Hold onto your swim caps, because the Southern Section high school boys' water polo playoffs are in full swing, and the competition is fiercer than ever! But here's where it gets controversial: With powerhouse teams like Newport Harbor and Santa Margarita dominating the Open Division, some are questioning whether the playing field is truly level. Is the Open Division becoming a two-team race, or can underdogs like Laguna Beach or Corona Del Mar pull off an upset? And this is the part most people miss: Divisions 2 through 5 are packed with talent, too, with teams like Chino Hills and Camarillo making waves. Let’s dive into the results and see who’s making a splash.
SATURDAY’S SHOWDOWNS
In the Open Division, Pool A saw top-seeded Newport Harbor cruise past JSerra 13-5, while Oaks Christian outgunned Laguna Beach 17-11. Over in Pool B, Santa Margarita edged Mira Costa in a nail-biter, 12-11, and Corona Del Mar handled Long Beach Wilson 15-10. These matches set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying third round on November 5.
FRIDAY’S FIERCE COMPETITION
Division 1 kicked off with Loyola’s 17-11 victory over Servite, and San Marcos narrowly escaped San Juan Hills 15-14. Other standout wins included Mater Dei’s 13-10 triumph over Downey and Harvard-Westlake’s 13-12 thriller against Foothill. These teams are now one step closer to the quarterfinals on November 6.
THURSDAY’S THRILLERS
Division 2 featured a slew of close games, including Chino Hills’ 8-7 win over Redlands East Valley and Los Alamitos’ dominant 22-13 performance against Walnut. Meanwhile, in Division 3, Camarillo’s 11-5 victory over Flintridge Prep and Malibu’s 14-8 win over Millikan showcased the depth of talent in this bracket. Division 4 saw Charter Oak’s 18-8 rout of Webb, while Division 5 highlighted Fontana’s 21-7 blowout of Bolsa Grande.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The road to the championships continues with the second round for Divisions 2-5 on November 4, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and the grand finale on November 15 at Mt. San Antonio College. But here’s the burning question: Can anyone dethrone the favorites, or will the usual suspects reign supreme? Let us know your predictions in the comments—we’re all ears!
