My unofficial preseason rankings for the 2025 boys’ high school season follow below. These rankings represent my guess about where the schools will finish at the end of the season. Before completing my rankings, I consulted with many coaches and knowledgeable observers, including our Water Polo Exchange colleague, Joel Francisco. I intend to update these rankings each week during the season.
My annual plea to high school coaches: Please post your schedules, rosters, and scores on your school’s website, your California Interscholastic Federation Section’s website, MaxPreps, Scorebook Live, 6-8 Sports, or The FOSH.
Tournaments
For ease of reference, I have listed the schools scheduled to participate in some of the in-season tournaments.
Arroyo Grande Fall Classic (August 22 to 23). This round-robin tournament will be hosted by Arroyo Grande. The schools scheduled to participate are Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Clovis, Clovis North, Clovis West, College Park, Dos Pueblos, Foothill, Granite Bay, Kingsbury, Morro Bay, Northgate, Paso Robles, Redwood (Visalia), Righetti, Rocklin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Ynez
Punahou Invitational (August 29 to 30). This tournament will be hosted by Punahou. The schools scheduled to participate are Cardinal Newman, Crean Lutheran, Kamehameha School Kapālama (Hawaii), Loyola, Monte Vista, Punahou (Hawaii), Rio Americano, and a 3rd Hawaii school to be determined in a playoff.
Long Beach Tournament (August 29 to 30). This round-robin tournament will be hosted by Long Beach Poly. The schools scheduled to participate in the Invite Division are Buena, Clovis, Downey, La Jolla, Long Beach Wilson, Poway, San Marcos, and Torrey Pines. The schools scheduled to participate in the Gold Division are Buchanan, Camarillo, El Segundo, Hoover, La Costa Canyon, La Habra, La Serna, Long Beach Poly, Palos Verdes, Royal, Redondo Union, San Juan Hills, Sequoia, Temple City, and Vista.
Santa Barbara Invitational (September 4 to 6). This tournament will be hosted by Santa Barbara and other Santa Barbara-area high schools. The schools scheduled to participate are Alta Loma, Beckman, Bellarmine, Buena, Carlsbad, Coronado, Corona del Mar, Crean Lutheran, Damien, Dos Pueblos, Downey, Grossmont, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, La Serna, Mater Dei, Mira Costa, Redlands East Valley, Saint Francis, San Marcos, Santa Barbara, San Clemente, Ventura, Westlake, and Yucaipa.
Roche Invitational (September 5-6). This tournament will be hosted by Menlo. The schools scheduled to participate are Archie Williams, Buchanan, Clovis North, Clovis West, Davis, La Jolla, Los Altos, Menlo, Menlo-Atherton, Redwood, Rio Americano, Rocklin, Saint Ignatius, San Ramon Valley, Soquel, and Vista.
Villa Park Classic (September 11 to 13). This tournament will be hosted by Villa Park. The schools scheduled to participate are Aliso Niguel, Beaumont, Camarillo, Capistrano Valley, Coronado, El Dorado, El Segundo, Esperanza, Helix, Hoover, Lake Oswego (Oregon), La Serna, Los Alamitos, Pt. Loma, Poway, Orange Lutheran, Redondo Union, Righetti, San Dieguito, St. Marks (Texas), St. Ignatius, Santa Margarita, Santana, Servite, Temecula Valley, University. Valhalla, Valley View, Villa Park, and Yucaipa.
Saint Francis Invitational (September 12 to 13). The schools scheduled to participate are Arroyo Grande, Buchanan, Garces Memorial, Harker, Jesuit, Saint Francis, Serra, and Valley Christian.
South Coast Tournament (September 18 to 20). This tournament will feature almost all of the top schools in California and will be hosted by Newport Harbor and Costa Mesa. The schools scheduled to participate are Alta Loma, Beckman, Bishop’s, Buena, Campolindo, Carlsbad, Cathedral Catholic, Corona del Mar, Dana Hills, De La Salle, Downey, Edison, Foothill, Harvard-Westlake, Huntington Beach, JSerra, Laguna Beach, Long Beach Wilson, Los Alamitos, Loyola, Mater De, Mira Costa, Miramonte, Murrieta Valley, Newport Harbor, Oaks Christian, Sacred Heart Prep, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, San Marcos, Santa Margarita, Ventura, and Westlake.
America’s Finest City Invitational (September 19-20). This tournament will be hosted by Coronado and La Jolla. The schools scheduled to participate are Agoura, Bonita, Canyon Crest Academy, Coronado, Damien, Del Norte, Eastlake, La Jolla, Le Jardin Academy (Hawaii), Long Beach Poly, Riverside Poly, and Valhalla.
S&R Sport Invite (September 26-27). This tournament will be hosted by Foothill and Irvine. The schools scheduled to participate are Alta Loma, Bellarmine, Crean Lutheran, Davis, Foothill, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Jesuit, Long Beach Wilson, Menlo, Mira Costa, Palos Verde, Portola, Redwood, San Ramon Valley, and Westlake.
Elite 8 Tournament (October 2 to 4). This tournament will be hosted by Harvard-Westlake. The schools scheduled to participate are Bishop’s, Cathedral Catholic, Corona del Mar, Harvard-Westlake, JSerra, Miramonte, Newport Harbor, and Sacred Heart Prep.
Battle in the Creek Tournament (October 10 to 11). This tournament will be hosted by Northgate and Las Lomas. The schools scheduled to participate are Arroyo Grande, Buchanan, California, Clovis, College Park, Granite Bay, Gunn, Harker, Kamehameha Kapalama (Hawaii), Las Lomas, Monte Vista, Northgate, Redwood, Tamalpais, Terra Linda, and Valley Christian.
North vs. South Challenge (October 17 to 18). This tournament will be hosted by Sacred Heart Prep and Gunn. The schools scheduled to participate are Campolindo, Cathedral Catholic, De La Salle, Greenwich (Connecticut), Harvard-Westlake, JSerra, Loyola, Mater Dei, Menlo, Miramonte, Newport Harbor, Oaks Christian, Rio Americano, San Ramon Valley, Sacred Heart Prep, and Santa Margarita.
Memorial Cup (October 17 to 18). This tournament will be hosted by Bellarmine. The schools scheduled to participate are Archie Williams, Bellarmine, Bishop’s, Corona del Mar, Davis, Foothill, Long Beach Wilson, and Saint Francis.
The 2025 Season
I predict Newport Harbor will finish the season as the top team in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section, Cathedral Catholic in the San Diego Section, Sacred Heart Prep in the Central Coast Section, Miramonte in the North Coast Section, Rio Americano in the Sac-Joaquin Section, and Buchanan in the Central Section. I predict Newport Harbor will finish the season as the top school in the country for the second year in a row and the third time in four years. I believe seven schools will compete for the No. 2 through 5 spots: Cathedral Catholic, Sacred Heart Prep, JSerra, Miramonte, Corona del Mar, Oaks Christian, and Mira Costa.
This should be a good year for public school teams, with as many as 14 finishing in my top 25 list. It should also be a good year for the top Central Coast, North Coast, and San Diego Section schools, with as many as three finishing in the top 5 and five finishing in the top 10.
Top 25
The summaries of the teams shown below are the joint effort of Joel Francisco and me. With some minor editing from me, Joel prepared the summaries for the Southern California schools, except for La Jolla and Carlsbad. I prepared the summaries for the Northern California schools, La Jolla, Carlsbad, and Brunswick. When I mention the name of a player in my summaries and don’t list a position, I believe the player is a RH attacker. If I believe the player is a goalie, center defender, center, or LH attacker, I provide that information the first time I mention the player’s name. When I mention the name of a player without a year after his name, I believe the player is from the Class of 2026. If I believe the player is from the Class of 2027, 2028, or 2029, I provide that information in parenthesis after the name of the player. When I list a college after a player’s name, I have seen or heard reports that the player has made a verbal commitment to attend that college. When I list the name of a college followed by a question mark, I am guessing the player will attend that college. My apologies if I misspelled anyone’s name or did not mention the name of a player who deserves recognition. I will gladly correct these and any other errors if they are brought to my attention.
1. Newport Harbor (ceiling 1, floor 2). Ross Sinclair and his experienced staff have the Sailor program humming and this season will be no different. The Sailors look to go back-to-back with a roster that is chock-full of talent and experience. The Sailors will be led by stud seniors and National Team participants Kai Kaneko (Stanford) and Connor Ohl (Stanford, 19.79 and 44.69). They are arguably the best attackers in the country. Kaneko is a Youth Team standout who impacts the game at both ends of the pool due to his skill, savvy, and defensive prowess. Meanwhile, there is not a more explosive attacker in the country than Ohl, who uses his speed, length, and scoring mindset to dominate games. Kaneko orchestrates the offense on the right side and burns the nets consistently from the perimeter. Joining Kaneko on the 4/5 side will be lefty and Cal-commit Mason Netzer, who can rip shots from the perimeter and dazzle with his passing. In the middle, center Geoffrey Slutsky (Harvard) has emerged as a serious threat due to his long frame and improved skill set. Navy commit Hudson Parks is a much-improved all-around player and a gritty center-defender. Finalizing the starting line-up will be senior Robert “Dash” D’Ambrosia (21.34 and 47.05). He is a speedy left-side attacker with an explosive shot. Other players that will see significant minutes include seniors Marco Rizof (Santa Clara, solid glue-type), defender Fletcher Appledorn, savvy left-hander and Navy commit Declan Bartlett, and Tyler Jameson. Sophomores Sean Anderson (athletic attacker, a transfer from JSerra) and Caruso Polenzani (gifted utility) will play significant minutes and are the leaders of a talented group of sophomores and freshmen. Freshman Owen Marks (ODP NTSC cadet national team selection) will be the second center. In the cage, much-improved senior Connor Cougherty—who had a terrific summer— will lead the best defense in the country. Junior goalie Lian Kim (22.29 relay split) is a standout as well and has a very bright future. Newport will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Bishop’s and Cathedral Catholic.
2. Cathedral Catholic (ceiling 1 floor 7). Del Mar Water Polo Club has been humming in the age-group divisions the last few years and that talent is trickling into Cathedral Catholic—the two-time defending Open Division Champions in San Diego. Head Coach Tommy Corcoran has a plethora of prospects to choose from—most of which are still underclassmen. There are two dynamic prospects at the center position. First, the versatile junior Braylen Axline (youth national team, 22.66) who can play inside and out, has a tremendous motor, and is a gifted scorer. Second, sophomore Grayson Taylor (cadet national team) is a budding true center who showed glimpses of his future dominance this summer. He has long arms and magnetic hands and he’s getting better each time out. At center defender is the ever-improving junior Jett Taylor (youth national team). He got some quality playing time on the National Team this summer and held his own. He needs to continue to improve his physicality, but is arguably the best center defender prospect in high school. Meanwhile, Navy commit Colin McPhail is a blue-collar defender who can post-up. On the left side, Corcoran can choose from a number of options to keep opponents off balance. Navy commit Max Arnold (22.48) can sling it from anywhere and sophomore Diego Dantas (23.01) has serious speed and a high-level shot. Dantas is one of the more improved players in his class. Sophomore Max Bruhn was lost to injury in the summer and will probably not play this season. That will hurt Cathedral’s depth as he was having an outstanding offseason. However, senior Hudson Tweed (2nd Team All-CIF) loves to grind in transition and doesn’t need to score to impact the game. Look for freshman Cortez Chavez (cadet national team), a very good prosect, to get some minutes. On the right side is the savvy junior Eamon Bruhn (22.39), possibly Del Mar’s most important player. He sets the table for everyone due to his astute passing and timely shooting. Joining Bruhn on the right side will be sophomore Jack Davis (cadet national team), who impacts the game with his speed, defensive prowess, and non-stop motor. At goalie for the Dons will be stud senior Oren Penning (Navy). He had a stellar summer and is arguably one of the top 3 goalies in his class. The depth at goalie is outstanding as gifted junior Luke Anderson will play behind Penning. Cathedral Catholic will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Newport Harbor, Oaks Christian, JSerra, and Loyola.
3. Sacred Heart Prep (ceiling 2, floor 7). Sacred Heart, as well coached as any school in the country, has dominated the Central Coast Section for almost a generation. This year’s team has a strong starting lineup with good size and speed but doesn’t have as much depth as some of Sacred Heart’s best teams. The likely starters include goalie Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka (a U.C. school?, 2024 youth national team), center defender Charlie Baker (21.19 and 46.37), 6’5” center Oliver Marcin (Princeton, 2024 youth national team, 1st team All-American in 2024, 22.15 and 46.57 relay split), center Eddie Eiref (2027, 47.34 relay split), 6’5” LH attacker Clay Carrington (Harvard, ODP NTSC youth national team selection, 2nd team All-American in 2024, 22.05 and 48.86), and Gates Gamble (2027, 22.73). Marcin is one of the top two centers in the country, Carrington may have the highest ceiling of any senior LH attacker, and Gamble is one of the top junior attackers. Goalie Wilkes Rohlen (2028), Charlie Wagner (2027), Teddy Parrett (2027), Ryan Karr, and David Edelman should receive significant playing time. Sacred Heart will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against JSerra and De La Salle.
4. JSerra (ceiling 2, floor 7). Brett Ormsby and his staff have done a phenomenal job building the Lions’ program into a powerhouse, and they are not going anywhere anytime soon—considering a phenomenal sophomore class that is quickly evolving into a solid unit. The Lions lost a ton to graduation, including do-everything attacker Taylor Bell (Princeton), ultra-motor Colt Bradley (USC), and massive center defender Milan Sumich (Cal-Berkeley). In addition, the Anderson brothers transferred to Newport Harbor. Although they are still in need of a true center-type, there is a lot to like with this team. Senior Connor Colman (UCLA, 20.65 relay split and 46.81) is one of the most explosive attackers in the country. Senior Jonas Ransford (Harvard) is one of the best goalies in the country. Sophomore Stefan Vukojevic will back up Ransford and has a promising future. The center-defender position will be manned by sophomore Lars Knepper, who has improved greatly over the offseason. Sophomore utility standout Dylan Park will provide offensive punch inside-and-out. Chris Koo, arguably the best freshman in the country, can play virtually anywhere in the pool due to his advanced skill, savvy, and speed. Two other sophomores with bright futures are Parker Johnson (exceptional shooter) and skilled lefty Andy Schneider—brother of Stanford standout Will Schneider. Schneider will receive some playing time at center. The Lions program is also bolstered by sophomore transfers Ronan Keane (Servite) and Cal Ulicny (Portola). Keane was a standout attacker this summer on the Cadet Pan-Am Team and Ulicny is a gifted lefty who plays with a ton of moxie. More depth will come from attacker Casey Cardenas**,** sophomore attacker Dimitris Dimitrakopoulos (transfer from Beckman), junior lefty Luke Lee (big arm), and junior attacker Joseph Wraith. Some of JSerra’s attackers are developing post-up games. JSerra will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against La Jolla, Mira Costa, Sacred Heart Prep, Harvard-Westlake, Cathedral Catholic, and Mater Dei.
5. Miramonte (ceiling 2, floor 9). This should be one of Miramonte’s better teams. Drew Holland (Miramonte Class of 2013, 4x college All-American at Stanford, 2x Olympian) has taken John Nash’s place as Miramonte’s co-head coach. Nash, Miramonte Class of 2009, will continue to be involved with the program. Miramonte has one of the deepest and fastest teams in the country with at least 10 players swimming sub-23 in the 50. Center Tristan Tucker (UCLA, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection) was a 2nd team All-American last year. Other field players likely to start or receive significant playing time are center defender/attacker/center Jackson Cherry (22.86), center defender Michael Robinson (2027, 22.64), center Griff Maclear (2027), LH attacker Mason Tunney (2028, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection, 23.12), LH attacker Tyler Williams (2027, 22.98 and 47.99), LH attacker Simon Mains (2028, 22.74), Brock Bliss (Navy, 21.88 and 48.22), Brady Hassett (2027, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection, 22.85), Trent Smith (2027, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection, 22.45 and 48.84), Grayson Bloes (2027, 21.29 and 47.38), and Yoav Schmoisman. Miramonte probably has the strongest and largest freshman class in Northern California. It includes goalie Blake Bowen, center Billy Beaver (ODP NTSC cadet national team selection, 23.88), center defender Blake Elder (22.35), Grant Stevens (22.42), Jack Deal (23.06), Wyatt Van Leeuwen, and Avi Kim. To reach its ceiling, Miramonte must receive more consistent goaltending than it did last year. Zavi Ryder (2027, sat out last season after transferring to Miramonte from Campolindo) and Caden Keane (2028, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection) will probably share time at goalie. Miramonte will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Tamalpais, Redwood, and De La Salle.
6. Corona del Mar (ceiling 2, floor 9). Lucas Reynolds, former CdM standout and UCLA Bruin, is doing a tremendous job keeping his alma mater playing at the highest level. CdM must replace do-everything Jackson Harlan (UCLA), but Reynolds has a solid pipeline and there are a number of talented players ready to keep the Sea Kings at the upper echelon of high school water polo. Senior standout Nathan Simoncelli (USC) is a beast in the middle of the pool with his improved center game and he can defend as well. Staying out of foul trouble will be key. Senior Cooper Harlan will share time with Simoncelli as he has the tools and moxie to draw exclusions and score occasionally. The Sea Kings have options at center defender. One of the fastest rising players in the state is junior William Weir. The long-armed center defender will allow Simoncelli to be the primary center. Junior Wyatt Lussier had a strong summer and will be a viable option as back-up defender as his game is all about blue-collar. Sophomore utility Blake Jurevich should get some minutes as well and has a big upside. On the perimeter, Reynolds has a plethora of attackers with a nice combination of experience and youth. Senior Bryan Shapirshteyn (21.89), who is getting Division 1 looks, is an explosive left-side attacker with speed and an explosive shot. Fellow senior Grant Christian is one of the more underrated players in Orange County. He plays the right side and has a terrific outside shot. Joining Christian on the right side will be willowy senior Aiden Sexton (U.C. Irvine). The gifted senior has improved his decision making and he can really rip it if left open. On the left side, junior Koosha Mirrafiti is a gritty attacker who impacts the game with his speed and aggressiveness. Junior Brody Rauth will come off the bench and can play multiple positions as he is one of the more physical players on the roster. Another junior to keep an eye on is Hudson Castillo. He’s an athletic left-hander with long arms and can rip the back of the net with his explosive arm. Senior goalie Ben Kubichek will take over in the cage and had some bright moments during the Newport Invite in July. He is one of the more underrated goalies in Orange County. Corona del Mar will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Foothill, Oaks Christian, Long Beach Wilson, and Harvard Westlake.
7. Oaks Christian (ceiling 3, floor 9). Head Coach Jack Kocur lost a lot in USC signee Camden Kocur, who was a catalyst for the Lions. Pacific-bound Saul Biddle, Pepperdine-bound Max Burstein, and Pomona Pitzer-bound Jaden Winters are also significant losses. However, the cupboard is far from empty. Kocur was gone most of the summer due to National Team responsibilities but look for this team to continue to improve as the season progresses as there are a number of talented pieces ready to emerge. The Lions are blessed with a number of talented attackers with a nice blend of experience and youth. Leading the way will be Joshua Coxford (2027, a transfer from Langley Christian School in Canada, Canadian youth national team) and the senior tandem of Wyatt Williamson and Kane Fogg (Fordham). Williamson is an explosive attacker with a potent shot while Fogg can rip it from the perimeter or post up. Senior lefty Darion Wang will run the right side with his nifty passing and shooting while senior Panos Ilic (sat out last year) is a crafty attacker. Sophomore Kaan Avcibasioglu (skilled left-side attacker) will provide a significant punch from the bench. Look for improved lefty junior Yuri Davtyan and sophomore Malloy Hambly to provide additional depth. In the middle, much-improved junior Jack Lansing (lefty center) is becoming a force. He has long arms and big hands. Junior Kellen Gritz (center defender) and senior Aiden Keith provide depth in the middle of the pool. Don’t be surprised if gifted freshman Hunter Loo gets more and more minutes as the season progresses. In the cage, junior Ryder Bjork (returning starter) showed marked improvement in ability and confidence as the spring and summer progressed. Oaks Christian will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Bishop’s, Cathedral Catholic, Corona del Mar, JSerra, and Buena.
8. Mira Costa (ceiling 3, floor 10). Head Coach Jon Reichardt should have his best team in more than a decade as his roster is overflowing with experience and talent. The Mustangs return every starter from the Southern Section Division 1 runner-up team, with the exception of Mikey Ingram. Reichardt also received a nice gift this summer when Palos Verdes standout Adrian Senciac transferred to Mira Costa. Senciac is a late-blooming lefty who has some Wade Sherlock (UCLA) in his game. UCLA-bound attacker Flynn Guenther is the leader of the team and its best all-around player as he affects the game in multiple ways. San Jose State commit Kai Nelson is a strong attacker who can rip it from the perimeter. Sophomore Arda DeMiryurek is another gifted attacker with a potent shot. Look for junior Jameson Greenstone to start or play significant minutes as he is the prototypical glue-type that doesn’t need to ball to impact a game. Junior Salim Salah will come off the bench to play important minutes. In the middle, Navy commit Lucas Pearce (1st Team All-CIF Southern Section) is a blue-collar center who is all about production—whether that be scoring or drawing exclusions. Junior Grant He is another talented utility-type with great size and budding skills. Junior Rees Kokorowski is an emerging big center who should provide some quality minutes. Fellow junior Heath Rodriguez will be the back-up defender as he put together a productive summer playing for Trojan’s 16u team. Finally, the Mustangs have quality depth at goalie. One of the more underrated goalies in the state is Grant Anderson who committed to Cal Baptist. He’ll be backed up by a very talented junior, Cooper Agens. Mira Costa will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and S&R Tournament, and has non-league games against JSerra, Harvard-Westlake, Loyola, Santa Margarita, Foothill, Westlake, and Long Beach Wilson.
9. De La Salle (ceiling 6, floor 12). De La Salle, which has won three of the last four North Coast Section Open Division championships, returns four starters from last year’s team: goalie William Corr (a D1 school?, ODP NTSC youth national team selection), center defender/center Hayden Tulley (UCSB, 22.39 and 48.63), center/attacker Sloan Brown (a D1 school?), and Tanner Lustig (Navy, 20.75 and 45.88). Other players likely to start or receive significant playing time are center defender Brycen Lott, center Kaden Schroeder (2027), LH attacker Peter Kroger (a D1 school?, 22.70), Tyce di Pretoro (Pepperdine), Cristian Sanchez, and attacker/center defender Gabriel Skov (2027). De La Salle has a strong incoming freshman class, led by goalie Ryan Mack, Max Johnson (21.75), John Hughes, and Connor Tsai. De La Salle will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Sacred Heart, and Rio Americano.
10. The Bishop’s School (ceiling 8, floor 14). Last year, Bishop’s finished in the runner-up spot in San Diego’s Open Division for the second year in a row. Head Coach Ian Davidson and his talented group of young guns will look for redemption. The Knights have a nice collection of prospects—especially the sophomore class. Sophomore Aden Shin plays the game at a break-neck pace and can score in bunches. This summer he was the go-to scorer for the Cadet National Team at the Pan American Games. Fellow sophomore Hanrui Liu, one of the better sophomore attackers in the country, had a terrific summer due to his speed and playmaking. UC Irvine commit Jeremiah “JT” Moss is a willowy attacker who has length, speed, and improved shooting. The most surprising player for Bishop’s this summer was junior attacker Cutter Leach. He is active on the counter as well as off the drive and should be an offensive catalyst for the Knights. Sophomore Roman Kapchinsky is a crafty player with an advanced IQ for the game due to his savvy passing. Fellow sophomore Henry Martin (brother of Jack and Charlie) is an aggressive attacker. Freshman Liam Zarcu (Cadet Pan American Team) is one of the better shooters in his class and has good speed. One of the catalysts to a successful season will be the play of sophomore Calvin Lubsen. The chiseled utility player impacts the game in the middle of the pool at both ends and is especially potent operating in the post. Senior Colton Bell (Brown) is a grinding-type center who does a nice job of earning exclusions. Junior Sebastian Nudlemen showed some promise in the summer playing with the JO Champion Del Mar 16u team. He’ll provide depth in the middle of the pool. Don’t be surprised if freshman Mark Minasian makes his mark as well—he’s physically ready for the varsity level. One of the most important things to watch with this young team will be the continued development of junior goalie Luke Spiro—who had a solid summer with San Diego Shores’ 16u squad. Bishop’s will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Newport, Oaks Christian, Mater Dei, and Huntington Beach.
11. Harvard-Westlake (ceiling 9, floor 16). Head Coach Jack Grover discovered what perseverance means this past year and has an intriguing roster that is filled with youth and potential. The Huskies will be without the likes of Otto Stothart (Princeton), Connor Kim (Harvard), Collin Caras (Stanford), and Taj Draper (UCSB), and as a result there will be growing pains. However, there is an abundance of up-and-coming prospects that should be intriguing to watch as Grover puts the pieces of the puzzle together. The Huskies will be led by an up-and-coming stud in junior and Cadet National Teamer Harry Siafaris. Siafaris is a versatile talent who can play multiple position but most likely will be executing in the middle of the pool at both ends. Senior James Faulhaber, a transfer from Phillips Exeter Academy, is a physical center who causes havoc on the 2-meter line. Junior Lukas Kovacevic is a talented defender who can rip it from the perimeter. Junior Dariush Ghassemieh is a savvy utility-type who can play multiple positions. Look for sophomore Jesus Jimenez to emerge as the season progresses—he’s a versatile talent. Manning the perimeter will be a host of attackers varying in skill and savvy. Sophomore Asher Chemerinski is a gifted lefty who plays with moxie and exhibits a great feel for the game. Seniors Harrison Bowman (feisty attacker) and Jack Shapiro (glue-type) are the veterans that will provide stability. Junior Zac Wiezorek is a speedy attacker who affects the game in multiple ways. Junior Evan Vourakis plays with a hot motor and can toss in the perimeter strike as well. The future looks good as freshman attacker William Gorsche (cadet national team, 22.73) will bring speed and a sniper-like mentality from the perimeter. In the cage will be incumbent starter senior Nathan You. He has improved each year. Waiting in the wings will be sophomore Samuel Tabib who shows great potential. Harvard-Westlake will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mira Costa, Buena, Westlake, JSerra, Corona del Mar, Long Beach Wilson, and Mater Dei.
12. Santa Margarita (ceiling 9, floor 16). Newly hired Ivan Buich—who was an assistant coach at USC—will take over for Brian Weathersby. Buich has a roster beaming with talent and promise. Leading the way for the Eagles will be senior attacker Evan Wu, a standout shooter who possesses excellent speed and is always a threat to score. Sophomore Tanner Gorman (2nd Team All-League) is ready to explode onto the scene. He is one of the better young attackers in Orange County. Junior David Greenfield had an outstanding spring and summer and should be one of the breakout stars in the Southern Section. He is a gifted shooter and is dangerous on the post as well. Junior attacker Owen Raney should provide quality minutes as he possesses a good motor and evolving skills. Senior Evan Yip should provide depth with his speed. At the center and center defender positions, junior Logan McGann is a physical specimen with a good motor—look for his game to elevate considerably under Buich. Junior Zachary Bottiaux is a talented big-bodied center with great hands and length. At center defender, senior Tannor Bachhuber will have to provide quality minutes as he and McGann should split time there. In the cage will be three players: 6-foot-7ish sophomores Oliver Beck and Zane Kieckhafer (transferred from JSerra) and senior Pedro Machado Mattiazo (transferred from San Clemente). Beck will begin the season as the starter and then have to hold off Mattiazo and Kieckhafer after the 30-day sit-out period ends. Santa Margarita will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Villa Park Classic, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against San Juan Hills, Carlsbad, Mira Costa, and Westlake.
13. Campolindo (ceiling 9, floor 17). Campolindo, one of the fastest teams in the country, has an excellent group of attackers, led by left-handed Jack Elder (San Jose State, 22.76), Ellis Culleton (2027, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 NTSC ODP youth national team selection, 20.87 and 45.68), Will Maguy (2027, 22.34 and 48.68), Cade O’Hare (2027, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection, 21.97 and 48.01), and Alex Knudsen (21.42 and 46.97). Other players likely to receive significant playing time include goalie Matt Jacob, goalie Liam Leavitt (2028), center defender Sam Storrs (22.45), center defender Ben Cohen (2027), center Koroush Koopah (2027), center Eli Levenfeld (2027), and attacker/center Oliver Ruotsi-Falk (2028). To reach its ceiling, Campolindo will need improved play from its goalies and centers. Campolindo will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Jesuit Classic, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against San Ramon Valley, Tamalpais, and Redwood.
14. Buena (ceiling 9, floor 17). Head Coach Tom Davis should have an excellent team as Buena returns every critical piece from last year’s team that played in the CIF Southern Section Open Division tournament. The team’s improved depth and a very good transfer enhance the high expectations. On the perimeter, senior River Davis (U.C. Irvine) will the stir the offense from the left side. He has a sweet outside shot, great speed, and is a gritty defender. Sophomore Austin Martinez has improved greatly over the off season. The non-stop attacker is a jack-of-all-trades player who impacts the game in many areas. On the right side, senior transfer Nash Porter, who played well at the Junior Pan-American Games in Columbia for Canada, is another skilled and sound all-around player. Sophomore lefty Paolo Del Nagro is a rangy player who has improved his feel for the game and can strike from the perimeter. Senior Wyatt Munger (22.64 and 48.27) will provide depth on the perimeter and is a solid all-around player. Look for freshmen Jayden Brennan and Dima Rebenko to play on the varsity team and to earn more and more playing time as the season progresses. They were members of the Channel Islands United team that won the 14u gold medal at the Junior Olympics. In the middle of the pool, Jack Pointner (Navy, 2024 youth national team, 22.10 relay split and 48.20) is one of the best utility-types in the nation. He is a burly post-up player who moves well and also has a strong perimeter shot. He will draw a ton of attention which should open up the shooting lanes. Senior Finn Lange is another utility-type who will help in the middle of the pool. Junior Tony Bruno is a solid defender who will be counted on to defend the opposing teams’ centers. The final key to the team’s success lies with senior goalie Mack Munger. His play will be a critical factor in determining how far Buena advances in the Southern Section playoffs. Buena will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and Steve Pal Memorial Tournament, and has non-league games against Harvard-Westlake and Oaks Christian.
15. Westlake (ceiling 11, floor 18). Westlake will look to defend their Southern Section D1 title or earn a spot in the Open Division. They return many important pieces, including their starting goalie Alexey Malkov and All-CIF 1st Teamers Christian Couch (Division 1 Player of the Year) and Noah Loo. Head Coach Greg Olsen has most of his offensive weapons back and has a nice dose of talented underclassmen. Loo is a jack-of-all-trades attacker who starred for Team Canada in the Junior Pan American Games this summer. He affects the game in multiple ways due to his speed, length, and feel for the game. Gritty senior Benet Fujikake is a quick and fearless attacker who draws exclusions and is a crafty playmaker. Look for two freshmen to make a significant impact: Ben Robison (a gritty, physical attacker) and Ren Fujikake (a speedy attacker with offensive skills). The younger Fujikake loves to get out on the counter and is a crafty scorer while Robison has a knack for finding ways to score. In the middle of the pool, Couch is a talented utility-type who is equally adept at scoring from the perimeter or on post-ups. He does a nice job of grinding defenders off the drive and is very crafty as a post-up option. Senior lefty Jack Robison is a versatile talent. He can play the right side and also provides a post-up option. The Warriors welcome back their starting center, senior Maksim Iliev. Iliev continues to progress as a true center and should draw multiple exclusions this season. Loo should receive minutes at center defender due to his savvy instincts, length, and motor. Sophomore Troy Odenath should get some significant minutes at center defender—he is an emerging talent. Malkov is one of the better goalies in Southern California and made some game-changing stops in last year’s Southern Section championship finals. He’ll be backed up by junior Zachary Moore. Westlake will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and S&R Tournament, and has non-league games against Long Beach Wilson, Mater Dei, Harvard-Westlake, and Santa Margarita.
16. Loyola (ceiling 14, floor 21). Each and every season Head Coach Eric Healey loses a number of starters, but he continues to fill those gaps with what looks like a conveyor belt of fundamentally sound players that have a lot of moxie. We used that statement in our write-up of Loyola last year and it bears mentioning again. Gone is All-CIF performer Charles Johnson (UCSB), skilled lefty Max Davis-Denny, and Pomona Pitzer-bound Jake Lee, but Healey does a tremendous job of developing young players. Senior lefty Caleb Yost has good size and put together some solid moments this summer during the club season. Yost controls the right side of the pool and impacts the game with his strong shot and savvy passing. Junior Ethan Eng is a crafty playmaker who plays with great balance and has a solid IQ for the game. Senior John Cowles is a thick attacker who is always in grind mode and can make plays on the offensive end). Tobin Hunt is a solid all-around player who will be called upon to produce at both ends, especially as a defender due to his size. Senior Max Keldorf should be one of the leading scorers for the Cubs. He’s a quick and active attacker who excels in transition and can be a nifty shot maker. Junior Jake Maniscalco will be a catalyst on the offensive end due to his high motor and explosive drives. Junior Kai Kojima is an improved attacker who should see some time off the bench. In the middle of the pool, promising junior Marcus Wooler should have a huge impact. Wooler is a lengthy prospect who can play multiple positions but should start out at defender. Look for freshman Fran Pintaric (son of USC’s head coach) to have a major impact. He is a lengthy, versatile player who can play any position. He will probably start out at defender, but he can be impactful on either side of the pool due to his shooting prowess. The Cubs will be inexperienced in the cage. The development of goalies Aidan Flores (sophomore) and Dash Pimentel (junior) will be a key factor in Loyola’s push to earn a spot in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs. Loyola will participate in the Punahou Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mater Dei, Mira Costa, and Huntington Beach.
17. Redwood (ceiling 15, floor 22). Redwood returns five starters from last year’s team: goalie Owen Malone, center defender Jacob Enberg (2027), center defender/attacker Storm Jackson (2028), center Charlie Poser, and LH attacker Maddox McClellan (2027). Other players likely to receive significant playing time include center/attacker Isaac Nikfar (2027), Zachary Schuman, Hudson Quirk, Jasper Roblee, Oliver Rogers, and Eddie Poser (2027). Goalie Yummy Mills (2028, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC cadet national team selection) has transferred to Redwood from Saint Ignatius. He will probably start for Redwood in 2026. Redwood will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Tournament, and Battle in the Creek Tournament, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Campolindo, and Menlo.
18. Menlo (ceiling 15, floor 22). Menlo returns six starters from last year’s team: goalie Connor Burks, center defender/center Calvin Barad, center/center defender Hunter Coleman (2028, cadet national team), LH attacker Adam Afar (2028, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection), Lincoln Bott (2028, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection), and Alex Stoffel. Other players likely to receive significant playing time include center/center defender Andres Profit (2029, ODP NTSC development national team selection), LH attacker Orfeas Skiniotis (2028), Brady Hendricks (2028, a transfer from Menlo-Atherton), Alex Kindler (2028), and Avery Kuziemko (2029). Menlo will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Invitational, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Tamalpais and Redwood.
19. La Jolla (ceiling 15, floor 22). La Jolla should be one of the top three or four teams in the San Diego Section. They will be led by, among others, goalie George Gayner, LH attacker Dexter Black (2027), center Tor Martin, LH center Henry Glenister (2027), Nate Thomson (22.17 relay split), and Quinn Daniels (2027). Black is one of the best juniors in the country. La Jolla will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, Roche Invitational, and America’s Finest City Invitational, and has a non-league game against JSerra.
20. Long Beach Wilson (ceiling 17, floor 24). Head Coach Zac Polmanteer has his alma mater on the upswing. This program is littered with championships and is a true “blue blood” in the water polo community. Wilson should have their best season since 2022. All-CIF center Enzo Brigagliano, Eli Vance, and Gavin Simon have graduated, but there are a lot of talented players on the rise as the Bruins will rely on their speed and skill to push them to a possible CIF Southern Section Open Division birth. There are several speedy and skilled attackers in the senior class. Samson Casem is a jack-of-all trades attacker who is smooth and fast in transition and affects the game in multiple ways. Next is Keegan Abing (21.36 relay split and 47.73), arguably Wilson’s best all-around player last season. He has attacker-type size but does most of his damage on the post due to his grit and strong legs. Kai Bramble (21.59 and 47.24), perhaps the fastest player on the team, will be the back-up defender and lead the secondary counter out of the backcourt. Owen Grabow will provide quality minutes off the bench on the right side. The junior class, which has created a lot of buzz the last two seasons, has a nice combination of speed, skill, and physicality. Vaughan Baker has all the physical tools to be a D1 player. He is fast, excellent in transition, and can rip it from the perimeter. Nico Tramantano is the heart and soul of this team. He is a fearless competitor who impacts the game at both ends of the pool. Wyatt Sprenger, one of the best athletes on the team, has blossomed into an offensive threat due to his aggressive offensive tendencies. Fernando Rejon is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades glue-type player. He is a steady defender, especially at center, and can play multiple positions. Ace Dufault is another defender who plays physical and arguably has the strongest shot on the team. Christian Marov-Perez will be the backbone of the defense as he is the returning goal keeper. He has steadily improved each season and looks to have a very strong junior campaign. Long Beach Wilson will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, South Coast Tournament, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Huntington Beach, Westlake, Corona del Mar, Harvard-Westlake, and Mira Costa.
21. Dos Pueblos (ceiling 18, floor 25). After leading his team to the Southern Section Division 2 semifinals last year, Head Coach Chris Parrish has most of his team back, including some very talented underclassmen. The team will have to deal with the loss of standout goalie Ethan Gelman—and those duties will fall upon an incoming freshman—albeit, a very talented one. Senior Ben Fuhrer should be the all-around leader of the team and he has the mindset and skill set to fill that role. He can play multiple positions (attacker, defender, post-up player) and is equally adept at all of them. Senior Eli Carnaghe is an experienced attacker and one of the Chargers’ leading scorers due to his offensive mindset. Senior Aricin Marshall is a left-hander who will help open up the offense on the right side due to his craftiness. The Chargers program is blessed with a very good junior class. Junior Grant Nelson, who had a terrific summer for Channel Islands’ 16u team, is a standout player. Whether it’s getting out on the counter, delivering a grinding drive, or nailing a shot from the perimeter, Nelson is a do-it-all player. In terms of offensive fireworks, consider Lucas Neushul. The gifted attacker loves to sneak out on the counter attack and he can deliver a strike from the perimeter. If you’re looking for a prototypical glue-type, look no further than junior Adam Gelman. He is a gritty defender who does a lot of the little things that lead to winning. If Dos Pueblos achieves the championship level, three freshmen will be part of the equation. Freshman goalie Koa Zertuche will have to adjust to varsity level play sooner rather than later. He put together a stellar performance for the Channel Islands 14u team that won the gold medal at the Junior Olympics. Next, one of the best incoming freshmen in the country will be Channing Wigo (son of Olympian, Wolf). He is a dynamic scoring threat from the perimeter. Skyler Carroll is the third freshman who should see playing time for the Chargers. Dos Pueblos will participate in the Arroyo Grande Fall Classic, Santa Barbara Invitational, and Don Lugo Tournament.
22. San Juan Hills (ceiling 19, floor not in the top 25). Head Coach Rex Sample and his team put together a solid run last year. With the amount of talent they have coming back, the future of the program looks even brighter. First, there is multi-faceted senior Charles Montano. He is a highly active attacker who can play both sides of the pool and has a tremendous knack of finding ways to score. Another solid all-around player is junior Bruno Massa. He can play multiple positions, including defender, and he impacts the game in a number of ways due to his grit and skill. Sophomore Owen Clark (Cadet Pan America Team) is a budding star due to his length, skill, and advanced feel for the game. Senior Eli Buerger is another versatile player who will help out on the perimeter and also play some in the middle. At center, Coach Sample received a nice Christmas present last winter when sophomore Liam Friedman transferred from JSerra. The chiseled center has a big frame (6-foot-3ish), long arms, and plays with a hot motor. Senior center defender Tanner Clark will bring experience and a blue-collar mentality as he looks to have a strong final season. It’s always nice to have a returning starting goalie and junior Frankie Lawkun looks to improve upon a solid sophomore campaign. The talented junior had some strong moments this spring and summer playing for OCWPC’s 16u team. San Juan Hills will participate in the Long Beach Tournament and South Coast Tournament, and has non-league games against Santa Margarita and Foothill.
23. Mater Dei (ceiling 19, floor not in the top 25). Wyatt Benson stepped down from his position as Mater Dei’s coach several weeks ago. He will be replaced by Eric Zimmerman, formerly the head coach of the men’s and women’s programs at Westcliff University. The Monarchs lost a lot to graduation, including Kyson Becker (UCSD), Dylan Hazen (Santa Clara), Jordan Hanna, Lucas Warner (Cal Baptist), and Lucas Ramirez. However, there is still talent left in the Monarchs cupboard. One of the leaders of the team will be senior attacker Nicholas Vallente. The skilled lefty plays hard at both ends, he can really rip it from the perimeter, and his overall feel for the game is solid. On the left side, junior attacker Asa Chen has good speed and is a crafty shooter/scorer. He was a consistent scoring threat this spring and summer. Fellow junior Tucker Ensign is another solid prospect with good length, speed, and scoring ability. Senior Johnny Yan is a quick attacker who plays hard, and fellow senior Dante D’Sa brings experience and solid skills. Sophomore lefty Ryan Clougherty is a young but developing attacker who showed improvement this spring and summer, especially on the defensive end. At center, the Monarchs are set with Peter Ryan (a transfer from Bishop’s). He is a strong player with a solid motor and can draw exclusions. At center-defender, big-bodied senior Noah Jurgenson displays solid defensive skills. Sophomore Broxton Brendel is a rising utility-type player with a good arm. One area of significant strength is goalie. Junior Morgan Crichton (22.26 relay split) is a stud and one of the Top 2 or 3 goalies in Orange County. In addition, junior Aidan Welch is a viable option as he had some stellar games during the Futures League competition. Mater Dei will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Bishop’s, Westlake, Loyola, and Harvard-Westlake.
24. Carlsbad (ceiling 21, floor not in the top 25). Carlsbad, well-coached by 2x NCAA champion Spencer Rodman, should be one of the top four teams in the San Diego Section. Without a dominant center, Carlsbad will probably run a motion offense. The likely starters include goalie Max Carr (2028), center defender/center/attacker Bennett Bodensteiner (2027), Ryan Fresca (U.C. Irvine, 21.94 and 48.12), Kai Lewis (San Jose State), Davin Krolak (22.05), Noah Zakrzewksi (2027), and Connor Marshall (2028). Others players likely to receive significant playing time include Hayden Ucker, Maddox Markham, attacker/center defender Drew Weenig (2027), and Roman Malfatto (2027). Carlsbad will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational and South Coast Challenge and has non-league games against Foothill and Santa Margarita.
25. Too close to call at this point. Among other schools, I considered Foothill (waiting to see how the CIF Southern Section rules on two transfer requests), Huntington Beach (playing without one of its top players and two transfers who will compete to be the starting goalie, lost to Beckman 14-10 last week), Greenwich (Connecticut), Rio Americano, Santana, and Yucaipa.
Top 10 NorCal Schools
1. Sacred Heart Prep
2. Miramonte
3. De La Salle
4. Campolindo
5. Redwood
6. Menlo
7. Rio Americano. Rio Americano is coached by Heather Moody, 2x Olympian and a member of the Water Polo Hall of Fame. They are led by Lucas Ruano (U.C. Davis, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection, 2nd team All-American in 2024, 21.33 and 47.22). Ruano, one of the top players in the country, reportedly turned down an offer from UCLA to join his older brother at U.C. Davis next year. Other players likely to start or receive significant playing time include goalie Reed Knapp, center defender Jackson Kirkley, LH attacker Jackson Walroth, Jackson Jeske, Grayson Kirkley (2028), Nico Ruano (2028), Finn Gardner (2028), and Kai Kim (2028). Rio Americano will participate in the Punahou Invitational, Roche Invitational, Jesuit Invitational, and North vs. South Challenge, and has a non-league game against De La Salle.
8. Buchanan. Buchanan, which plays as Clovis Red during the club season, is the 2x defending Central Section Division 1 champion. Buchanan returns five starters from last year’s team: 6’5” goalie Maddox Levandusky, center Drake Kneeland (47.67), 6’7” LH attacker/center Caleb Kulak (2027, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection), Carson Crocket (20.77 and 45.65 relay splits), and JJ Pendergrass. The other likely starters are center defender Grady Cook and Finn Moss (22.87). 6’5” goalie Carson Cummings (2027, started in the league and section tournaments last year after Levandusky was injured), Hayden Nasalroad, Michael Weber, Ian Wilson (2027, 22.07 relay split), and Michael Castillo (2027) are also likely to receive significant playing time. Buchanan will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, Roche Invitational, and St. Francis Invitational.
9.. San Ramon Valley. San Ramon Valley could surprise some teams this year. Their likely starters include goalie Ronan Bugbee (2027, one of the best goalies in the NCS), center defender/attacker Toby John (may have the fastest shot of any San Ramon Valley player since former Cal water polo and baseball player Connor Neumann), center Charlie Feaver (2028), attacker/center defender/center Evan Liberatore (a D1 school?, 21.65 and 47.01), Julius Martell, Christo Decker, and Graham Hodson (2028, 22.65). Feaver, Hodson, and Jacob Pantagotacos (2028) lead a strong sophomore class. San Ramon Valley will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Campolindo, and Archie Williams
10. Tamalpais. Redwood, Tam, and Archie Williams should be the top three teams in the Marin County Athletic League this year. The players likely to start or receive significant playing time for Tam include goalie Ethan Wallace (2028, cadet national team), center/center defender Declan Murphy (Navy), Andrew Wallace (ODP NTSC youth national team selection, sat out the 2024 season after transferring to Tam from Redwood, 22.61 in 2024), LH attacker Samir Meleis (2027), LH attacker Pasch Campbell Visnich (2028), Rogan Burke (2027), Jasper Feldman (2028, ODP NTSC cadet national team selection, 21.90 and 48.57), and Jax Tarbe (2028). Tam will participate in the Battle in the Creek Tournament and has non-league games against Miramonte, Campolindo, and Menlo. Note: I moved Tam from 7th to 10th in my NorCal rankings on August 20 after I learned that Tam made an unexpected coaching change last week and is now looking for its third head coach in two months.
Top 10 SoCal Schools
1. Newport Harbor
2. Cathedral Catholic
3. JSerra
4. Corona del Mar
5. Oaks Christian
6. Mira Costa
7. Bishop’s
8. Harvard-Westlake
9. Santa Margarita
10. Buena
Top 10 Public Schools
1. Newport Harbor
2. Miramonte
3. Corona del Mar
4. Mira Costa
5. Campolindo
6. Buena
7. Westlake
8. Redwood
9. La Jolla
10. Long Beach Wilson
Top 10 Private Schools
1. Cathedral Catholic
2. Sacred Heart Prep
3. JSerra
4. Oaks Christian
5. De La Salle
6. Bishop’s
7. Harvard-Westlake
8. Santa Margarita
9. Loyola
10. Menlo
A note about Brunswick School from Greenwich, Connecticut. Brunswick is the best team from a State other than California. The California Interscholastic Federation ruled that Brunswick is ineligible to play in California high school tournaments because they are not a member of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC). Brunswick is trying to find a way to satisfy the California requirement and maintain its membership in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) because membership in the NEPSAC is critical to the other sports at Brunswick. Under existing rules, Brunswick cannot be a member of the NEPSAC and the CIAC. Because Brunswick will not play any California schools this season, I decided not to include them in my weekly rankings. Otherwise, I would have ranked them 10th. Brunswick’s likely starters include goalie JR Lindberg, LH center/attacker Peter Saunders (2027, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection), attacker/center defender Callum Walker (a D1 school?, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection), attacker/center Neveh Yechiely (Brown, ODP NTSC youth national team selection), LH attacker Parker Tichio (2026), and Jackson Shaw (2028, 2024 cadet national team, 2025 ODP NTSC youth national team selection). Shaw is one of the best sophomores in the country. Other players like to receive significant playing time include goalie Marco Leao (2027), center defender Callum Holl (2027), LH attacker Parker Tichio, LH attacker Nico Zubko (2028), LH attacker Reed Keller (2028), and Grayson Shaw (ODP NTSC development national team selection).
Good luck to all of the schools.
