The Bishop’s School is looking to continue one of the most impressive athletic dynasties in CIF-San Diego Section history, earning the top seed again in the eight-team Open Division girls water polo playoffs.
All Open Division matches are at the Coggan Aquatic Complex in La Jolla, with the opening round Wednesday, semifinals scheduled for Feb. 18 and the championship held at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 22.
The Knights (15-10) have won the past six Open Division titles and nine of 10 overall, since the bracket was first introduced in 2015.
The Bishop’s School has captured 20 overall girls water polo section championships, including seven in Division 2 – 2000-02 and 2004-07 – and four in Division 3 from 2011-14.
Since girls water polo was added to the schedule in the San Diego Section during the 1996-97 school year, the Knights have competed in a final in all but two seasons, the inaugural year and in the Open Division in 2018, losing 7-5 in the semifinals to eventual champion Carlsbad.
The Bishop’s School prevailed by a 13-5 margin against Carlsbad in last year’s Open Division final.
The Bishop’s School girls water polo team | Photo courtesy of The Bishop’s School
The Knights also prevailed against Carlsbad in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the Open Division championship match.
The Bishop’s School, led by Fiona Salatka, Aileen Shin, Farren Moss, Sydney Hagan and goalkeeper Maddy Lane, begins its postseason schedule against No. 8 Helix (17-11).
Carlsbad (16-12) received the No. 2 seed and squares off against No. 7 Grossmont (19-7).
Clairemont (13-11) was awarded the No. 3 seed and matches up with No. 6 Torrey Pines (15-10).
Valhalla (24-4) secured the No. 4 seed and competes against No. 5 La Jolla (14-8).
The Bishop’s didn’t drop a match to a San Diego Section opponent during the regular season, with all 10 setbacks coming against Southern Section Open Division programs, including five losses Jan. 23-25 in the Newport Invite at Santa Ana Foothill High.
The Knights earned an 8-5 victory Dec. 10 against Carlsbad in their lone regular-season meeting.
Westview (14-9) is the top seed in Division 1, Cathedral Catholic (21-4) achieved the No. 1 seed in Division 2 and University City (16-8) received the top seed in Division 3, with all three championship matches also scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Coggan Aquatic Complex.