# Changes at Del Mar
**URL:** https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074
**Category:** Club - Boys
**Created:** [January 3, 2026, 6:06am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074 "2026-01-03T06:06:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@SDfan](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/SDfan)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/28 "2026-01-04T17:59:08Z")
I respect this. CCHS wants to compete with and take down Newport/LJHS/Jserra and has bills to pay with (tuition paying) athletes that need development at the club and HS levels. And Tommy is a great coach probably loves the challenge of building this from the inside.
Local clubs (mostly Shores I’d imagine) benefit from new free agents - I feel bad for the A team kids that bumped down but that is how life works. Del Mar will probably figure themselves out in a year or two and will be back.
So, by creating a whole new club team out of thin air and overflowing SD kids to other clubs, I don’t see how this is not good for SD polo
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### Author:  [@Polames](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Polames)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/29 "2026-01-04T18:49:06Z")
I don’t really have a horse in this race, but if I were a parent paying tuition at CCHS, I’d honestly be thinking it’s about time they took a step like this. I’m sure the only people truly upset are those on the outside of CCHS looking in. Let’s not forget, competition is good for sports, and a little free agency giving players opportunities to move to other clubs is good for athletes.
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### Author:  [@PoloEnthusiast](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/PoloEnthusiast)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/30 "2026-01-04T19:15:42Z")
The reason the timing seems weird is because this wasn’t the plan at all. Any email can say ‘resigned’, that doesn’t mean you’re not forced out through other ways.
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### Author:  [@Joe](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Joe)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/32 "2026-01-04T21:28:35Z")
What is happening with the girls teams?
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### Author:  [@ehpolo4](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/ehpolo4)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/34 "2026-01-04T21:42:45Z")
As an OC resident, the issue I see as to why this wouldn’t be a good problem for SD to have is because water polo in general is hurting due to not sustaining large participation numbers especially at the age group level.
To the point of a lot of people who posted previously, we’re dealing with scarcity of spots on teams, monopolies on pool time, and even the choice as to whether or not they can play with their friends despite going to different high schools. Water polo isn’t like soccer or even swimming where you get the luxury of mass participation regardless of area. So competition wise hey it puts another SD club on the map. Participation and business wise is where the concern for most people seems to be and rightly so
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### Author:  [@Michael](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Michael)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/35 "2026-01-05T02:45:29Z")
I’m an OC guy but I follow SoCal polo pretty closely. SD boys polo hasn’t had parody in years. It’s been a 3 club town. Del Mar, in my opinion, has been a top 2-3 boys program in the country and set the bar in SD. This Dons/DM split won’t benefit SD polo. It’ll benefit two clubs: LJU and shores. On the boys side, La Jolla is trending up and may be a top 5 program, nationally, this year. Shores has been a top 10 boys program forever. I don’t see that changing. Families will probably be jumping to one of these programs as the split plays out and the results start coming in. Unfortunately, the other clubs in SD have either shut down or seem to be on life support. This will widen the gap between the top and the rest.
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### Author:  [@JFranPolo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/JFranPolo)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/36 "2026-01-05T18:43:50Z")
San Diego water polo–on the boys side–should have its best season yet next year. Cathedral Catholic should be the No 1 team in the country heading into the season next fall while La Jolla–with arguably the best junior Dexter Black coming back–will contend. La Jolla Bishops (excellent sophomore class) will be in the mix. Santana, who has an excellent freshman class should be Top 4.
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### Author:  [@Polonewb](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Polonewb)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/37 "2026-01-05T19:02:24Z")
Where do the Santana freshman play club? Shores?
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### Author:  [@Michael](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Michael)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/38 "2026-01-05T19:12:02Z")
i agree. Cathedral and La Jolla played in the CIF Finals, both led by their respective junior classes. They should both be two of the top HS teams in the country in the fall of 2026. Bishops and Santana should be favorites to finish 3 and 4, respectively.
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### Author:  [@JFranPolo](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/JFranPolo)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/39 "2026-01-05T20:35:14Z")
SD Shores. Head Coach Rod Bowen coaches 16s for SD Shores.
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### Author:  [@PoloDad12](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/PoloDad12)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/40 "2026-01-06T18:09:42Z")
As of roughly 3pm yesterday, all DMWPC age group practices were canceled effective immediately until a pool agreement could be reached. Sucks when my kid asks this morning if there’s practice today!
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### Author:  [@Michael](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Michael)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/41 "2026-01-07T07:29:26Z")
Wow, still no movement?
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### Author:  [@PoloEnthusiast](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/PoloEnthusiast)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/42 "2026-01-07T19:09:18Z")
Lots of movement behind the scenes. Really just waiting to hear what coaches are going to Dons, who stays at Del Mar and where the kids/parents decide to go.
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### Author:  [@PoloEnthusiast](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/PoloEnthusiast)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/44 "2026-01-07T21:51:04Z")
From a politics perspective yes. From an athlete/parent perspective it’s more about ‘is my kid going to be coached by the person we have built a relationship with’.
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### Author:  [@Michael](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Michael)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/45 "2026-01-07T22:52:13Z")
Of course the coach/relationship matters but if the 10/12/14u boys are open to everyone but the 16-18u boys is exclusive to CCHS, it would be a tough sell to register knowing my son would have to go elsewhere for 16/18s if CCHS wasn’t in our plans. Even if my son planned on going to CCHS when he’s 12, too many variables to “plan” to play on that school team down the road. Tough situation on the families. In a perfect world, after JOs would’ve been much better than mid season to drop this bomb. Wishing the families the best as they sort through this.
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### Author:  [@martinsf](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/martinsf)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/46 "2026-01-08T04:39:46Z")
I’m hearing Del Mar is done. Pool contract went to Dons and coaches along with it. I’d assume they’ll try to move over the 10U/12U/14U teams and get rid of any non-CCHS 16U and 18U boys.
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### Author:  [@Lucky7](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Lucky7)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/47 "2026-01-08T04:42:27Z")
Does anybody me have insight about which club has secured pool time at Torrey Pines?
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### Author:  [@cmbreeze](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/cmbreeze)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/48 "2026-01-08T04:49:45Z")
To my knowledge, the SDUHSD district pool at TPHS is committed to HS athletics for the foreseeable future with multiple schools using the facility.
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### Author:  [@Polofanmom](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Polofanmom)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 5:13am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/49 "2026-01-08T05:13:39Z")
I’m saddened by the fact that the adults on deck on all sides DMWP/Coaches/CCHS athletics could not sort out their personnel/contract/$$$ issues without harming the kids. This is a bad look for all involved. I hope the youth that have been affected find water somewhere and are welcomed by other clubs to continue with their sport.
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### Author:  [@wpuncle1](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/wpuncle1)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2026, 6:16am UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/changes-at-del-mar/2074/51 "2026-01-08T06:16:36Z")
I think it is really interesting how La Jolla and SD Shores will benefit from this change. I am guessing Hanrui Liu and Aden Shin from Bishops will both transfer to shores, possibly forming a pretty solid 16s team. There are also plenty of Carlsbad and Poway athletes at Del Mar who could make a strong impact on Lj or Shore’s performance. Honestly a bit refreshing to see some variance in the domination of San Diego.
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