In an effort to broaden the coverage of high school water polo beyond California, I will be covering the Beast of the East, the largest high school water polo tournament on the East Coast.
“With over 30 years of tradition, this prestigious tournament brings high-level water polo competition to eastern and central Pennsylvania for 48 hours of intense play….the Beast of the East is the largest high school water polo tournament on the East Coast.
Pennsylvania Water Polo and Wilson High School are proud to welcome over 60 teams a year, with competitors traveling from states such as Ohio, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, and even Utah.
For two days, the pool becomes a battleground of skill, strategy, and athletic grit. Teams from across the region clash in high-stakes matches, showcasing the incredible talent and passion that defines the sport. Whether you are a lifelong fan, a parent cheering on your athlete, or new to the world of water polo, you are in for an unforgettable experience. This event features two days of competition at over 10 sites”
Over the past few years, the final game has featured the two Greenwich teams, Greenwich High School and Brunswick, playing each other for the first time of the season, out of three total matchups.
This tournament has certainly ebbed and flowed over the years - mirroring the changes in the sport especially at the collegiate level; the addition of a girls division; the impact of specialization in ALL youth sports; and the rise of other “minor” sports (lacrosse, golf, squash).
Despite all of the oft-discussed challenges, this tournament has persisted as a unique event on my water polo calendar. It actually feels more like two or three events at the same time.
Given the long history of athletic rivalries in PA, the abundance of school spirit makes for a great atmosphere-regardless of the level of play. As an aside, the tournament still has a throwback feel because of the large number of swimmer-first polo players!
Separately, there are of course legitimately talented teams and players whose primary sport is water polo. Lead by the teams from Greenwich, CT (Brunswick and Greenwich HS have met in the finals of the boys division for most of the last decade) there are high-level games featuring future collegiate polo players that consistently attract and convert younger players to the sport.
It would have been great to see California and Texas teams join this tournament, which, as I mentioned, has been around for more than 30 years. USA Water Polo is doing an underwhelming job of promoting high school water polo overall. They highlight NCAA water polo through the Cutino Award and the Division III national championship, but offer nothing comparable at the high school level. I’m not sure why. It feels like such a missed opportunity to grow the sport among youth.
Congratulations to Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT) on winning its 5th straight Beast of the East Tournament ¶ Boys Division:19-9 over Greenwich High School.
These two teams are likely to meet again, next weekend, at GHS’s 50th Annual Cardinal Cup.
As mentioned by @Getit2theset , Brunswick won the tournament in a Greenwich derby. It is a down year for Greenwich High School, though they have many talented young players. Kudos to North Allegheny for giving a tough match in the semifinal against Greenwich.
In terms of overall level, outside of the Greenwich teams, there are about four other teams that can give a competitive game to a 50 +/- ranked California varsity team. The organization of the tournament was very good, but the lack of live streaming should be addressed in future years, especially when players are traveling as far as six hours and families at home want to watch their teams.
I assume it is difficult to get qualified referees in this part of the country, but the officiating was unacceptably poor. The level of physicality allowed resembled “touch football” at times, and many calls appeared biased.
That said, the entire tournament felt like a throwback to old-school, community-based sports—full of school spirit, passion for the game, and pride in representing local high schools. We need more of this across the country.
I think the growth of the WCAC United Club in Pennsylvania will serve to really strengthen PA teams in the coming years. Will be fun to see how that plays into the HS teams in the tournament.
I’m sure they would gladly take you as a referee next year. Please contact a coach to put you in touch with the assigners or ask around to get involved.
Brunswick wins the Cardinal Cup over crosstown rival GHS, 15-8.
Final Standings for Cardinal Cup:
1st. Brunswick A
2nd. Greenwich High School A
3rd. Brunswick B
4th. Gonzaga (DC)
5th. CT Premier
6th. Greenwich High School B
7th. Phillips Exeter (NH)
8th. Staples High School (CT)
9th. The Hill School ¶
North Allegheny beat Greenwich earlier in the year. This was a get back for Greenwich. They also went on to win the PA state championship. Would have been cool to see them square off with Brunswick
Congrats to North Allegheny for winning the state championship! I’m sure Brunswick and Greenwich Aquatics would be happy to host North Allegheny for a scrimmage. It’s always hard to find competitive matches and scrimmages on the East Coast. I believe La Salle College High School even traveled to scrimmage against Brunswick. DM and we will try to facilitate.
