It is only fair that a shootout win is worth less than a regulation win and a shootout loss is worth more than a regulation loss. I have no clue how anybody can think otherwise.
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Wow, great sportsmanship here. (/sarcasm)
The Newport team is a stacked team with extremely talented players. Diablo gave it their all and played with heart, and clean. Respect to both teams for a hard fought game, and really no need to for your lack of respect for a team of mostly 13 year olds.
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Hey folks, let’s rein ourselves in here.
Cheer for your favorite teams and give kudos where it’s due.
Thanks
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Thanks for clarifying.
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It’s always good to follow the rules in a tournament
It’ll be very weird if they made up a new rule when it has been this way for a very long time.
A shootout loss always got rewarded with that extra point because it is tougher to achieve. And the rules are posted. It is even possible that the San Clemente girls and coaches KNEW this and purposely played for a shootout in Q4 when the game was tied by slowing the game down knowing that they can lock up a number one seed.
You can’t blame them for using strategy
Learning the rules, reading how long quarters are, tiebreakers, and points system are all posted and help when watching for friends and family. Heck, does anyone remember where they used to be a two point shot? How long did that last?
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I re-read what I wrote and fixed it. I was trying to be funny given all the mercy rule discussion I missed and it came off insulting. Not what I meant and I can see how it came off that way. It is my mistake and I apologize.
You are right that in trying to promote how great Newport has been against even these incredibly talented teams, it definitely came off unintentionally the other way towards Diablo, Patriot, and 908. Obviously, I am biased and writing doesn’t always come off the same way as if it was spoken word and it was not my intention.
Those teams are amazing and deserve the kudos for being the top of the heap in 2026. In any other year., those three teams would probably be the top favorites to win it all with the exact same rosters and should absolutely be proud of the hard work they put in to be in the final four, clearly the top four teams in the country this year. Way to go girls. Losing to Newport this year, no shame in that. Heads held high.
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Our younger age groups have completed their JOs! Let’s celebrate their accomplishments!
10u Girls
- Newport
- 908
- SoCal
Carolyn has done an amazing job with those Newport girls. 3 in a row. One of the best 10u coaches out there. Rico and Tony brought a brand new 908 team to new heights and Lyric brought back the SoCal program. Congrats to all kids and coaches.
10u Coed
- Patriot
- OCWPC
- North Irvine
Patriot was dominant in the division, congrats to them for playing some amazing water polo. Trevor and Tim coached their teams super well. They deserve lots of credit for how their OC and North Irvine teams competed.
12u Girls
- Newport
- Del Mar
- Back Bay
Again, three of the best coaches in the age group preparing their kids to the max. Newport was excellent in the final. Del Mar was excellent in the final as well, it just came down to shot making. Back Bay had an excellent year and finally overcame the hurdle of medaling at JOs.
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With the session near complete, do you think as a former player that it is better to take third place and win your final game or is it better to lose your final game and take second place?
I’m always curious what people think about this.
I preferred winning our final game especially on goodbye years. Go out on a high note.
As a player, looking back, I think 3rd place feels better in the moment but now that I’m older I remember the Championship games more fondly even if I lost.
A big shoutout to the Del Mar girls and coaches!! They not only survived the split, they thrived and excelled. Let’s hope the program continues to grow and adds additional age groups.
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Recap of 14U and celebrations
Newport
Diablo
Patriot
Congrats to Newport 
on a dominant season. Final 18-6 over Diablo in a gold medal is next level, usually only seen in day 1 brackets. 
Top to bottom, the best starting rotation in the league who had an incredible +/- and goal differential at JO’s. Every starter is playing at an elite level and with a center and attackers like that and a center defender who does it all, salute to the champs. I missed their semifinal but saw most of the rest.
All tourney, the only team they didn’t beat by 10+ was Patriot (12-5) in the semifinal, goalie driven or defense driven, I didn’t see. Nearly flawless domination. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gold medal game at 14U+ win like that at this level and that is just a testament by how good they are to be able to generate offense and hold teams down on defense. Coach Cristine with another dynamite job preparing them 
Coach of the year
Congrats to Diablo on an awesome tourney. It’s no small feat and falling just short at US Club Champs in third and second in JO’s is nothing to hang your head about. Great bench energy support and a lot to be proud of. Fast and physical, they got the job done everyday except the one riddle nobody could solve this year. No shame in that and a well earned silver. It wasn’t always pretty, but in sports, it’s about scoring more than the other team and using your advantages to get to the finish line. Great semifinal win too. I wish they played more tourneys so we could see more teams play and to generate more support for water polo but I understand it is expensive to travel.
Congrats to Patriot on 3rd (13-10 final over 908) the comeback run backdoor. Losing on Day 2 usually spells doom, but they proved they still had gas in the tank and found a way to fend off elimination 3 games in a row against a gauntlet of California’s best. A #13 seed turning the tables on the toughest JO strength of schedule. Losing arguably the best attacker at this age to go to Croatia for worlds on Cadet team USA 
and then winning US Club Championships and a podium at JO’s after a day 2 loss? Awesome job girls. The Mohawk coach and company had them conditioned and playing fierce as usual, kudos to their staff. Capping it off with yet another win over a very talented 908 team to not be denied the Junior Olympic podium is an accomplishment worthy of celebrating for the second best team in SoCal this year, behind only Newport.
********************
This ends another season. If someone wants to run the 16U congrats, I only know info about two of the three podium winners and don’t feel comfortable doing it justice.
Most Importantly, congrats to the 90+ teams for competing, making friends, sharing in laughs, fighting by int for every possession, and bringing this sport and the fans so much joy by giving us something to cheer for! Girls water polo is alive and well!!
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Looks like we need a mercy rule for the championship game going forward! 
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16u results:
Gold medal game
Santa Barbara “A” 8, 680 4
Bronze medal game
Legacy 8.4, Mission 8.2
Diablo? I thought it was Mission?
Yes, error corrected.
14u girls AI slop stats. All mistakes are courtesy of claude.
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Wow, I never thought to consider strength of schedule as a measurable statistic. That’s a pretty cool thing to look at. Finally a good use of AI
Interesting data, for what it is worth. If you take the 1st through 12th place finishers in the girls age groups and give 12 points for first, 11 for second, etc. here are the final totals: (disclaimer - there could be mistakes. It has been a long weekend)
Newport (SPA) = 51
Lamorinda (PAC) = 29
Santa Barbara (CCA) = 29
680 (PAC) = 28
908 (CCA) = 23
SoCal (SPA) = 18
San Clemente (SPA) = 18
Stanford (PAC) = 18
Patriot (SPA) = 17
Del Mar (PSW) = 15
Santa Cruz (PAC) = 12
SD Shores (PSW) = 11
Back Bay (SPA) = 10
Mission (PSW) = 10
Legacy (SPA) = 10
Regency (SPA) = 10
Temple City (CCA) = 8
Commerce (CCA) = 8
Arroyo Grande (CEN) = 7
CHAWP (SPA) = 6
Davis (CEN) = 5
LB Viking (CCA) = 4
LA Premier (CCA) = 4
Rose Bowl (CCA) = 4
Meridian (PAC) = 4
Tsunami (SPA) = 3
Greenwich (NEZ) = 2
OCWPC (SPA) = 2
CIU (CCA) = 1
I’m aware that some of these clubs only have certain age groups, but the data is interesting in that some clubs that rank highly on this list aren’t mentioned frequently. Some of the lower numbers were also a surprise, to me at least. Thank you to all the coaches of all these teams for helping grow and expand the sport for the girls!
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The Newport pipeline is just incredible. What a dominant session for them
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Congrats to all the teams that competed at Junior Olympics. Newport definitely has a pipeline lined up. If those kids all stay together and go to the same high school they could have some serious CIF runs.
They have some very talented kids and some very invested coaches.
Watching the top eight in the 18 U championship division was also very exciting to see several young kids participating in that age group.
I saw several 14-year-olds participating at the 18u level, which is great to see the development and next generation of high school players.
One thing I think could improve at Junior Olympics is every site should have a working shot clock and working digital scoreboard.
On the positive side, the championship site was great with the stands felt like it was something special to watch the championships. Great job at the WW site .
Now two weeks off and let’s get ready for high school girls season.
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