Co-ed Water Polo Kids Got Their Gold

The Laguna Beach kids on the 10 and under co-ed water polo team won the gold medal after a tough game against San Diego Shores in the annual San Diego County Cup tournament May 2, the second biggest water polo event in California.

The Laguna team played against CHAWP, San Diego Shores, Commerce, and SET, competing in five hard games on Saturday, May 1, followed by the finals on Sunday. According to the players, the most challenging teams were Commerce, San Diego Shores and SET.

When the last goal was scored in the gold medal game with a 5-4 win by Laguna, head coach Chad Beeler was pushed into the pool with all the players who participated in the tournament to celebrate their win.

The11 champions who competed in the tournament were Joseph Colladay, Aidan Polizois, Sean Decker, Colton Gregory, Sophia Lucas, Patrick Saunders, Sebastian Jacobs, Johnny Mitchell, Marccon Salib, Adam Mitchell, and Peter Weiland.

It was a red-letter day for Weiland, whose birthday was May 1 and who was also a contender for most valuable tournament player. “I feel proud of myself, because when Neil Sanderson won MVP of the San Diego cup last year, I hoped that maybe the next year I would win it,” said Wieland.

Colladay, who let almost no goals by, received the all-tournament team award for his diligence. “It is really good getting first place because we really worked hard on it,” said Colladay.

A similar award went to Jacobs in recognition of his efforts. “I think it was not just me who won it; I think it was the whole team,” he said.

Coach Beeler asked team members to each touch the cup with one finger and dip their gold medals in the pool, in order to take the winning water back home with them.

“I am very proud of how the team performed,” said Beeler. “Theyplayed as one team with one goal in mind – to go home with the cup. All the hard work and extra practice and swimming had paid off. It was a tough and close game.”

Marccon Salib is a Top of the World student. From the Laguna Beach Independent

Girls Bring Home Silver

The Laguna Beach 12 and under girls water polo team headed to San Diego last weekend to defend their title at the San Diego Cup, coming home with a hard-earned second-place trophy.

The San Diego Cup, the second biggest tournament of the year for age group water polo. featured 162 California teams competing in 17 pools throughout San Diego County.

The 12 and under girls’ division had 16 teams. Laguna’s first game Friday against a Ventura County team was easily won 14 to 4. On Saturday, Laguna played City of Commerce, winning 7-3. In their last game, Laguna faced off with United Water Polo Club from Los Alamitos, losing 8-5.

Laguna placed second in their group, earning a position in the quarter finals. Laguna played the Bay area Diablos, winning 10-1. In the semi final match, Laguna squared off against Los Alamitos, which had beat them earlier in the day.

The game was close during the first quarter but Laguna found their second wind and won the game 10- 4, which placed them in the finals.

The championship game Sunday matched Laguna against El Toro, SET, the tournament favorite. The first quarter was a defensive battle that ended in a 1-1 tie. In the second quarter, SET still managed to finish ahead 3-2. SET increased their offensive intensity in the third quarter and the score swelled to 6-3, but Laguna regrouped and finished the quarter trailing by one point, 6-5. The Laguna team only had 2 subs, and three of their players were splitting time with the 14 and under girls’ team. Laguna kept it close and were only one goal behind with 1:50 left, but SET had too much and pulled away on two fast break goals to finish the game with the win at 9-6.

Chad Beeler, Laguna’s club administrator, said “Half the girls on this team started the season with little or no prior water polo experience. For them to finish second at this prestigious event is amazing. I am starting to believe this team will do very well at this year’s National Junior Olympics in August.” Laguna’s Golden Team

Once again, Laguna Beach’s 10 and under water polo team won a gold medal competing in San Diego May 1-2 in five games Saturday and in the finals on Sunday.

Peter Weiland was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Joey Colladay and Sebastian Jacobs both received the all tournament team award.

After the winning game, coach Chad Beeler told the players to dip their medals in the water where they won. This way they take the winning water with them back home. “I am very proud of how the team performed. They played as one team with one goal in mind: to go home with the cup. All the hard work and extra practice and swimming had paid off. It was a tough and close game,” says Beeler.

Those who competed in the tournament included: Joseph Colladay, Aidan Polizois, Sean Decker, Colton Gregory, Sophia Lucas, Patrick Saunders, Sebastian Jacobs, Johnny Mitchell, Marccon Salib, Adam Mitchell, and Peter Weiland.

Girls Teams Roiling the Water

Laguna Beach’s under 14 and 12 girls water polo teams took second and third respectively in a nine-team tournament, the OC Cup, held last weekend at Irvine’s William Woollett Aquatics Complex.

The under 12s easily won their first game against the Irvine Anteater Club 14 to 7. In their second game against last year’s nemesis, Newport Beach, Laguna got out to a great start, leading by nine goals in the fourth quarter. Newport mounted a great rally but Laguna won 13-10.

The two wins put the under 12s in the medal round, where Laguna lost both matches, against Socal and the Corona club team United.

“Most girls on this team are brand new to water polo and for some girls, this was their first tournament,” said club director, Chad Beeler.

In the first round of games, the under 14s Laguna defeated SET, from El Toro, 8-2. Their second game was also against Newport, winning 3-2.

The 14s also entered the preliminary round robin, prevailing first against the Inland Empire’s, Xtreme 7-5. In the game to determine the gold medal winner, Laguna faced the nation’s top team, Tustin’s Socal. The defensive battle was tied up 3-3 in the fourth-quarter. When one of Laguna’s defenders fouled out of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Socal took advantage. Laguna lost the match to win silver.

Girls Polo Players Receive CIF Honors

Senior Lexie Ross and juniors Jessie Holechek and Jessica Shusko were named first-team to the 2010 Southern Section all- CIF squad announced this past week.

Etianne Manetta and Yoshi Anderson were selected to the 13-player second team.

Coach Ethan Damato was also honored as the co-coach of the year for CIF D-II and recently recognized by the Orange County Register as Orange County Coach of the Year.

Damato is a 2000 graduate of Laguna where he earned All- Pacific Coast League honors in 1998 and ‘99 in boys water polo and was a first team all-CIF D-II selection in 1999.

The girls are 53-14 under Damato and should have another top team in 2011.