Top Boys Water Polo Teams By Section Entering The Fall Season

The high school boys water polo season has already begun in several sections, or is about to get underway all across the state later this month.

Here is a look at the top boys water polo program in each of the seven sections that highlights competition in California (Northern, Oakland and San Francisco do not showcase the sport) entering this season.

There are several returning section champions looking to add to their impressive title runs, runner-up programs looking to rebound from disappointing setbacks and younger teams that benefited from valuable experiences last season in their pursuit of stronger performances this year.

Read below to find out which boys water polo team was highlighted in each section:

CENTRAL SECTION

Buchanan

Coach: Nic Maes

Last season: Won Division 1 section title, runner-up in Northern California Division 2 regional final

Outlook: Following regular-season losses to Tri-River Athletic Conference rivals Clovis and Clovis East, the Bears found their rhythm at the right time in the postseason, relying on a strong defense to capture their first section crown since winning four in a row from 2016-19 with a convincing victory against San Luis Obispo.

After surviving a thrilling overtime battle against Ripon in the opening round of the Northern California Division 2 regional playoffs, Buchanan advanced to the final, before Campolindo secured the championship.

Although the Bears must replace significant losses after graduating Luke Kneeland, Derek Smith, Luke Paley and Wyatt Smith, they return junior standout Carson Crocket and impressive seniors Carter Clenney and Nate Rey. If Buchanan can continue to emphasize defense and receive consistent goalkeeping, then the Bears have the potential to secure the 13th section title in program history.

CENTRAL COAST SECTION

Sacred Heart Prep

Coach: Brian Kreutzkamp

Last season: Won Open Division section title, won Northern California Division 1 regional title

Outlook: No program in Northern California has been more consistent during the past 15 years than the Gators, who secured their sixth consecutive Open Division championship by defeating rival Bellarmine Prep to atone for a loss to their rival late in the regular season.

Along with a run of six straight Division 2 crowns from 2011-16, before the Open Division was created in the section in 2017, Sacred Heart Prep has won or shared a section title during the past 12 seasons – the Gators and Bellarmine Prep were declared co-champions in 2018 after the final wasn’t played as a result of poor air quality – in addition to winning a regional crown three years in a row, including a victory against Miramonte last season.

The last time Sacred Heart Prep suffered a postseason loss of any kind was in the opening round of the 2019 Northern California Division 1 regional against San Ramon Valley. Menlo School was the last program to prevail against the Gators in a section final by winning the Division 2 title in 2010.

Oliver Marcin and goalkeeper Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka, both juniors, are expected to lead Sacred Heart Prep, which also features a lineup that includes Charlie Baker, Clay Carrington, Nelson Harris, Luke Kirincich, Jack Reinke and promising sophomore Gates Gamble.

L.A. CITY SECTION

Palisades

Coach: Adam Blakis

Last season: Won Open Division section title, runner-up in Southern California Division 3 regional final

Outlook: The Dolphins won their 11th consecutive section title and 17th in program history, but they will need to replace top scorer Owen Grant, who graduated, in order to continue the team’s dominance against Granada Hills, Birmingham and San Pedro. Charlie Speiser and Sean Ellis are both strong offensive threats for Palisades, which hasn’t lost to another City Section opponent in the postseason since being eliminated by Cleveland in the 2011 quarterfinals.

Logan Mirzadeh, a senior, will continue to anchor a strong defense as the Dolphins’ goalkeeper, as Palisades pursues another appearance in the Southern California Division 3 regional championship.

The Dolphins prevailed against Carpinteria in 2021 and edged Rancho Bernardo to capture back-to-back regional titles in 2022, before falling to La Verne in Bonita in the final last season.

NORTH COAST SECTION

Concord De La Salle

Coach: Robert Arroyo

Last season: Runner-up in Open Division section final, lost in Northern California Division 1 regional semifinals

Outlook: Although the Spartans had their quest for a third consecutive Open Division title halted by Miramonte, and despite De La Salle graduating East Bay Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year Jay Hubbard, there is plenty of optimism in the program with the return of six starters from last season’s lineup.

Breydon Congo and Davidka Skov, both seniors, are returning first-team all-league selections, in addition to junior goalkeeper Will Corr.

Lukas Peters, a senior, provides additional experience for De La Salle, with juniors Sloan Brown and Hayden Tully giving the Spartans significant depth in a class that also includes Peter Kroger, Tanner Lustig, Brycen Lott and Tyce di Pretoro.

Following their two-goal setback to Miramonte in the section final, De La Salle suffered a heartbreaking one-goal loss to eventual champion Sacred Heart Prep in the Northern California Division 1 regional semifinals, but those experiences could prove instrumental in the Spartans rebounding this season and winning a seventh section title in program history.

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

Rio Americano

Coach: Heather Moody

Last season: Won Division 1 section title, lost in Northern California Division 1 regional quarterfinals

Outlook: Despite losing twice to rival Davis Senior by a combined three goals during the regular season, Rio Americano rose to the occasion when it mattered most in the playoffs, outlasting the Blue Devils with a one-goal victory to win the program’s first section championship since securing the Division 2 crown in 2017. It marked the first Division 1 championship for the Raiders since 1995 and their 10th title overall.

Lucas Ruano was the leading scorer for Rio Americano last season and is one of the most impressive juniors in the state returning this fall. Harper Gardner, a senior, also returns in goal for the Raiders, with support in the field from juniors Jackson Jeske and Jackson Kirkley.

Replacing graduated standouts Mateo Ruano and Jack McGoldrick will be challenging for Rio Americano, but the continued development of juniors Mark Spencer and Chris Chatzis should provide valuable depth for the Raiders in pursuit of back-to-back championships for the first time since 2016-17, as Davis Senior will look to rebuild its roster around senior Blake Fuchslin.

SAN DIEGO SECTION

Cathedral Catholic

Coach: Tommy Corcoran

Last season: Won Open Division section title, Lost in Southern California Division 1 regional semifinals

Outlook: For the second time in three years, the Dons outlasted The Bishop’s School in overtime in the Open Division final, capturing their fifth section championship since the division was created in 2014.

Cathedral Catholic, which prevailed three times in four matchups last season against The Bishop’s School, must overcome the loss to graduation of USC commit Ben Mirisch, but the arrival of one of the country’s most impactful freshmen in Grayson Taylor provides valuable support for a roster that is loaded with impressive underclassmen.

Oren Penning, a junior, is one of the state’s most reliable goalkeepers, with the Dons also capable of rotating sophomore Luke Anderson to anchor the defense.

Braylen Axline, Eamon Bruhn and Jett Taylor are also strong contributors in a dynamic sophomore class, with juniors Colin McPhail, Jake Patel, Max Arnold, Max Bruhn, Grant Fukunaga and Hudson Tweed creating additional depth in the Cathedral Catholic lineup, as the Dons seek back-to-back section titles for the first time since 2014-15.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Newport Harbor

Coach: Ross Sinclair

Last season: Runner-up in Open Division section final, runner-up in Southern California Division 1 regional final

Outlook: JSerra put together one of the most remarkable seasons in U.S. prep history last year, achieving a 30-0 record, including four victories against Newport Harbor, with the last two wins coming in the Open Division section final and the Southern California Division 1 regional championship.

The Lions are still an elite program, but the graduation of U.S. Olympic team member and UCLA commit Ryder Dodd, plus four other Division 1-bound athletes from their lineup, gives Newport Harbor the early edge in the quest to determine the best team in the country this fall.

The Sailors captured Open Division championships in 2021 and 2022, and have reached five consecutive section finals, including appearances in Division 1, making them one of the most consistent programs in the state.

The graduation of Peter Castillo, also a UCLA signee, and Princeton commit Gavin Appledorn are significant losses for Newport Harbor, but the return of juniors Connor Ohl and Kai Kaneko provide the Sailors with two experienced contributors to build their lineup around.

Mason Netzer, Geoffrey Slutsky and Robert D’Ambrosia are all reliable athletes for Newport Harbor, which gained additional support with the arrival of a trio of impact transfers in James Mulvey from JSerra, Lucca Van Der Woude of Harvard-Westlake and Santino Rossi from Mater Dei. Luke Harris, a USC commit, returns in goal to provide leadership for a strong Sailors’ defense.

Although Bryan Shapirshteyn transferred to Corona del Mar, the Sailors boast more than enough depth on their roster, including John Whitelegge and Weston Hartel.

Newport Harbor and JSerra are both entered in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, which means their paths should cross multiple times before potential sectional and regional showdowns during the postseason.