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.
