so good to know that its payed off. I’m just so happy that we gave it all and got the result we wanted.”

Up Next

The Wolverines are not done yet as they still have to compete in the CIF SoCal Girls Water Polo Championships. The team has a first round matchup at Foothill High School on Feb. 28.