Unofficial Rankings for the Boys' 2024 High School Season

High School - Boys
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My unofficial preseason rankings for the 2024 boys’ high school season follow below. These rankings represent my guess about where the schools will finish at the end of the season. Before completing my rankings, I consulted with many coaches and knowledgeable observers, including our Water Polo Exchange colleague, Joel Francisco. I started a new thread to focus this discussion on high school rankings.

My annual plea to high school coaches: Please post your schedules, rosters, and scores on your school’s website, MaxPreps, Scorebook Live, or The FOSH.

Background

For ease of reference, I have listed the schools scheduled to participate in some of the top in-season tournaments.

Santa Barbara Invitational (September 5 to 7). This tournament will be hosted by Santa Barbara and other Santa Barbara-area high schools. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Alta Loma
Archie Williams
Bellarmine
Beckman
Carlsbad
Coronado
Corona del Mar
Crean Lutheran
Damien
Dos Pueblos
Downey
Huntington Beach
Laguna Beach
La Serna
Mater Dei
Mira Costa
Orange Lutheran
Redlands East Valley
Saint Francis
San Marcos
Santa Barbara
Terra Linda
Westlake
Yucaipa

Roche Invitational (September 6-7). This tournament will be hosted by Menlo. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Buchanan
Burlingame
Clovis North
Clovis West
Davis
Granite Bay
La Jolla
Menlo
Menlo-Atherton
Redwood
Rio Americano
Ripon
Saint Ignatius
San Ramon Valley
Soquel
Vista

South Coast Tournament (September 12 to 14). This tournament will feature almost all of the top schools in California and will be hosted by Newport Harbor and Costa Mesa. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Alta Loma
Beckman
Bellarmine
Bishop’s
Campolindo
Cathedral Catholic
Corona del Mar
Dana Hills
De La Salle
Edison
Foothill
Harvard-Westlake
Huntington Beach
JSerra
Laguna Beach
Long Beach Wilson
Los Alamitos
Loyola
Mater Dei
Mira Costa
Miramonte
Newport Harbor
Oaks Christian
Orange Lutheran
Palos Verdes
Sacred Heart Prep
San Clemente
San Juan Hills
San Marcos
Santa Margarita
Ventura
Vista

Elite 8 Tournament (September 26 to 28). This tournament will feature eight schools and be hosted by Harvard-Westlake. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Bishop’s
Cathedral Catholic
Harvard-Westlake
JSerra
Loyola
Newport Harbor
Oaks Christian
Sacred Heart Prep

S&R Sport Invite (September 27-28). This tournament will be hosted by Foothill. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Alta Loma
Corona del Mar
Crean Lutheran
Davis
Foothill
Huntington Beach
Irvine
Jesuit
Long Beach Wilson
Los Alamitos
Mira Costa
Orange Lutheran
Palos Verdes
Portola
Redwood
San Ramon Valley

North vs. South Challenge (October 11 to 12). This tournament will feature eight Southern California schools, six Northern California schools, one school from Connecticut, and one school from Hawaii. It will be hosted by Sacred Heart Prep and Gunn. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Campolindo
Cathedral Catholic
De La Salle
Greenwich
Harvard-Westlake
JSerra
Loyola
Mater Dei
Miramonte
Newport Harbor
Oaks Christian
Punahou
San Ramon Valley
Sacred Heart Prep
Santa Margarita
Tamalpais

Memorial Cup (October 11 to 12). This tournament will feature nine Southern California teams and seven Northern California teams and be hosted by Bellarmine and Valley Christian. The schools scheduled to participate are:

Archie Williams
Bellarmine
Bishop’s
Buchanan
Corona del Mar
Davis
Foothill
Laguna Beach
Long Beach Wilson
Los Alamitos
Orange Lutheran
Saint Francis
San Clemente
Terra Linda
Valley Christian
Yucaipa

The 2024 Season

I predict that Newport Harbor and JSerra will have the two best teams in the country for the third consecutive year. Newport finished first in my final unofficial rankings for the 2022 season; JSerra finished second. JSerra finished first in 2023; Newport finished second. In addition, Newport tied for first with Sacred Heart Prep in my final unofficial rankings for the 2021 season and finished second behind Harvard-Westlake in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Open Division Tournaments in 2018 and 2019. (The Southern Section didn’t have a championship tournament in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) That’s quite a run for Newport.

JSerra’s 2023 team was 30-0, becoming only the 11th school in Southern Section history to go undefeated from the mid-1960s to the present. JSerra’s 2024 team, playing without its starting goalie, Jonas Ransford (2026, cadet national team), and one of its best perimeter players, Gavin Conant (USC, youth national team), finished fourth in the 2024 Junior Olympics 18u age group. That’s an impressive feat. Ransford is expected to play for JSerra some time in early to mid-September. Conant will miss more games than Ransford. JSerra will have two transfers on its 2024 team: Brian Barnuevo (NTSC youth team selection, transferred from Mater Dei) and Connor Colman (2026, cadet national team, 20.70 and 45.61 relay splits, transferred from Los Alamitos). Barnuevo and Colman are eligible to play beginning on September 18. One 2023 JSerra player transferred to another school: LH attacker James Mulvey (Navy, NTSC youth team selection, transferred to Newport Harbor).

Like JSerra, Newport Harbor’s 2024 team is loaded with talented players. Newport has three transfers: Mulvey, center defender Santino Rossi (NTSC youth team selection, transferred from Mater Dei), and center defender Lucca Van Der Woude (NTSC youth team selection, transferred from Harvard-Westlake). Rossi is eligible to play beginning on September 18. I believe Mulvey and Van Der Woude are eligible to play right away. One 2023 Newport player transferred to another school: Bryan Shapirshteyn (2026, NTSC cadet team selection, transferred to Corona del Mar). Newport’s pool is being renovated. Therefore, its home games will be played at neutral sites.

Newport and JSerra have excellent coaches, perhaps the two best goalies in the country, and strong center defenders. I give JSerra the edge at center and Newport the edge at attacker. Overall, I give a slight edge to Newport because I think they have slightly more depth. However, I won’t be surprised if JSerra finishes the season as the top team in the country.

I predict three schools will compete for the No. 3 through 5 spots: Harvard-Westlake, Sacred Heart Prep, and Oaks Christian. There is a quiet confidence coming from the Oaks Christian camp. They think I have underestimated their chances. I believe De La Salle and Cathedral Catholic will finish the season in the No. 6 and 7 spots. It’s a crapshoot after the top seven schools.

I predict Newport, JSerra, Harvard-Westlake, and Oaks Christian will be the top four schools in the Southern Section; Cathedral Catholic, Bishop’s, La Jolla, and Carlsbad, Coronado, or Santana will be the top four schools in the San Diego Section; Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis West, and Arroyo Grande or Righetti will be the top four schools in the Central Section; Rio Americano, Davis, Jesuit, and Granite Bay or Ripon will be the top four schools in the Sac-Joaquin Section; Sacred Heart Prep, Bellarmine, Menlo, and Saint Francis, Saint Ignatius, or Los Gatos will be the top four schools in the Central Coast Section; and De La Salle, Miramonte, Campolindo, and Archie Williams will be the top four schools in the North Coast Section.

Note: The software we are using for the Water Polo Exchange sets a limit on the number of characters that can be used in any single posting. Therefore, I had to divide this posting into three separate parts. Part Two follows below.

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Here is Part Two of my first posting for the 2024 season:

Top 20

The summaries of the teams shown below are the joint effort of Joel Francisco and me. Joel prepared the summaries for the Southern California schools with some minor editing from me. I prepared the summaries for the Northern California teams, Brunswick, and Greenwich. When I mention the name of a player in my summaries and don’t list a position, I believe the player is a RH attacker. If I believe the player is a goalie, center defender, center, or LH attacker, I provide that information the first time I mention the player’s name. When I mention the name of a player without a year after his name, I believe the player is from the Class of 2025. If I believe the player is from the Class of 2026, 2027, or 2028, I provide that information in parenthesis after the name of the player. When I list a college after a player’s name, I have seen or heard reports that the player has made a verbal commitment to attend that college. When I list the name of a college followed by a question mark, I am guessing the player will attend that college. My apologies if we misspelled anyone’s name or did not mention the name of a player who deserves recognition. I will gladly correct these and any other errors if they are brought to my attention.

  1. Newport Harbor (ceiling 1, floor 2) (2-0). Ross Sinclair and his astute staff have the Sailors’ program humming and this season will be no different. After finishing runner-up to one of the All-Time teams in JSerra—led by Olympian Ryder Dodd—the Sailors look to reclaim the top spot this season. Replacing their No. 1 option in UCLA-bound Peter Castillo as well as their quarterback on defense in Princeton-bound Gavin Appledorn will not be easy, but Sinclair has a roster that possesses an embarrassment of riches. The Sailors will be led by stud juniors Kai Kaneko and Connor Ohl (20.48 and 45.48). Kaneko is a Cadet Team standout who impacts the game at both ends of the pool due to his skill, savvy, and defensive prowess. Meanwhile, there is not a more explosive attacker in the country than Ohl, who uses his speed, length, and scoring mindset to dominate games. On the 4/5 side, the Sailors will be bolstered by JSerra transfer James Mulvey (lefty with a strong shot) and junior standout left-hander Mason Netzer who plays with a hot motor and shows improved decision making. Before transfers Santino Rossi (Mater Dei) and Lucca Van Der Woude (Harvard-Westlake) transferred to Newport, the middle of the pool was seen as a concern for the Sailors. However, with the talented Rossi and multi-faceted Van Der Woude coming into the fold, the Sailors are set in those positions. Not to mention that junior Geoffrey Slutsky has emerged as a serious threat at the center position due to his long frame and improved skill set. In terms of depth, the Sailors will see no drop off as attacker Robert “Dash” D’Ambrosia (21.85 relay split) is one of the best juniors in the country due to his speed and explosive shot. Other players that will see significant minutes are Weston Hartel (solid glue-type) and much-improved center John Whitelegge. Some juniors that will provide depth are center defender Hudson Parks and Fletcher Appledorn. In the cage, incumbent starter and USC commit Luke Harris will lead the best defense in the country. Harris was a standout in this summer’s youth world championships in Argentina and his overall growth in the last couple of seasons has been terrific. Junior Connor Cougherty will back him up. Newport will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Bishop’s, Foothill, Harvard-Westlake, Cathedral Catholic, and Loyola. Newport played two games last Saturday, beating Marina 16-1 and Fountain Valley 14-2.

  2. JSerra (ceiling 1, floor 2). The defending and undefeated Open Division Champions lost an incredible amount of talent in Ryder Dodd (UCLA), Will Schneider (Stanford), Finneas “Tas” Palcza (Princeton), Bode Brinkema (UCLA), and Maddox Arlett (Cal). However, Brett Ormsby and his staff have done a phenomenal job building the Lion’s program into a powerhouse, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, especially considering the exceptional freshmen class that just arrived at their doorstep. The Lions will be led by a lethal USA Youth Team foursome of Taylor Bell (20.63 relay split, 46.05), Gavin Conant, Colt Bradley and junior Tyler Anderson. Bell is one of the elite attackers in the country who can play both sides of the pool with equal aplomb. Gavin Conant—a USC commit and one of the best attackers/shooters in the country—will occupy the 1/2 side using his speed and shooting prowess. In the middle, Ormsby has the most lethal center combination in the country in USC commit Colt Bradley as well as the ultra-dominant junior, Tyler Anderson. Bradley plays as if he was shot out of a cannon and is super active on either post while Anderson, when locked in, is the most dominant center in the country, regardless of class. The center defender position will be manned by Cal-commit Milan Sumich, who has improved greatly in the past year, and attacker/center defender Dalton Haggard (21.32). On the perimeter, the transfer tandem of junior Connor Colman (Los Alamitos, 20.70 and 45.61 relay splits) and Brian Barnuevo (Mater Dei) will provide offensive punch. Coleman is an explosive attacker who can defend the center position while Barnuevo is one of the craftier scorers in the country. Look for Dalton Haggard to fill the role of glue-type. He does all the little things to win games. Steven “Beck” Early is similar in that regard and has an improved outside shot. Ormsby’s next star may be up-and-coming sophomore Porter Birdsall. He has size and elite wrist action. In the cage, the Lions may have the most promising goalie in the country in junior Jonas Ransford. His back up, Andrew Broussard, is very solid. As mentioned above, the Lions also have the most promising freshmen class led by Sean Anderson, Dylan Park, Lars Knepper, Parker Johnson, Andy Schneider, and three promising goalies in Van Johnston, Stefan Vukojevic, and Zane Kieckhafer. Anderson will start the season on the varsity team. JSerra will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Harvard-Westlake, Sacred Heart Prep, and Mater Dei.

  3. Harvard-Westlake (ceiling 3, floor 6). Head Coach Jack Grover has discovered what perseverance means this offseason as the Huskies had to endure some unexpected roster losses. Aidan Romain is headed to Spain for his final two years of high school and Lucca Van Der Woude took his talents to Newport Harbor. However, do not weep too hard for Grover because he has plenty of talent on the roster to be a Top 5 program. The Huskies will be led by a potent one-two punch that consists of attacker Connor Kim and center Otto Stothart. Kim is an electrifying attacker who flies up and down the pool and can rip shots from everywhere while Stothart is arguably the No. 1 senior center in the country. Up-and-coming sophomore Harry Siafaris is primed to be the next great center from this storied program. Back on the perimeter, Stanford-bound Collin Caras impacts the game in a variety of ways with his motor, crafty moves, and high-level defense. Taj Draper is a threat to score from either side of the pool with his potent outside shot. Fellow senior Julien Liu came on strong at the end of the summer operating from the center-defender position and Ben Boateng has expanded his game from the middle of the pool to the perimeter. Grover has a number of “glue-types” at his disposal—high-motor perimeter players that impact the game in a variety of ways. Harrison Bowman and Jack Shapiro are feisty attackers who can get out on the counter. In addition, Lukas Kovacevic, Evan Vourakis, and Zac Wiezorek are skilled sophomores that should gain more time in the water as they gain experience. The backbone of the defense will be junior goalie Nathan You who improved greatly in the spring and summer. Harvard-Westlake will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mater Dei, Oaks Christian, and JSerra.

  4. Sacred Heart Prep (ceiling 3, floor 6). Sacred Heart’s 2024 team is big but not as fast as most of Brian Kreutzkamp’s teams. The likely starters are goalie Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka (2026, NTSC youth team selection), center defender Charlie Baker (2026, 21.57), center Oliver Marcin (2026, NTSC youth team selection, 22.92 and 48.20), LH attacker/center Clay Carrington (2026, NTSC youth team selection), Nelson Harris (Navy), Luke Kirincic, and LH attacker Jack Reinke or Gates Gamble (2027). Goalie Hugo Thinard-McLane and center defender/attacker Karl Sylvester are also likely to start some games. Marcin and Carrington are potential “Big 4” players. Sacred Heart will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against JSerra and De La Salle.

  5. Oaks Christian (ceiling 3, floor 6). This will be Jack Kocur’s best team since his Open Division runner-up team that had Adrian Weinberg, Jake Ehrhardt, and Josh Waldoch. It’s a senior laden-team with some intriguing underclassmen. Led by USA Youth Teamer Camden Kocur, the Lions will be able to hurt their opponents inside and out. Kocur is a technically sound player who is super savvy and has an accurate shot. He’s terrific in transition and is uncanny drawing exclusions. Pepperdine-bound center Max Burstein is a load in the middle and does a fantastic job of drawing exclusions and finishing on the post on man-ups. Jaden Winters, an underrated senior, has improved immensely since his junior campaign and is one of the better defenders in the country. To compliment Kocur, who can play either side on offense, the Lions will have two of the most improved attackers in the country in Saul Biddle and junior Wyatt Williamson (cadet national team). Biddle is an explosive attacker with a strong shot while Williamson can convert shots from either side and is a savvy passer. Senior attacker/defender Kai Johnson will start. He’s a solid player and a D1 prospect. Up-and-coming juniors Kane Fogg (strong outside shooter) and lefty Darion Wang (crafty playmaker) will provide some additional pop on offense. In the cage, sophomore Ryder Bjork will take over for 3-year starter Nehemiah Pavoggi (USC). Bjork showed marked improvement in ability and confidence as the spring and summer progressed. Overall depth will be provided by lengthy center-defender Samson Williams, junior Aidan Keith, and lefty sophomore center Jack Lansing. International transfer Panos Ilic (2026) will be eligible to play next season. Oaks Christian will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Harvard-Westlake and Miramonte.

  6. De La Salle (ceiling 5, floor 10). De La Salle returns six starters from its 2023 team: goalie William Corr (2026, NTSC youth team selection), center defender/center Hayden Tulley (2026, NTSC cadet team selection, 22.39), center Sloan Brown (2026, NTSC youth team selection), attacker/center defender/center David Skov (NTSC youth team selection, 22.87 and 45.61 relay split), Breydon Congo (USC, NTSC youth team selection, 22.17), and Lukas Peters. Others likely to receive significant playing time are center defender Brycen Lott (2026), center Colin Sullivan, LH attacker Peter Kroger (2026), Tanner Lustig (2026, NTSC cadet team selection, 21.45 and 46.94), Tyce di Pretoro (2026), Christian Sanchez (2026), Michael Peef (2026), and Gabriel Skov (2027). De La Salle will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Sacred Heart, and Bellarmine.

  7. Cathedral Catholic (ceiling 5, floor 10). Del Mar Water Polo Club has been humming in the age-group divisions the last few years and now that talent is trickling into Cathedral Catholic—the defending Open Division Champions in San Diego. Despite losing USC signee Benjamin Mirsch, Head Coach Tommy Corcoran has a plethora of prospects to choose from and they’re all underclassmen. At goalie for the Dons will be stud junior Oren Penning who had a stellar summer while gifted sophomore Luke Anderson will back him up. At the center position, Cathedral has two dynamic prospects in the versatile sophomore Braylen Axline (USA Cadet Team) who can play inside and out while incoming freshman Grayson Taylor (USA Cadet Team) is a budding true center that may be a year or two away from pure dominance. At center defender, the ever-improving sophomore Jett Taylor (USA Cadet Team) will use his 6-foot-7 frame and excellent length to shut down opponents. Meanwhile, junior Colin McPhail is a blue-collar defender who can also post-up. On the 1/2 side, a quartet of juniors will play significant minutes. Max Arnold (22.94) can sling it from anywhere, Max Bruhn plays as if he was shot out of a cannon, Hudson Tweed loves to grind in transition, and Grant Fukunaga has the physical tools to be a college recruit. Meanwhile, on the 4/5 side, savvy sophomore Eamon Bruhn is a quick lefty who sees the game well and junior Jake Patel should back him up nicely. Finally, there are several more incoming freshmen (besides Taylor) that should see playing time at the varsity level. Jack Davis (USA Development Team) is a swift swimmer who thrives in transition and Diego Dantas is a versatile athlete who is projected to play many positions. Cathedral Catholic will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mater Dei, Loyola, and Newport Harbor.

  8. Miramonte (ceiling 7, floor 13). This year’s Miramonte team is fast and has a solid rotation of about 10 field players. The team will be led by center defender Patrick Stice (Cal, NTSC youth team selection, 21.64), center Tristan Tucker (2026, cadet national team), and LH attacker Griff Tunney (a U.C. school?, NTSC youth team selection, 22.27). Tucker was one of the leading scorers on the U.S. cadet national team that finished fifth in the World Championships in June. Other field players likely to receive meaningful playing time are attacker/center defender Jackson Cherry (2026, 22.86), Brock Bliss (2026, 22.34), Brady Hassett (2027, NTSC cadet team selection), Ben Lucas (Lindsey Lucas’s brother), Trent Smith (2027), center Griffin Maclear (2027), and LH attacker Mason Tunney (2028). Tunney is one of the best freshmen in Northern California. Miramonte has two sophomore transfers from Campolindo: goalie Zavier Ryder (2027) and Grayson Bloes (2027, 21.98 and 47.38). Bloes is eligible to play beginning on September 24. He has Division 1 potential. Ryder’s eligibility is still being considered by the North Coast Section. To reach its ceiling, Miramonte must receive more consistent goaltending than it did last year. Cooper Stern (he started playing goalie for the first time during the middle of the 2023 season), Zach Liu (2026), and Ryder (if he’s eligible) will compete for playing time. Miramonte will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against De La Salle, Bellarmine, Santa Margarita, Mater Dei, and Oaks Christian.

  9. Corona del Mar (ceiling 7, floor 14). Lucas Reynolds, former Corona del Mar standout and UCLA Bruin, will take over the reins at famed Corona Del Mar. Although the Sea Kings lost a ton of talent in All-Americans Camren Simoncelli (UCSB) and Charles Warmington (Pepperdine), the roster is still chockful of gifted upperclassmen as well as promising underclassmen. UCSB-commit Jackson Harlan will lead the way for the Sea Kings. The 6-foot-6 attacker has a rifle for an arm and can also post-up and cause match-up problems. Junior standout Nathan Simoncelli is a beast in the middle of the pool with his improved center game and he can defend as well. Landon Castillo has the strength to be a solid center defender. Senior attackers Micha Grantham and Khalid Kassab are intriguing players who will need to take their games to another level to catapult their team into the Open Division. Coach Reynolds has some juniors that he’s excited about in Cooper Harlan, Grant Christian, and transfer Bryan Shapirshteyn (Newport Harbor). Harlan is an up-and-coming center who was very productive at the 16u level this summer while Christian is one of the more improved players and may be one of the breakout performers in Orange County this season. Beckman transfer Aiden Sexton (late-blooming lefty) and Tyler Martens will add depth. Look for sophomore Koosha Marafitti to have a breakout year. The high-motor attacker can play either side with equal aplomb and is one of the more promising underclassmen in Orange County. Center-Defender Will Weir and attacker Brody Rauth have bright futures as well. Junior goalie Vincent Sfez will take over in the cage and had some bright moments during the Newport Invite in July. Corona del Mar will participate in the South Coast Tournament, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Mater Dei, Foothill, Long Beach Wilson, and Mira Costa.

  10. Bishop’s (ceiling 8, floor 15). After dominating the Open Division in San Diego for quite some time, Bishop’s lost a heartbreaker to Cathedral Catholic in last year’s San Diego Section championship game. The heart and soul of the team, Lukas Peabody (Open Division POY/Harvard), is gone, but Head Coach Ian Davidson will have his team in the mix yet again due to a strong age-group program (SD Shores) and a couple of freshmen studs from Del Mar’s 14u JO Gold Medal team. Leading the way for the Knights will be incumbent 3-year starter Charlie Martin. Martin had a terrific summer and is one of the most explosive left-side attackers in the country. He’s very crafty as a driver and his shot making is uncanny. Fellow senior Caspar Lightner (21.61 relay split) is probably the most improved player in the program and will be one of the better available D1 prospects this fall. He is equally skilled at both ends of the pool and has improved his offensive production. Center defender Nick Grandinetti put together some quality games this summer for La Jolla United and is a solid all-around player. Juniors JT Moss (1/2 side) and Dominic Simopolous (4/5 side) will provide depth on the perimeter. In the middle of the pool, Davidson has a trio of players that will see significant minutes. Junior Colten Bell is a grinding utility who can play inside and accumulate exclusions and occasionally finishes. Junior Peter Ryan is another improved center that gained valuable experience last season and should be a stalwart this season. Finally, freshman Calvin Lubsen is a strong center prospect with long arms and is part of an outstanding freshmen class. The other two freshmen (Aden Shin and Hanrui Liu) were part of Del Mar’s JO Gold Medal team and both have a chance to push for a starting position. Shin (USA Cadet Team) plays well beyond his years and is a grinder while Liu has a rangy frame combined with an excellent skill set for the 4/5 side. Bishop’s will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Newport, Huntington Beach, and Mater Dei. Bishop’s beat Poway 13-2 on Wednesday.

  11. Loyola (ceiling 8, floor 16). Each and every season Head Coach Eric Healey loses a number of starters, but he continues to fill those gaps with what looks like a conveyor belt of fundamentally sound players that have a lot of moxie. Charles Johnson, a big and strong lefty, is the go-to player on this Cubs squad. He can rip shots from the 4/5 side and post-up and he’s a difficult match-up. Fellow lefty Max Davis-Denny will work that side of the pool with his improved decision making and shooting. Up-and-coming junior lefty Caleb Yost has good size and put together some solid moments during this summer’s club season. Center Grant Wroan, who has a solid frame and is building strength, doesn’t have dynamic moves, but he can hold position and draw exclusions. Chris Petrossian is a utility-type who uses his strength and savvy to post-up would-be defenders to spark the offense. He can be a handful. The glue to the team is Jake Lee, who has improved greatly since the spring. He plays with a ton of grit, can deliver the outside shot, and makes excellent decisions. Kyle Jackson will command the 1/2 side after a solid campaign with the Trojan WPC. Juniors John Cowles (a thick utility player who is always in grind mode and can make plays on the offensive end), and Tobin Hunt (a solid all-around player) will be called upon to be productive. So will junior Max Keldorf. He’s an active attacker who excels in transition. In the cage, there will be a battle between seniors Dominic Campagna and Tucker Tendoesschate. Loyola will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Harvard-Westlake and Cathedral Catholic.

  12. Mater Dei (ceiling 10, floor 16). Head Coach Wyatt Benson, who played under Olympian and current Mater Dei High School girl’s coach Chris Segesman, has done a solid job with the Monarchs program. Despite being gutted by graduation (Alex Oprea and Nathan Banos) and players who transferred out after the 2023 season (Brian Barnuevo and Santino Rossi), the Monarchs should have a pretty solid squad heading into the season. The senior class is strong headed by lefties Kyson Becker and Dylan Hazen. Becker is a chiseled attacker who can rifle shots from the perimeter or set up the center while Hazen is a crafty attacker who excels on the counter. Fellow senior Nico Sandoval is a savvy attacker who can play both sides of the pool and is the glue to the team. Senior attacker Jordan Hanna will be one of the leading scorers on the team. Sophomore Asa Chen has good speed and is a crafty scorer and should get some minutes off the bench. Tucker Ensign is another sophomore who projects well going forward. At center, strong and stocky Lucas Ramirez (22.0 relay split) does a nice job of drawing exclusions and also has the ability to score from the 2-meter line. In addition, junior Ethan Kardos exhibited a solid lay-out move and more than held his own playing 16u’s last summer. Lucas Warner will command the center-defender position and looks to have a strong senior campaign. Big-bodied sophomore center defender Noah Jurgenson displays solid defensive skills and should be a viable option off the bench. Junior Nicholas Vallente (transfer from St. John Bosco) should provide depth. Benson got a welcome addition when sophomore goalie Morgan Crichton transferred to Mater Dei from Long Beach Wilson last spring. Crichton is eligible to play beginning on September 18. Mater Dei will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Corona del Mar, Bishop’s, Santa Margarita, JSerra, and Miramonte.

  13. Santa Margarita (ceiling 10, floor 16). Head Coach Brian Weathersby has hauled in a number of girls’ CIF Championships during his tenure and he is beginning to stack his boys’ roster with quality prospects. This season’s squad has a nice combination of youth and experience. Leading the way for the Eagles will be junior attacker Evan Wu (USA Cadet Team). Wu is a standout shooter who possesses excellent speed. At the center position, sophomore Logan McGann (USA Cadet Team) more than held his own last year as a freshman and now he’s bigger, stronger, and more skilled. Sophomore Tyler Miyamoto is part of an outstanding sophomore class. Up to nine sophomores will receive playing time. Miyamoto is a gifted lefty with a solid shot and evolving playmaking skills. On the 1/2 side, Gehrig McKay will look to provide scoring punch along with fellow senior Garrett Misajon. Look for incoming freshman Tanner Gorman (skilled offensive player) to come off the bench and play some prominent minutes. Dean Luke will back-up McGann at center, which will allow McGann to launch shots from the perimeter. At center defender, Aidan Thomas has a bunch of experience and should be one of the better defenders in Orange County. Goalie Aidan Stone looks to build on his junior campaign and be the backbone of the defense for the Eagles. Santa Margarita will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Villa Park Classic, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mater Dei, Mira Costa, JSerra, and Miramonte.

  14. Campolindo (ceiling 10, floor 17). Brodie Jasper is Campolindo’s new coach. He played at Campolindo and Cal and was Berkeley High School’s coach for the last five years. This year’s Campolindo team doesn’t have a true center but it has good depth and may be the fastest team in the country, with four sub-22 swimmers and another four sub-23 swimmers. Campolindo’s starters and key reserves are likely to be goalie Drew DeFrancisci, center Dylan King (LMU, 22.37 and 48.29), LH attacker Hayden O’Hare (UCLA, 21.68, 46.39), attacker/center defender/center Garrett Chivers (Pepperdine, 22.85), Alex Knudsen (21.46 and 47.37), LH attacker Jack Elder (2026, 22.76), center defender Sam Storrs (2026), and three sophomores who started as freshmen last year: Ellis Culleton (2027, NTSC cadet team selection, 21.61 and 47.03), Will Maguy (2027, 22.49), and Cade O’Hare (2027, 21.97 and 48.01). Campolindo will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has a non-league game against Bellarmine.

  15. Foothill (ceiling 11, floor 18). Coach Dean Crow looks to continue the strong tradition at Foothill and will have to do it without standouts Corbin Stanley (Long Beach State) and William Griswold (Brown). Crow has a roster with a good amount of depth and a fantastic goalie in Edric Scott. Scott is fundamentally sound and showed to be a true gamer for SoCal’s 18u team this summer. In the field, the Knights have a strong one-two punch in Mr. All-Around Brody Metz (excellent passer) and junior sharp shooter John “JB” Bergstedt. Metz is a stout defender, fast on the counter, and can toss it in the back of the net. Bergstedt has improved his decision-making and is one of the fastest attackers/shooters in Orange County. Ayden Alcazar is back to give Coach Crow some versatility. He can play inside-and-out. One of the more improved players on the team is Timothy “Dane” Morris. He has good size, is gritty, and should be another post-up option. The Knights don’t have a true dominant center, but they have players that can post-up and defend in Russel Lowe and Jacob Polunin. Polunin, arguably Foothill’s most improved player and one of their best center-defenders, moves well and counters hard. Lowe is another improved player who uses his improved skills and length to make plays. Another utility player to keep an eye on is Parker Lizar who had a good summer and will be one of the Knight’s better shooters. Two other juniors to keep an eye on are Blake Chen and Luke Bennett. Chen and Bennett are active counter attackers that have shown improved skills during the spring and summer. Foothill will participate in the Punahou Invitational, South Coast Tournament, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Newport, Mira Costa, and Corona del Mar.

  16. Mira Costa (ceiling 12, floor 19). Veteran Head Coach Jon Reichardt has a team that possesses a nice combination of senior experience and talented underclassmen. Look for a balanced effort from this group. The best prospect may be junior Flynn Guenther (USA Cadet Team), a lengthy and explosive attacker, who can draw exclusions off the drive or fire a shot from the perimeter. Junior Lucas Pearce is a bit of an undersized center, but he is a grinder who can be quite crafty. Mikey Ingram is a solid glue-type attacker who moves well and shows solid fundamentals. At center defender, junior Kai Nelson is an up-and-coming prospect who shows a good motor and projects to having a breakout year. One of the more intriguing prospects is lengthy sophomore Grant He. The utility-type can play inside-and-out and has budding skills. Look for attackers Jack Swenson and Deacon Lesser to provide quality depth. In the cage, there are two solid options in Sam Raker and junior Grant Anderson. Anderson had some quality outings during the summer with the Trojan WPC. Mira Costa will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and S&R Tournament, and has non-league games against Corona del Mar, Loyola, Foothill, Santa Margarita, and Long Beach Wilson.

  17. Huntington Beach (ceiling 13, floor 20). Newly hired Nick Graffis, who coached Edison and did a fine job, takes over the reins for Sasa Branisavljevic—and those will be some big shoes to fill. The defending Division 1 Champions lose two stellar All-American selections in Ethan Spoon (UC Irvine) and Christian Hammonds (UC San Diego). However, the Oilers do have one of the better attackers in the country coming back in Dusan Djordjevic. The rangy attacker can play either side of the pool on the offensive side where he uses his long arms, shooting skills, and speed to make plays all over the pool. Fellow senior Charlie Jones (UC Irvine commit) is back and will provide excellent defense at the center position and a powerful shot from the perimeter. JD Johnson, a 1/2 side attacker, is back for his senior campaign and looks to be one of the Oilers’ top performers. He plays with grit, is a solid defender, and can provide some offense. Lefty Nick Kaveladze should provide some production from the 4/5 side and open up the middle of the pool for post entries. Junior Cooper Blair should provide some punch off the bench. Junior Isaac Squires (USA Cadet Team) is one of the better utility-types in Orange County. He has a big frame and strong shot, and has improved his interior skills at both ends of the pool. Junior utility-type Dane Driscoll (21.61 relay split) plays with a hot motor and was effective in post-up situations during the summer. Reserve junior center Max Kimbrough could provide some depth. In the cage, the Oilers may go with sophomore Noah Rothbard, who had a solid summer playing for Vanguard’s 16u team. Huntington Beach will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and S&R Tournament.

Part Three follows below.

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Here is Part Three of my first posting for the 2024 season. It begins with Teams No. 18 to 20 in my preseason rankings.

  1. Greenwich (ceiling 15, floor not in the top 20). After Brunswick, Greenwich is the best team outside of California. Goalie Leo Dilascia, Luke Mendelsohn (21.53 and 47.40), and Jake Melley (21.90 and 47.43) are returning starters. Center defender/center Charlie Koven (2026), center/center defender Calvin Donat (22.85), center/attacker Robert Norell (2026), and LH attacker Jasper Hirt (2026) will start or receive significant playing time. Greenwich will participate in the Beast of the East Tournament, their home Cardinal Tournament, and the North vs. South Challenge, and play Brunswick three times. (Note: When I first posted these rankings, I copied and pasted the wrong version of my document. I moved Greenwich ahead of Long Beach Wilson last night.)

  2. Long Beach Wilson (ceiling 15, floor not in the top 20). Up-and-coming coach Zac Polmanteer has his alma mater on the upswing. This program is littered with championships and is a true “blue blood” in the water polo community. Senior All-CIF center Enzo Brigagliano will lead the way after a stellar summer. He is a strong 2-meter man with quick-twitch moves and his overall inside-out game is evolving. Fellow seniors Gavin Simon and Eli Vince (21.56 relay split) will deliver the goods from the outside and are solid all-around players. Dutch transfer Mathias Gravad will start out at center-defender and use his strength to shut down opponents. [Note added on September 4: A reader reports that Gravad will not play for Long Beach Wilson this year.] Junior Kai Bramble (21.82 relay split, one of the fastest players on the team) will be the back-up center-defender. In the junior class. you have steady and skilled attackers Samson Casem and Keegan Abing—both have terrific speed on the perimeter. A year ago, the Bruins had one of the better freshmen classes. Talented speedster Vaughan Baker is a D1 prospect as is super savvy Pakal Rejon. Fellow sophomore Nico Tramantano (his father played at Long Beach State) plays with moxie and skill. Andrew Demboski, the second goalie last year, is a lengthy 6-foot-6 goalie and the likely starter. Sophomore Christian Marov-Perez will be the likely backup. Long Beach Wilson will participate in the Long Beach Invite, South Coast Tournament, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Corona del Mar and Mira Costa.

  3. Bellarmine. Bellarmine (ceiling 17, floor not in the top 20). Bellarmine had one of its best teams in recent memory last year. They won’t be as good this year but they are well-coached by Colin Melo and should finish in the top 20. Bellarmine has a solid starting lineup but not much depth. The likely starters are goalie Ari Schechtman (2026), center defender Luke Kalyni, center Andrew Hunyady, Jackson Boettner, Max Mason, Stefano Gerodimos, and Kosta Ceprnic (2026). Boettner is one of the top players in Northern California. Bellarmine will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against De La Salle, Miramonte, and Campolindo.

(20). Archie Williams (ceiling 17, floor not in the top 20). Too close to call between Archie Williams and Bellarmine. For the first time since 1999, Archie Williams (formerly Drake) will not be coached by Matt Swanson. Swanson told me this could be Archie Williams’s best team since the 2017 team, which finished third in my end-of-season rankings. The 2024 team will be coached by Steve Carrera, the former coach at Orange Lutheran. Archie Williams doesn’t have much depth but the starting lineup is solid. The starters and key reserves are likely to be goalie Josh Dixon (2026), center defender/attacker/center Nathan Greenberg (2027, cadet national team, 21.96), center Whit Flake, attacker/center Vinnie Krilanovich (Stanford, 21.35 and 45.89), Jake Carrera, Hayden Long, Max Guana, and Nolan Anderson (2026, 22.80). Krilanovich is one of the fastest high school water polo players in the country. Greenberg has “Big 4” potential. Archie Williams will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational and the Memorial Cup.

SoCal Top 10

  1. Newport
  2. JSerra
  3. Harvard-Westlake
  4. Oaks Christian
  5. Cathedral Catholic
  6. Corona del Mar
  7. Bishop’s
  8. Loyola
  9. Mater Dei
  10. Santa Margarita

NorCal Top 10

  1. Sacred Heart Prep
  2. De La Salle
  3. Miramonte
  4. Campolindo
  5. Bellarmine

(5.) Archie Williams

  1. Tamalpais. The Marin County Athletic League has four pretty good teams this year: Archie Williams, Tam, Redwood, and Terra Linda. I predict Tam will finish second in the MCAL and make it to the quarterfinals of the NCS tournament. Center defender Reed Hanna (USC, youth national team) is one of the best players in the country. Others likely to start or receive significant playing time are goalie Ethan Wallace (2028, NTSC cadet team selection), center defender/attacker Wyatt Donaldson, center/center defender Declan Murphy (2026), Andrew Sternfels (21.79 relay split), Bern Kent, Samir Meleis (2027), and Jasper Feldman (2028, 23.55 as an 8th grader). Tam will participate in the Battle of the Creek Tournament and the North vs. South Challenge and has non-league games against Miramonte and Campolindo.

  2. Menlo. Menlo doesn’t have great depth this year but it has one of the best freshmen classes in Northern California. Menlo returns three starters from last year’s team: center Calvin Barad (2026), LH attacker/center defender Jackson Coleman, and Alex Stoffel (2026). Other potential starters are goalies Hunter Guyer and Connor Burks (2026), center/center defender Hunter Coleman (2028, NTSC development team selection), LH attacker Adam Afar (2028), Lucas Capasso, and Lincoln Bott (2028, NTSC development team selection). Menlo will participate in the Roche Invitational and the Coronado AFC Tournament and has a non-league game against Archie Williams.

  3. San Ramon Valley. Without a true center, San Ramon Valley will rely upon a motion-based offense. They will be led by center defender Donovan Swann (21.30) and Evan Liberatore (2026, 22.97). Swann had to sit out the 2023 season after transferring to SRV from De La Salle last fall. Others likely to start or receive significant playing time include goalie Stellen Karkazis (his family recently moved to the Bay Area from Chicago), goalie Ronan Bugbee (2027), Daniel Drozdowicz, Julius Martell (2026), Toby John (2026), and Charlie Feaver (2028). San Ramon Valley will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Campolindo, and Archie Williams.

  4. Too close to call

Top 10 Private Schools

  1. JSerra
  2. Harvard-Westlake
  3. Sacred Heart Prep
  4. Oaks Christian
  5. De La Salle
  6. Cathedral Catholic
  7. Bishop’s
  8. Loyola
  9. Mater Dei
  10. Santa Margarita

Top 10 Public Schools

  1. Newport Harbor
  2. Miramonte
  3. Corona del Mar
  4. Campolindo
  5. Foothill
  6. Mira Costa
  7. Huntington Beach
  8. Greenwich
  9. Long Beach Wilson
  10. Archie Williams

A note about Brunswick School from Greenwich, Connecticut. Brunswick is the best team from a State other than California. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) ruled that Brunswick is ineligible to play in California high school tournaments because they are not a member of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). Brunswick is trying to find a way to satisfy the California requirement and maintain its membership in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) because membership in the NEPSAC is critical to the other sports at Brunswick. Under existing rules, Brunswick cannot be a member of the NEPSAC and the CIAC. Because Brunswick will not play any California teams this season, I decided not to include them in my weekly rankings. Otherwise, I would have ranked them No. 8. Brunswick’s likely starters include goalie James Walker (Princeton, NTSC youth team selection), center defender Ben Atkinson (U.C. Irvine, NTSC youth team selection, 21.68 and 47.44), LH center Adam Blum (USC, NTSC youth team selection), LH attacker Jack Scafidi, and Emil Sogaard. Others likely to receive significant playing time are goalie JR Lindberg (2026), LH center Peter Saunders (2027, NTSC cadet team selection), attacker/center defender Callum Walker (2026, NTSC cadet team selection), attacker/center Neveh Yechiely (2026, NTSC cadet team selection), LH attacker Parker Tichio (2026), and Jackson Shaw (2028, cadet national team). Shaw is one of the best freshmen in the country.

I intend to update my rankings each week during the season.

Just for the heck of it: One point to the first person who can tell us, without looking it up on the Internet, which CIF Southern Section schools have had more than one undefeated water polo season from the mid-1960s to the present. A bonus point to the first person who can tell us which Southern Section water polo coaches have had more than one undefeated season during this time period.

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amazing attention to detail

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Without looking, Mater Dei under Segesman?

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I really struggle to see how Archie Williams is in the top 10, they lost to Rio Americano last year, a comparable team. I would argue a Buchanan or St. Francis is better than Williams.

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Two points to rolled1 for correctly telling us that two of Chris Segesman’s Mater Dei teams went undefeated. There are more points to be had here.

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And, dang, thank you Jeff and Joel! I would say maybe San Marcos could be 20, they did just beat Long Beach Wilson yesterday. After winning D2 last season and losing only two seniors. Not filled with NTSC kids but have some solid D1 prospects in Mateo Obando and Will Stuart some young talent in Jacob Magid and Christian Yonker. If they can fill the void at center they could compete in the 14-20 range.

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Joel and I had many discussions about which schools to include in my preseason top 20 list. Joel specifically mentioned San Marcos as a possibility. Among others, we also talked about Laguna Beach, La Jolla, and Los Alamitos. Ultimately, I decided which schools to include. I will feel pretty good if at least 16 of the schools in my preseason top 20 list are in my end-of-season list.

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For sure, there will be many good games in that 18-28th place range. Does anyone one know what ratings system CIF-SS is using for playoff divisions at the end of the season? Max Preps? scorebook? polocoach? They did not specify in the season preview document or I missed it.

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Read from our local reporter Boys Water Polo will be using the Massey Rankings. Here’s what he posted:

“Boys water polo will also use the Massey rankings system to help determine playoff divisions at the end of the season. At some point, the CIF-SS will post boys water polo massey rankings on its website on a weekly basis.” @SGVNSports

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Saw this on the Old Polo Planet site so thought I’d post here for the LB Poly tournament:

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Hi, Jeff. Thank you for correcting the spelling of Campo goalie: Drew DeFrancisci (pronounced dee- fran- see- see),

Thank you also for regularly posting so much in-depth and data-driven analysis of this incredible sport. We always look forward to what you have to say.

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@Jeff. Some of data that you used must have been old and not factually correct.

Source: swimcloud.com
Evan Liberator (SRV) 50 free split 22.07
David Skov (DLS) 50 free split 21.71 and 100 free 45.61

Source:usawaterpolo.org
Oliver Marvin, Murdoch Baker- Matsuoka, David Skov and Will Corr made the Youth National team, not the selection camp.

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Thanks for your message, Powerplay. Sorry I didn’t make this clearer. I don’t use relay splits unless they are sub-22 in the 50 and sub-47 in the 100 and about a second faster than an individual’s non-relay split times. I make a small allowance for centers and freshmen. Evan Liberatore’s split in the 200-free relay doesn’t meet this test. I will correct the 100-free time I listed for David Skov.

The four players you mentioned from Sacred Heart and De La Salle are very good but they did not make the youth team that played in the World Championships this summer. When I say that an individual was on the cadet national team or the youth national team, the individual made the national team that played or will play in the World Championships. That’s a very select group.

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Thanks for your quick response. It’s great to understand what logic was used. Although equating the accomplishments of the players (who ended up not traveling to worlds) with the national team selection camp participants seems simplified.
Swim times- the logic is arbitrary since these times are made in fast suits/ shaved/ etc. but these are your opinions so we will respect them as such.

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CIF-SS has been using Massey for at least the last 4 years that I am aware of. If you look at the CIF-SS website, they even have a sheet telling you how each column is used in Rankings.

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For certain, Segesman and Mater Dei and LB Wilson in 1998/ 2002 but under two different coaches.

Less certain, Newport and Barnett in the 70s and Hooper and CDM in the 60s/70s. I know they each had one, just bit uncertain about multiple.

El Segundo just finished an undefeated season (though at a lower level) but I would imagine they also had one in the early-60s.

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My unofficial rankings for the week ending August 24 follow below.

Top 20

  1. Newport Harbor (3-0). Last week, Newport beat Bishop’s 14-6. Newport doesn’t play this week.

  2. JSerra (1-0). Last week, JSerra beat La Jolla 13-9. JSerra doesn’t play this week.

  3. Harvard-Westlake (0-0). Harvard-Westlake didn’t play last week. They play Crespi on Monday and Notre Dame on Tuesday.

  4. Sacred Heart Prep (0-0). Sacred Heart didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 10.

  5. Oaks Christian (0-0). Oaks Christian didn’t play last week. They play Calabasas on Tuesday.

  6. De La Salle (0-0). De La Salle didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 3.

  7. Cathedral Catholic (0-0). Cathedral didn’t play last week. They play Poway on Wednesday and Mater Dei on Saturday.

  8. Miramonte (0-0). Miramonte didn’t play last week. They play San Ramon Valley on Thursday.

  9. Corona del Mar (1-0). Last week, Corona del Mar beat Mater Dei 14-12. Corona del Mar plays Foothill on Tuesday and Long Beach Wilson on Thursday.

  10. Loyola (0-0). Loyola didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 6.

  11. Bishop’s (1-1). Last week, Bishop’s beat Poway 13-2 and lost to Newport 14-6. Bishop’s plays Carlsbad on Wednesday and Huntington Beach on Saturday.

  12. Mater Dei (0-1). Last week, Mater Dei lost to Corona del Mar 14-12. Mater Dei plays Laguna Beach on Friday and Cathedral Catholic on Saturday.

  13. Santa Margarita (2-0). Last week, Santa Margarita beat San Juan Hills 18-14 and Palos Verdes 23-9. Santa Margarita doesn’t play this week.

  14. Campolindo (0-0). Campolindo didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 4.

  15. Foothill (0-0). Foothill didn’t play last week. They play Corona del Mar on Tuesday and in the Punahou Invitational this weekend.

  16. Mira Costa (0-0). Mira Costa didn’t play last week. They play Ventura on Wednesday.

  17. Huntington Beach (1-0). Last week, Huntington Beach beat Alta Loma 16-5. Huntington Beach plays Bishop’s on Saturday.

  18. Greenwich (0-0). Greenwich didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 7.

  19. Long Beach Wilson (0-1). Last week, Long Beach Wilson lost to San Marcos 7-6. Long Beach Wilson plays Corona del Mar on Thursday and in the Long Beach Varsity Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

  20. Bellarmine (0-0). Bellarmine didn’t play last week. Their first game is on September 5.

(20.) Archie Williams (0-0). Archie Williams didn’t play last week. They play Menlo on Saturday.

SoCal Top 10

  1. Newport
  2. JSerra
  3. Harvard-Westlake
  4. Oaks Christian
  5. Cathedral Catholic
  6. Corona del Mar
  7. Bishop’s
  8. Loyola
  9. Mater Dei
  10. Santa Margarita

NorCal Top 10

  1. Sacred Heart Prep
  2. De La Salle
  3. Miramonte
  4. Campolindo
  5. Bellarmine

(5.) Archie Williams

(7.) Tamalpais (0-0). Tam didn’t play last week. They play Cardinal Newman on Thursday.

(8.) Menlo (0-0). Menlo didn’t play last week. They play Archie Williams on Saturday.

(9.) San Ramon Valley (0-0). San Ramon Valley didn’t play last week. They play Miramonte on Thursday.

  1. Too close to call

Top 10 Private Schools

  1. JSerra
  2. Harvard-Westlake
  3. Sacred Heart Prep
  4. Oaks Christian
  5. De La Salle
  6. Cathedral Catholic
  7. Bishop’s
  8. Loyola
  9. Mater Dei
  10. Santa Margarita

Top 10 Public Schools

  1. Newport Harbor
  2. Miramonte
  3. Corona del Mar
  4. Campolindo
  5. Foothill
  6. Mira Costa
  7. Huntington Beach
  8. Greenwich
  9. Long Beach Wilson
  10. Archie Williams

Last week, I offered one point to anyone who told us which CIF Southern Section schools have had more than one undefeated season from the mid-1960s to the present. Although I didn’t make this clear in my question, I meant schools that competed in the Southern Section’s top division. One point to rolled1 for correctly telling us that Mater Dei has had two undefeated seasons during this time period. Mater Dei was undefeated in 2011 and 2012. One point to CaliWaterPolo for mentioning Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, and Long Beach Wilson. Corona del Mar was undefeated in 1966 and 1969, Newport Harbor was undefeated in 1975 and 1978, and Long Beach Wilson was undefeated in 1998 and 2002. I offered a bonus point to anyone who told us which Southern Section coaches have had more than one undefeated season from the mid-1960s to the present. One point to rolled1 for correctly telling us that Mater Dei’s Chris Segesman has had two undefeated seasons (2011 and 2012). One point to CaliWaterPolo for noting that Cliff Hooper and Bill Barnett might have had two undefeated seasons. Hooper coached Corona del Mar’s 1966 and 1969 teams; Barnett coached Newport’s 1975 and 1978 teams. One half point to CaliWaterPolo for correctly telling us that Long Beach Wilson’s 1998 and 2002 teams had different coaches. Rick Azevedo coached Long Beach Wilson’s 1998 team; Tony Martinho coached the 2002 team. Three other Southern Section schools have had undefeated Open Division (or its equivalent) seasons from the mid-1960s to the present: Sunny Hills in 1973, Harvard-Westlake in 2014, and JSerra in 2023. Jim Sprague and Hank Vellekamp were co-head coaches of Sunny Hills’s 1973 team, Brian Flacks was the coach of Harvard-Westlake’s 2014 team, and Brett Ormsby was the coach of JSerra’s 2023 team. The Southern Section Open Division (or its equivalent) teams that went undefeated in the 1950s and early 1960s are Whittier in 1952 and 1953, El Segundo in 1960, and Downey in 1962.

Just for the heck of it. One point to anyone who can name, without looking it up on the Internet, the Southern Section Open Division (or its equivalent) players who won more than one player-of-the year award or co-player-of-the-year award from the mid-1960s to the present. A bonus point to anyone who can tell us one water polo related fact these players have in common. For this question, I’m excluding the most recent player to win more than one player or co-player-of-the year award because he’s still in college.

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Ben Liechty, (Newport) won in 2021 and shared 2022 with Peter Castillo.

Possibly Ben Hallock and Tony Azevedo