The boys water polo team reached the semifinals of thewCalifornia Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Championships before losing to Newport Harbor on Nov. 9. The score of the game was 11 to 9, with Newport Harbor outscoring them. The school is the third best water polo team in the country, and Newport Harbor is ranked number one, according to MaxPreps. The team also faced Newport Harbor once earlier in the season, but also fell short with a score of 11 to 10.
Attacker Alex Heenan ’24 said the team’s improved chemistry was central to their success, and that its loss will only serve as inspiration for next season.
“I feel that the progress our team made in coming together and working for [the sake of] the team as a whole instead of the individual led to our team’s success this year,” Heenan said. “I think that this recent loss will help our team in providing further motivation to improve as a team and focus on correcting the mistakes we made. I think that if we are able to make these changes, our chances of winning CIF next year are promising.”
Attacker Asher Engelberg ’24 agreed and said the team’s strong bonds were vital.
“Our teamwork and camaraderie were instrumental in allowing us to be successful in the playoffs,” Engelberg said.
The team finished their league season with an undefeated record of 4-0, and currently has an overall record of 19-6. The team will compete for a statewide CIF championship in the coming weeks.
Defender Jaxson Tierney ’23 attributed the team’s success to their work ethic.
“I think what made us successful this year was our team not making excuses and working hard,” Tierney said.
Heenan said the team plans to continue this dedication in preparation for next year’s sectionals. The team remains optimistic about their chances to win a championship in the upcoming seasons.
“We have to keep working to get a shot at winning a championship next year,” Heenan said.