Joel and Jeff’s unofficial preseason rankings for the 2026 boys’ high school season follow below. These rankings represent our guess about where the schools will finish at the end of the season. We intend to update the rankings each week.
Coaches: Please post your schedules and scores on your school’s website, your California Interscholastic Federation Section’s website, MaxPreps, Scorebook Live, 6-8 Sports, or this website.
Tournaments
For ease of reference, we have listed the schools scheduled to participate in some of the in-season tournaments.
Arroyo Grande Fall Classic (August 21 to 22). This round-robin tournament will be hosted by Arroyo Grande. The schools scheduled to participate are Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Clovis East, Clovis North, Clovis West, College Park, Dos Pueblos, Granite Bay, Leland, Morro Bay, Northgate, Pacific Grove, Paso Robles, Porterville, Redwood (Visalia), Reedley, Righetti, Rocklin, San Luis Obispo, Sanger, Saint Mary’s, and Turlock.
Long Beach Tournament (August 28 to 29). This round-robin tournament will be hosted by Long Beach Poly. The schools scheduled to participate in the Invite Division are Clovis, La Jolla, Laguna Beach, Long Beach Wilson, Poway, San Marcos, Torrey Pines, and Westlake. The schools scheduled to participate in the Gold Division are Edison, El Segundo, Hoover, La Costa Canyon, La Serna, Long Beach Poly, Palos Verdes, Riverside Poly, Royal, Redondo Union, Temple City, and Vista.
Roche Invitational (September 11-12). This tournament will be hosted by Menlo. The schools scheduled to participate are Archie Williams, Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis North, Davis, La Jolla, Los Altos, Menlo, Menlo-Atherton, Merced, Redwood, Rio Americano, Rocklin, San Ramon Valley, Soquel, and Vista.
Santa Barbara Invitational (September 10 to 12). This tournament will be hosted by the Santa Barbara-area high schools. The schools scheduled to participate are Alta Loma, Beckman, Bellarmine, Buena, Carlsbad, Corona del Mar, Crean Lutheran, Damien, Dos Pueblos, Garces Memorial, Grossmont, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Mater Dei, Mira Costa, Redlands East Valley, Rio Americano, San Clemente, San Marcos, Santa Barbara, Temple City, Torrey Pines, Ventura, Westlake, and Yucaipa.
Villa Park Classic (September 10 to 12). This tournament will be hosted by Villa Park. The schools scheduled to participate are Aliso Niguel, Camarillo, Capistrano Valley, Clairemont, Coronado, Edison, El Segundo, Esperanza, Garces Memorial, Helix, Hoover, Irvine, Jesuit (Texas), Lake Oswego (Oregon), La Serna, Los Alamitos, Pt. Loma, Righetti, Santa Margarita, Santana, Servite, University, Valhalla, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.
Saint Francis Invitational (September 11 to 12). This tournament will be hosted by Saint Francis. The schools scheduled to participate are Archie Williams, Arroyo Grande, Buchanan, Harker, Saint Francis, Serra, Soquel, and Valley Christian.
South Coast Tournament (September 17 to 19). This tournament will feature almost all of the top schools in California and will be hosted by Newport Harbor. The schools scheduled to participate are Alta Loma, Beckman, Bishop’s, Buena, Campolindo, Carlsbad, Cathedral Catholic, Corona del Mar, De La Salle, Dos Pueblos, Downey, Edison, Foothill, Harvard-Westlake, Huntington Beach, JSerra, Laguna Beach, Long Beach Wilson, Los Alamitos, Loyola, Mater Dei, Mira Costa, Miramonte, Newport Harbor, Oaks Christian, Sacred Heart Prep, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, San Marcos, San Ramon Valley, Santa Margarita, Santana, St. Marks (Texas), and Westlake.
America’s Finest City Tournament (September 18-19). I haven’t been able to track down a list of the schools participating in this tournament. If anyone knows, please send me the list offline.
S&R Sport Invite (September 25-26). 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 Verdes, Portola, Redwood, San Ramon Valley, and Westlake.
Elite 8 Tournament (October 1 to 3). This tournament will be hosted by Harvard-Westlake. The schools scheduled to participate are Cathedral Catholic, Corona del Mar, Harvard-Westlake, JSerra, Miramonte, Newport Harbor, Sacred Heart Prep, and Santa Margarita.
Bishop’s Invitational (October 2 to 3). This tournament will be a series of showcase games hosted by Bishop’s. Each school will play 2 to 4 games. The schools scheduled to participate are Beckman, Bishop’s, Carlsbad, De La Salle, Long Beach Wilson, and Oaks Christian.
Battle in the Creek Tournament (October 9 to10). This tournament will be hosted by Northgate and Las Lomas. The schools scheduled to participate are Alameda, Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis West, College Park, Lake Oswego (Oregon), Las Lomas, Mitty, Monte Vista, Northgate, Rio Americano, Serra, Tamalpais, Terra Linda, Turlock, and Valley Christian.
Memorial Cup (October 9 to 10). This tournament will be hosted by Bellarmine. The schools scheduled to participate are Archie Williams, Bellarmine, Buchanan, Campolindo, Corona del Mar, Davis, De La Salle, Dos Pueblos, Foothill, Harker, Long Beach Wilson, Punahou (Hawaii), Saint Francis, San Ramon Valley, Soquel, and Valley Christian.
Steve Pal Memorial Tournament (October 16 to 17). This tournament will be hosted by Villa Park and other Orange County high schools. The schools scheduled to participate are Agoura, Alta Loma, Aquinas, Ayala, Beckman, Clairemont, Clovis East, Clovis North, Esperanza, Garces, Greenwich (Connecticut), Grossmont, Irvine, Laguna Beach, La Canada, Los Alamitos, Martin Luther King, Mt. Carmel, Northwood, Notre Dame, Poway, Oceanside, Orange Lutheran, Redlands, Riverside Poly, Roosevelt, Royal, Sage Hill, San Clemente, San Marcos, Santana, St. Marks (Texas), Servite, Torrey Pines, Villa Park, Vista, Yorba Linda, and Yucaipa. The tournament organizers expect to add more schools before the tournament date.
North vs. South Challenge (October 16 to 17). This tournament will be hosted by Sacred Heart Prep and Los Altos. The schools scheduled to participate are Bishop’s, Campolindo, Cathedral Catholic, De La Salle, Harvard-Westlake, JSerra, Los Altos, Loyola, Menlo, Miramonte, Newport Harbor, Oaks Christian, Redwood, Sacred Heart Prep, Santa Margarita, and Soquel.
The 2026 Season
For the first time in many years, we are predicting that a school from the CIF’s Southern Section will not finish the season as the No. 1 school in the country. Specifically, our choice is Cathedral Catholic. The last time a school from the CIF San Diego Section (Coronado) finished No. 1 was in 2000 and 2001. We believe there will be a lot of parity this season, with many “upsets” and schools moving up and down in the rankings. Of the 26 schools in our preseason top 25 (we have two schools tied for No. 25), 9 are from the ODP’s Southern Pacific zone, 7 are from the Pacific Zone, 6 are from the Coastal zone, and 4 are from the Pacific Southwest zone. Fifteen of the 26 schools are from the CIF’s Southern Section, 5 are from the North Coast Section, 4 are from the San Diego Section, and 2 are from the Central Coast Section.
Historical Note: This will be the 60th year of boys’ water polo for, among other schools, Acalanes (one of three schools with two former coaches who were inducted into the Water Polo Hall of Fame), Campolindo (one water polo Olympian, two members of the Hall of Fame, and probably the greatest swimmer to excel at water polo), Coronado (three water polo Olympians and two members of the Hall of Fame), Foothill (one water polo Olympian and America’s greatest high school and collegiate goalie), and Miramonte (six water polo Olympians and five members of the Hall of Fame).
Top 25
The summaries of the schools shown below are the joint effort of Joel and me. With some minor editing from me, Joel prepared the summaries for the Southern California schools. I prepared the summaries for the Northern California schools and added swim times for some of the athletes. 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 2027. If I believe the player is from the Class of 2028, 2029, or 2030, 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 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. Our apologies if we misspelled anyone’s name or did not mention the name of a player who deserves recognition. We will gladly correct these and any other errors if they are brought to our attention.
1. Cathedral Catholic (ceiling 1, floor 3). Tommy Corcoran, who continues to build a juggernaut of a program, has another outstanding team blessed with talent, size, and skill. As of this writing, we are uncertain about the status of super senior Jett Taylor (UCLA commit, junior and youth national teams, 21.68 relay split). The 6-foot-7ish defender is likely to spend his senior season in Spain. However, do not weep for Corcoran as his cupboard is far from empty. Senior stalwart Braylen Axline (Stanford, youth national team, 21.72 and 46.74 relay split) is a destructive force at center and one of the more clutch players in the country. He will play some defender as well to make up for the potential loss of Jett Taylor. Junior Grayson Taylor, who was a dominant force at Cadet Worlds, will man the center position and utilize his magnetic hands and improved skills to be a major force. As far as defending goes, it looks like it will by committee. Look for improved senior Areli Kesser, Axline, and a host of others to take turns. Don’t be surprised to see freshman Benjamin Essick get some time defending–he’s talented. Not to mention that 6-foot-6ish sophomore Chaco Clotfelter has a bright future at a multitude of positions, including center. On the perimeter, the abundance of skill, speed, and offensive prowess is impressive. On the left side, juniors Max Bruhn and Diego Dantas will cause defenses issues with their speed/shooting (Dantas) and skill/savvy (Bruhn). Sophomores Cortez Chavez (Cadet World Team) and Kai Reid (much-improved attacker) will provide depth. On the right side, Eamon Bruhn (UCSD commit, 22.39 and 46.97) is the catalyst for this squad. High IQ lefty with speed. Junior Jack Davis, the heart and soul of this team, is a stud attacker who can play either side, but should start alongside Bruhn on the right side. Sophomore Peter Zapala is an up-and-coming lefty as is fellow sophomore Ki Baron. In the cage, the Dons are set, as they have one of the better senior goalies in Luke Anderson as well as a talented sophomore in the pipeline in Hudson Koonings. 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, Loyola, Long Beach Wilson, and Miramonte.
2. JSerra (ceiling 1, floor 7). After a topsy-turvy 2025 campaign, the Lions look to bounce back in a big way in 2026. Yes, UCLA signee Connor Colman and Harvard-bound goalie Jonas Ransford are gone, but Head Coach Brett Ormsby brings back a plethora of talent, especially in the junior class. Overall, the team lacks size in the middle, but they have a number of versatile players to help fill that void. The lone senior attacker who will play a prominent role will be Joe Wraith (21.83). Wraith can play both sides on offense, is a hardnosed player in transition, and is a capable shooter. The junior class is led by the all-around talents of Lars Knepper (21.43 and 47.10). Knepper is a multi-talented player who can play all positions in the pool, but will primarily be used as a center defender. Fellow junior Ronan Keane (Cadet National Team) is a prototypical right side player who has a good feel for the game, an accurate shot, and his game has grown exponentially in the past year. Left-handed Andrew Schneider (Cadet National Team) will be the starting center. Cal Ulicny is a talented junior lefty who will play alongside Keane. Ulicny is arguably the most improved player on the team while Schneider possesses a strong arm. The left side will be manned by a number of players (Sasha Bjelica, Chris Koo, Christian Yonker, and Wraith). The sophomore Bjelica is the most astute passer on the team and his overall vertical game is impressive. Koo has exceptional speed in transition and is a gifted shooter. If you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades player, look no further than junior Dylan Park. Park plays with his hair on fire and invites contact while driving and posting up. The Lions received a nice transfer from San Marcos High School in the ever–aggressive junior attacker Christian Yonker. Yonker will need to be a quick learner with Ormsby’s defensive schemes, but he’s a talent. Look for Ormsby and his staff to use sophomore William Anderson (attacker) throughout the season. Last, but certainly not least, the Lions have a pair of gifted goalies in senior Gianni Alessio and junior Stef Vukojevic. Both are Division 1 prospects with very good upsides. JSerra will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Harvard-Westlake, La Jolla, Oaks Christian, Mira Costa, Loyola, Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, and Campolindo.
3.\ Harvard-Westlake (ceiling 1, floor 7). After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Head Coach Jack Grover and his crew are projected to come back with a vengeance. Grover has done a really nice job rebuilding the program and the Wolverines are considered one of the favorites to win the CIFSS Open Division Championship. Led by USC commit Harry Siafaris (Cadet World Team) and junior Asher Chemerinski, Grover has one of the best one-two punches in the country. Siafaris is a jack-of-all-trades player who can post-up, defend, and strike a dagger from the perimeter while Chemerinski established himself this summer as the best lefty in the junior class due to his savvy playmaking and moxie. To complement Siafaris in the middle, Grover can turn to senior Lukas Kovacevic and junior Soren Messinger. Kovacevic is a physical defender inside-and-out and has a strong arm from the perimeter while Messinger more than held his own establishing position and drawing exclusions. Junior Samuel Glucksman provides depth in the middle as a defender. On the perimeter there is a nice collection of youth and experience. Sophomore William Gorsche (21.94 and 47.40) is an electrifying attacker who can score in bunches due to his speed and cannon-like arm. Seniors Zac Wiezorek and Evan Vourakis complement each other with their play. Wiezorek is a grinding fast attacker who likes to mix it up at both ends while Vourakis is a fearless shooter. Senior Dariush Ghassemieh is a prototypical glue-type who affects the game in a number of ways with his savvy while junior Jayden Zepeda is a gritty competitor on the perimeter. Two of the more intriguing prospects on the team are juniors Graham Latteau-Stallings and Jesus Jimenez Jr. Both are athletic players who impact the game in a variety of ways. Latteau-Stallings can grind his opponent off the drive while Jimenez Jr. has an evolving vertical game with a strong shot. Grover has two solid junior goalies that he can rely on in Samuel Tabib and Krish Desai. Both goalies had very good summers, have grown exponentially, and have taken their overall play to another level. Harvard-Westlake will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Beckman, Long Beach Wilson, Corona del Mar, JSerra, and Santa Margarita.
4. Miramonte (ceiling 1, floor 8). Miramonte’s 2026 team is fast and deep, one of the few schools in the country that can go 7-in-and-7-out. Miramonte has two good goalies: Zavi Ryder and Caden Keane (2028, the starting goalie on CC United’s 18u team). Ryder and Keane will probably share playing time. The field players likely to start include center defender Michael Robinson (22.64), center Griff Maclear, LH attacker Mason Tunney (2028), Brady Hassett (Cal, 22.85), Trent Smith (UCLA, 22.45), and Grayson Bloes (21.34 and 46.93). All of these players may play D1 water polo. Hassett, Smith, and Robinson are very good defensive players. Maclear, who will replace Tristan Tucker (UCLA, youth national team) as the starting center, had a very good club season with CC United. Other players likely to receive significant playing time are center defender Blake Elder (2029, 21.74), center defender Luke Sagara (2028), center/attacker Miles Gafney (2028), LH attacker Tyler Williams (CMS), LH attacker Simon Mains (2028, 22.74), LH attacker Evan Thomas (2028), Bryce Batiuchok (2028), and Grant Stevens (2029, 22.07). Stevens has “Big 4” potential. Miramonte will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Redwood, La Jolla, Cathedral Catholic, De La Salle, and San Ramon Valley. Miramonte has won 17 of the 30 NCS Open Division (or its equivalent) Championships. One thing Miramonte hasn’t done is win the Northern California Open Division Regional Tournament. Will this be the year?
5. Santa Margarita (ceiling 3, floor 10). Under the guidance of 2nd year Head Coach Ivan Buich, this should be the Eagles best team since 2020. They have size, speed, and depth. In the middle of the pool, they are led by USC commit Logan McGann (22.04 and 48.12). He is equally adept playing center and defender, but he’ll likely log most of his minutes at center as he is an exclusion-drawing machine. Fellow senior Zachary Bottiaux has developed each and every season and has all the physical tools to be a standout center. Also look for junior John D’Affronte to get some minutes due to his physical style of play. Buich has a number of options on the perimeter. On the left side, senior David Greenfield is a rangy attacker with a potent outside shot as well as the versatility to post-up. Junior River Hart could slide into the other slot on the left side due to his speed, length, and shooting prowess. On the right side, junior lefty Brahman Davis is one of the most improved players in Orange County and a certain Division 1 recruit. To complement Davis’ skill set, much-improved junior Tanner Gorman should have a breakout season. He is equally adept playing both sides on offense. Senior Owen Raney is a quickly rising talent who is suited to the right side due to his passing savvy and he is a post-up threat as well. Senior lefty John Brossa will provide solid minutes as well. To further prove the depth of this team, look for junior Kobe Lee Tsui (glue-type), senior Reid Hickson (grinder), sophomore Nathan Harter (non-stop motor) to provide quality minutes. In the cage is ever-improving junior Zane Kieckhafer. The size and length have always been there, but now he is much stronger and more balanced. His back-up should be junior Anders Eimer who had an excellent Junior Olympics. Santa Margarita will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Villa Park Classic, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against San Juan Hills, Loyola, and Harvard-Westlake.
6. La Jolla (ceiling 4, floor 10). Tom Atwell bagged his coveted CIF San Diego Section Open Division Title after 20+ years and it was well worth the wait. In front of a packed pool deck, the Vikings stunned favorite Cathedral Catholic to capture the championship–and there is enough talent returning and coming up to make another run. Led by Youth National Teamer Dexter Black (Navy commit), Atwell has arguably the best offensive talent in the country at his disposal. The 6-foot-7ish lefty can rip it from the perimeter or post up. Not to mention that USC commit Quinn Daniels is a stud in his own right. He is an explosive attacker who is relentless in transition and has a potent outside shot. Pepperdine commit Levon Kevorkian is a slick attacker with an evolving vertical game and speed. The unsung hero of the roster is senior Henry Glenister. The lefty post-up player is tough to deal with and crafty. The players anticipated to make an immediate supporting contribution are junior Jude Laifa, who is an athletic and capable shooter. Sophomore Matthew Shomo is a strong player who has moxie, while sophomore Emmet Gutierrez’s skill set fits the utility role. Look for freshman Spencer Robinson to make an impact as well, as he is a crafty playmaker with good speed. In the cage will be senior Addison Calhoon, who will take over for George Gayner (Pepperdine signee). Calhoon had a solid summer and is one of the better goalies in San Diego County. La Jolla will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, Roche Invitational, and America’s Finest City Tournament, and has non-league games against Mira Costa, Dos Pueblos, JSerra, and Miramonte.
7. The Bishop’s School (ceiling 5, floor 12, if Alistair Sterrett is eligible to play). Ian Davidson and his team have much to be hopeful for this season as he returns a majority of his players, including an outstanding junior and sophomore class. As of this writing, we have not received final word if stud junior goalie Alistair Sterrett (transfer from Washington) will be eligible this season. In a nutshell, he is one of the elite goalies in the country, regardless of class and was a standout at Cadet Worlds this summer. In any case, the Knights return both of their goalies from last season in the senior tandem of Luke Spiro and Adrian Ravenco. They showed improvement this summer and had some bright moments. In the middle of the pool the Knights return junior Calvin Lubsen and sophomore Mark Minasian. Lubsen will be the primary defender due to his physical prowess and motor while Minasian will be the primary center. Minasian improved immensely over the summer–most notably his ability to finish shots through contact. Look for freshman Elisey Zennin to get some run in the middle as he was the best player on the SD Shores 14u team. The strength of this team will be on the perimeter where there is an abundance of talent at the attacker position. First and foremost, you have one of the most prolific right sides in the country in junior Aden Shin (Youth/Cadet World Team) and junior Hanrui Liu. Shin is the Ben Forer (Stanford) of high school water polo due to his shooting prowess and creativity while Liu is that prototypical right-side player who impacts the game with his IQ passing and shooting ability. On the left side you have senior Cutter Leach (Pepperdine commit) and sophomore Liam Zarcu (Cadet World Team). Leach plays at an electric pace and possesses a scorer’s mentality. Zarcu’s forte is shooting and his decision making is evolving. There are other attackers who should play significant minutes in sophomore Theo Lightner (up-and-coming attacker), Roman Kapchinsky (savvy player maker), junior Henry Martin, and Seamus Murphy (solid vertical game). Bishop’s will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Bishop’s Invitational, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Dos Pueblos, Mater Dei, Newport, and Huntington Beach.
8.\ Newport Harbor (ceiling 4, floor 11). Newport has won 16 CIF Southern Section premier division championships and finished second 13 times. Newport has made the Southern Section premier division playoffs 28 years in a row. This is the longest active Southern Section playoff appearance streak. JSerra is next with five straight appearances. Newport is chasing Long Beach Wilson’s record of 34 straight premier division playoff appearances (1974 to 2007). Newport has 57 wins and 42 losses against its cross-town rival, Corona del Mar. At some point during the 2026 season, Newport and Corona del Mar will face off for the 100th “Battle of the Bay.” Ross Sinclair and his staff have the Sailor program performing comparably to the Bill Barnett days of the 1970s and 1980s. However, the 2026 version will be his youngest team yet as 14 seniors have graduated–nine of which ended up at the Division 1 level. There will be only one senior on the roster and he’ll be manning the cage–the ever-improving Lian Kim (UCSB). Kim has a good amount of experience and is blessed with length and explosiveness. The back-up will be up-and-coming junior Oliver Aguero who put together an outstanding summer. On the perimeter the Sailors will be led by quite the junior tandem of Caruso Polenzani and Sean Anderson. Polenzani can play anywhere in the pool (great motor) and is one of the more skilled utility-types in the country. Anderson, on the other hand, does most of his damage on the perimeter–both at the offensive and defensive end. He has a rocket arm and his explosiveness is exhibited in the passing lanes and the counter. Fellow junior Cooper Kelly (22.52 and 46.82) is a lengthy attacker who is fast and can rip it from the perimeter. Three sophomores will play prominent roles, led by Cadet National teamer Owen Marks. Marks is a standout center who can also defend. Fellow sophomore Curren Francisco is a Swiss Army Knife of sorts as he can play anywhere in the pool, but will primarily be playing the left side. On the right side, sophomore lefty Weston Muellerleile and junior lefty Davis Kipp will exhibit their improved facilitating skills and timely shooting. Junior Mateo Micheloni-Crazzo is a feisty center-type who will provide additional depth in the middle of the pool . Jack Putter, who recently represented Australia at Cadet Worlds, is a left-side attacker who can defend in a pinch due to his length. Junior Jack Norton is a steady right-side attacker with a solid shot while sophomore Houston Harvey is an up-and-coming left-side attacker. Newport also has another outstanding freshmen class led by Henry Tatum (attacker/utility) and the multi-skilled Jude Williams. Newport will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Cathedral Catholic, Bishop’s, Mira Costa, and Loyola.
9. Oaks Christian (ceiling 6, floor 12). Head Coach Jack Kocur lost an attacking three-headed monster in Wyatt Williamson (Cal signee), Kane Fogg (Fordham signee), and lefty Darion Wang (Santa Clara signee). However, Kocur does a nice job of developing players, as there is another group of prospects coming up through the pipeline that will spark another push at a CIFSS Open Division run. In the middle, senior Jack Lansing (LBSU) will be a standout at center. The big lefty has soft hands, good wrists, and he has improved his stamina. Senior defender Kellen Gritz will come back from an injury in a few weeks and is one of the better center defenders in the state. He has a strong frame with an excellent motor. The perimeter will be headed by a gifted trio in junior Kaan Avcibasioglu, sophomore Hunter Loo (Cadet National Team), and senior Joshua Coxford (Canadian Junior Team). Avcibasioglu is a fundamentally sound attacker who can play both sides, while Loo is a defensive specialist who has improved his vertical game. Loo will contribute as a defender as well. Coxford has a strong arm and can really deliver the shot from the perimeter. Some other attackers who will play significant minutes are senior Yuri Davytan (Long Beach State commit), junior Malloy Hambly, senior Andrew Wentz, and sophomore Elliot Kim. Davytan is an improved lefty while Hambly is a solid all-around attacker. Wentz is a lefty with great size, and Kim is a solid glue-type player. In the cage will be incumbent starter Ryder Bjork, who has steadily improved. Kocur will also have a talented group of freshmen who just won the 14u JOs: defender Josh Bugyik, attacker Adrian Rubel, center Stefano Focil, and arguably one of the best goalies in the class, Nick Ignayczyk (advanced mechanics). Ignayczyk could see early playing time. Oaks Christian will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Bishop’s Invitational, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against JSerra, Mater Dei, and Corona del Mar.
10. Sacred Heart Prep (ceiling 7, floor 14). Sacred Heart coach Brian Kreutzkamp is 493-121 in his 21 years at Sacred Heart, winning 17 Central Coast Championships and 5 Northern California Regional Tournaments. During Kreutzkamp’s time at Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart has surpassed Bellarmine as the top water polo program in the Central Coast Section and Miramonte as the top program in Northern California. This year’s likely starters include goalie Wilkes Rohlen (2028, one of the top junior goalies in the country), center defender Caleb Kennedy, center/center defender Eddie Eiref (UCI, 22.09), Gates Gamble (Ivy League?, 22.37), attacker/center defender Charlie Wagner, Teddy Parrett (Johns Hopkins), and Wesley Spencer (2030). Center Hank Hull (2029, will be eligible to play on September 26 after transferring from Woodside) and Ben Edelman (2030) are likely to receive significant playing time. Sacred Heart’s depth will be an issue during the in-season tournaments but it would be a mistake to write off their chances in the Northern California Regional Tournament. Sacred Heart will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Campolindo and De La Salle.
11. Campolindo (ceiling 7, floor 16). Campolindo’s top three players, Ellis Culleton (Cal, 20.57 and 44.52), Will Maguy (Stanford, 22.34), and Cade O’Hare (UCLA, 20.92 and 46.30), are as good as any trio of attackers in the country. Liam Leavitt (2028) will start at goalie. Center defender Ben Cohen, center/center defender Koroush Koopah, center/center defender Eli Levenfeld, center/center defender/attacker Oliver Ruotsi-Falk, and Porter Campbell (2028) should receive significant playing time. LH attacker Thomas Wolbert (2029, 22.42) and Jaeden Kitagawa (2029) are promising sophomores. Campolindo will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Memorial Cup, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Sacred Heart, San Ramon Valley, JSerra, and Redwood.
12. Mira Costa (ceiling 8, floor 15). The Mustangs have a lot of replace with the graduation of Flynn Guenther (UCLA), Lucas Pearce (UCSD), and Adrian Senciac (USC). However, Head Coach Jon Reichardt still has a ton of talent in the program, including an impactful transfer. In the goal is senior stud Cooper Agens (USC commit). He’s an explosive talent with length and with much room to grow. Overall, the Mustangs have an abundance of depth at every position. In the middle is arguably their most talented offensive player in senior Grant He. He is a versatile player who can impact the game inside-and-out–he just needs to be consistent. The Mustangs have a number of other post-up players and a true center in senior Reese Kokorowski. He is a big center with a strong shoulder base, solid hands, and he is strong. Look for junior Lazar Zarich to make a splash this season. He is a chiseled center-type who has good legs and he’s explosive. The primary defenders will be senior Ryan Shultz (long arms) and Heath Rodriguez (strong base/good motor). One of the better all-around players is junior Santi Harris. He is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades type who is a utility on offense. Look for juniors Philip Senciac (utility) to gain more playing time as the season progresses–he’s evolving. A player that has come up the ranks is junior Christian Stephens. He is an aggressive attacker shot taker. Fellow junior attacker Arda Demurek has a solid vertical game and is an excellent shooter. Senior Salim Salah is a solid all-around attacker who is equally adept at both ends due to his strong motor, physicality, and occasional shot making. One of the better right-side players, in terms of savvy, is senior Jameson Greenstone. He is the best passer on the team and he plays with a great motor. Reichardt received a nice gift this summer when junior Tabari Morgan transferred from Pittsburgh, PA. He’s a physical talent with long arms, big hands, and an explosive arm. He should be eligible immediately and will add scoring punch to an already deep team. Mira Costa will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and S&R Tournament, and has non-league games against Loyola, JSerra, Newport Harbor, Mater Dei, and Long Beach Wilson.
13. Long Beach Wilson (ceiling 9, floor 16). In what should be Long Beach Wilson’s best team since 2021, Head Coach Zac Polmanteer has a roster littered with experience and some talented underclassmen. The four seniors who have been on the varsity since their sophomore year will provide scoring punch, speed, savvy, and solid goaltending. Vaughn Baker, who should be a Division 1 recruit, is an explosive left-side attacker with an elite shot. His running mate Nico Tramontano is the heart and soul of the team and is a relentless scorer all over the perimeter. Fernando Rejon is the Swiss Army Knife of the team. He is their No. 1 defender and will have the duties of playing center as well. He does it all. Senior Wyatt Sprenger will help at defending as well, but he can be an explosive scorer, while senior Ace Dufault is a utility type who has a rocket for an arm. Coming off the bench will be senior Gabriel Robles. He’s a rangy attacker who should add some spark. Arguably the most improved player on the team is junior Nolan Kerry. The long-armed utility can post-up or be a sniper from the perimeter. Sophomore Shane Radaich is a physical specimen who can move. He is developing at center, but he can also play the right side. Junior Chase Carson had a solid summer as an attacker and has a pretty solid vertical game. As of this writing, senior Marcus Fierro (transfer from Downey) has not been declared eligible. If eligible, he will be a starter on the perimeter due to his speed, motor, and skill. In the cage will be senior Christian Marov-Perez, who has been the starting goalie since his sophomore year and had a terrific Newport Invite. 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, Corona del Mar, Harvard-Westlake, Loyola, Cathedral Catholic, and Mira Costa.
14. Corona del Mar (ceiling 9, floor 17). The Sea Kings lost a bunch to graduation, but the sign of a good program is how it reloads and that is exactly what Head Coach Lucas Reynolds is doing. The catalyst for this year’s version of the Sea Kings is senior Koosha Mirrafiti (UC Irvine commit). Mirrafiti is an explosive attacker who plays with a monster motor. He is equally adept at either scoring or handing out an assist. Due to an injury, he will not likely be back for at least a month. The best prospect on the team is senior William Weir (Cal Berkeley commit). The willowy attacker can be productive on the perimeter (gifted shooter) or use his length to be a problem posting up. Helping in the middle will be senior Wyatt Lussier. He is a blue-collar utility who plays a physical game. Brody Rauth is a chiseled senior attacker who attacks his opponents with a vengeance. He causes havoc in transition and is a physical defender on the perimeter. A key to the team’s success will be the continued development of senior Hudson Castillo. He is a rangy right-side player that has improved his shot and passing acumen. Juniors who should be significant contributors this season are Blake Jurevich, Jack Jacobson, and Will Simm. Jurevich will play the right side and has the physicality and size to be a major post-up threat. Meanwhile, the lefty Jacobsen has improved significantly in his decision making and his shot is tight. Simm is a diamond in the rough who has all the physical tools and motor to be a good one. One of the most improved players on the team is sophomore Derek Spruill. The big-bodied center has improved his fundamentals and has gained considerable strength since his freshman season. In the cage Colton Kozlowski has steadily improved each and every season. Corona del Mar will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Elite 8 Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Long Beach Wilson, Harvard-Westlake, and Oaks Christian.
15. Redwood (ceiling 12, floor 20). Redwood doesn’t have much depth this year but a longtime Marin County Athletic League coach believes Redwood could have the best MCAL team since Drake’s 2017 team. The likely starters include goalie Yummy Mills (2028), center defender/attacker Jacob Enberg, center defender/attacker Storm Jackson (2028, 22.54), center Jackson Monty (2028), LH attacker Maddox McClellan (UCLA, 22.42), and Chase Jackson (2030, among the top freshmen in Northern California). Other players likely to receive significant playing time include center/attacker Isaac Nikfar and Eddie Poser. Redwood will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Tournament, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Miramonte, Campolindo, and Menlo. This will be the first time Redwood participates in the North vs. South Challenge.
16. Menlo (ceiling 13, floor 21). Jack Bowen, 568-201 in his 26 years as Menlo’s coach, will have a young team again this year and not much depth. However, Menlo’s top 5 field players may be as strong as any top 5 field players Bowen has had at Menlo. The likely starters are Cooper Phillips (2029) or Ian Herndon (2028) at goalie, center defender/center Andres Profit (2029), center/center defender/attacker Hunter Coleman (2028, cadet national team, one of the top 3 or 4 juniors in the country), LH attacker Adam Afar (2028), Lincoln Bott (2028), Avery Kuziemko (2029), and Brady Hendricks (2028). LH attacker Orfeas Skiniotis (2028) should receive a lot of playing time. Menlo will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Invitational, and North vs. South Challenge, and has a non-league game against Redwood. Menlo should be a top 10 team next year.
17. Dos Pueblos (ceiling 14, floor 21). Head Coach Chris Parrish, who guided his team to the Division 1 semifinals last season, has a roster chock-full of young and experienced talent. One of the keys of the season will be how the Chargers replace standout utility/defender Ben Fuhrer (LMU signee). However, there are several players that have versatile skill sets and a trio of seniors that should have a significant impact. Grant Nelson is an all-around player who plays with a great motor, can score on the counter, and has a knack of making plays at both ends of the pool. Lucas Neushul is a fast attacker who can play both sides due to his offensive skill set. He is a difference maker on the counterattack and will play some defender as well. Adam Gelman is a blue-collar attacker who grinds his opponents at both ends. Junior Ty Abel had a solid summer and exhibits a nice vertical game. Arguably the most talented offensive player will be sophomore Channing Wigo (Cadet National Team). He is as gifted offensively as any sophomore in the country. Fellow sophomore Skylar Carroll (shooter) had a terrific summer and is a gifted attacker in his own right. Look for junior Tyler Racine, sophomore Max Gelman, and junior Kevin Yan to provide quality depth off the bench. As far as freshmen go, the Chargers will have the best freshman attacker in the country in Wyatt Warkentin. Warkentin was the MVP of the 14u age group at the JOs as he led his team to the Championship. He is ahead of the curve, as they say, when it comes to the attacker position. Orchestrating the defense will be incumbent sophomore starter Koa Zertuche. He had a terrific JOs for the Channel Islands 16u team and is one of the better goalies in the country for his class. Dos Pueblos will participate in the Arroyo Grande Fall Classic, Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Santana, Bishop’s, and La Jolla.
18. Loyola (ceiling 15, floor 23). Each and every season Head Coach Erik Healy loses a ton of players and each and every season he remains ultra-competitive. The defending Division 1 Champions are ready to reload with a solid senior class and some talented underclassmen. In the back of the net the Lions will depend on junior Aidan Flores and senior Dash Pimental. They will likely share time–at least at the beginning of the season. The perimeter will be led by St. Mary’s commit Ethan Eng and sophomore Francesco Pintaric (Cadet World Team). Eng has a solid vertical game and IQ while Pintaric can impact the game in a number of ways. He is an explosive driver, can post-up off the drive, and also deliver the perimeter strike (high-level arm). Senior Cash Fine is a quick driver with an accurate shot, and then there is senior Noah Chang who plays with a great motor and is active on the counter attack. Juniors Brooks Greenspan, Aidan Park, and Wyatt Shenfield will be counted on off the bench. Look for rising sophomore Preston Smith and freshman Evan Kelley to make a splash this season. Smith has blossoming skills, an excellent frame, and solid speed. Meanwhile, Kelley is a big lefty with a cannon for an arm. In the middle of the pool, the Cubs have senior Marcus Wooler. Wooler plays with a great motor, can defend using his length, and post-up on occasion. Fellow senior Kai Kojima is a right-side player who can grind and post up as well. Junior Bryce Kiely is a much-improved center who has a strong frame and can finish (good hands). Junior Noah Carey has the bulk to defend some as well. Loyola will participate in the South Coast Tournament and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Mira Costa, Huntington Beach, Cathedral Catholic, JSerra, Oaks Christian, Long Beach Wilson, and Sacred Heart.
19.\ Beckman. If you’re going to buy stock in a high school team, look no further than Beckman. Duje Grubisic will guide his most talented team since he has been in charge. The team will have a roster dominated by underclassmen, but it just received a significant transfer from Crean Lutheran in senior utility-type Connor McTaggart. McTaggart is a big-bodied player who has the versatility to play the right side or post-up. He’ll be available after the mandated 30-day SOP. Sticking to the middle of the pool, sophomore Nathaniel Gluzman-Chuang is a physical and technically sound defender who can deliver the perimeter shot. Sophomore center/defender Onni Vitanen has a great frame and is evolving into a solid player. Leading the way will be a couple of talented attackers: junior Minjun Kim and sophomore Drake Hamilton. Kim is a crafty attacker who can play both sides, but projects well to the right side due to his vertical game and overall passing/shooting skills. Hamilton, who is one of the best sophomore attackers in the country, has improved his decision-making and is an extremely gifted driver/passer/shooter. On the right side, sophomore CJ Song will facilitate the offense with lefty junior Curtis Lee (solid shooter/passer) backing him up. Sophomore Nick Robertson (crafty/good motor) should provide quality minutes and will push for starter minutes. Grubiscic also has another outstanding freshman group led by lefty utility Luke Szilagyi, attacker Nemenja Titin, and goalie Chase Plossel. All three will get minutes, and look for Plossel to battle junior Vincenzo Castaldo for the starting position in the cage. Beckman will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, Bishop’s Invitational, and Steve Pal Memorial Tournament, and has non-league games against Laguna Beach, Harvard-Westlake, and San Juan Hills.
20.\ De La Salle (ceiling 17, floor 25). De La Salle has won three of the last five North Coast Section Open Division Tournaments. They have a young team this year, with a very strong freshmen and sophomore class. Three players will compete for the starting goalie position: Aric Hooper, Sam Harrington (2028), and Ryan Mack (2029). The other likely starters are center/center defender Kaden Schroeder, center defender Aidan Bigelow-Gee (2028, will sit out the first 30 days of the season because he transferred to De La Salle from Northgate), attacker/center defender Gabe Skov, Bennett Wilson, John Hughes (2029), and Max Johnson (2029, 21.75 and 46.57). Other players likely to receive significant playing time are center defender/attacker Lucas Queen (2030, likely to start at center defender until Bigelow-Gee is eligible to play), center defender Luke Schoeder (2028), center Will Clancy (2030), Tate Lustig, and Connor Tsai (2029). De La Salle will participate in the Bishop’s Invitational, Memorial Cup, and North vs. South Challenge, and has non-league games against Bellarmine, Miramonte, and Sacred Heart.
21. Mater Dei (ceiling 19, floor not in the top 25). Newly hired Head Coach Brett Luch takes over a storied program looking for solidarity and consistency. Luch, who was an assistant coach at JSerra, inherits a team that was Division1 runner-up last year. He has a strong senior class led by a talented goalie tandem and skilled attackers. In the cage, the Monarchs will have 3-year starter Morgan Crichton who will provide the foundation for the defense. He has a very strong arm and is one of the elite goalies in the state. Senior Aidan Welch is an athletic goalie who orchestrates the defense very well with his voice. The Monarchs will have one of the more prolific groups of attackers in Orange County and beyond. Senior Ace Chen (UC Irvine commit) is a quick and aggressive attacker with a potent shot. His senior teammate Tucker Ensign is a lengthy attacker with size and speed. Ensign and Chen should be one of the better scoring combos in the country. Junior Parker Johnson (JSerra transfer) will sit out 30 days, but is a quick attacker with an impressive vertical game and outside shot. Senior attacker Jake Maniscalco is a feisty attacker with a non-stop motor. He’ll provide additional offensive punch. Fellow senior Carson Warner has solid speed and will be a solid glue-type that will impact the game in a variety of ways. Coach Luch will also have Owen Grabow (a transfer from Long Beach Wilson) available after the 30-day SOP. He can play multiple positions and will primarily help out on the right side. One of the keys to the season will be the development of players in the middle of the pool. Senior Brendan Reif is a versatile player that will help out at center and defender while fellow senior Caleb Mullaney will team up with Reif defending the middle of the pool. Mater Dei will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational and South Coast Tournament, and has non-league games against Bishop’s, Oaks Christian, Santana, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and San Juan Hills.
22. San Juan Hills (ceiling 19, floor not in the top 25). Head Coach Rex Sample will have a team that is not very deep, but it definitely has some star-power. Someone on this roster will have to replace the all-around talent of Charles Montano–who took his talents to Long Beach State. The player I expect to uphold that responsibility will be senior Bruno Massa. Massa, who played for Argentina at the Youth World Championships, is a relentless attacker with a long wingspan. He can grind opponents off the drive, post-up and finish, or rip a shot from the perimeter. If you’re looking for a breakout player, look no further than junior Owen Clark. He had an outstanding summer for the Patriot 16u team utilizing his length, speed, and all-around skill set (at both ends) to be one of the better players in the division. For San Juan Hills to have a successful season, one of the things to watch is the production of junior center Liam Friedman. He has a beastly frame with long arms and his physicality and shooting prowess is noted. If he provides consistent dominance at 2-meters, that will make life easier for Massa and Clark. In the middle of the pool sophomore Grayson Bouquet will guide the defense (physical defender) and provide some offense (improved vertical game). He is physically strong for his age, moves well, and has an evolving skill set. Sophomore Colin Mason is coming on strong and will provide depth at the attacker position. Look for a couple of freshmen to make their mark from a talented OCWPC 14u team. In the cage, incumbent starter senior Frankie Lunkin will have to stave off fast-rising sophomore Jessie O’Connor–who had an excellent summer. Both are solid goalies. San Juan Hills will participate in the South Coast Tournament and has non-league games against Santa Margarita, Laguna Beach, and Mater Dei.
23. Laguna Beach (ceiling 20, floor not in the top 25). The Breakers, under the guidance of Camron Hauer, will have a team with crafty drivers and size and skill in the middle. Senior Henry Day will orchestrate the defense from the cage and has shown steady improvement each and every season. In the middle of the pool, Coach Hauer will possess a nice one-two punch at both ends with senior Dane Seybold and senior utility Finnegan Leverty. Seybold, a Navy commit, is a physical specimen who can move centers and has a strong arm. Meanwhile, Leverty, who had an excellent summer, is a skilled and savvy offensive player. Junior Warren Rootlieb showed nice growth this summer and will be a viable option in the middle of the pool at both ends. On the perimeter look for the combination of juniors Mason Jakel and Mason Gruba to score a number of goals this season. Jakel is a fearless left-side attacker who is crafty and gritty while Gruba is a skilled lefty who handles the facilitating and scoring with aplomb. Senior Ellis Minc will impact the game in transition while fellow senior Zachary Hornstein will impact the game with his nifty passing skills. Laguna Beach will participate in the Long Beach Tournament, Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and Steve Pal Memorial Tournament, and has non-league games against San Juan Hills and Mater Dei.
24.\ Santana (ceiling 21, floor not in the top 25). After a runner-up finish in the Division 1 State Regionals, Head Coach Rod Bowen returns a ton of talent, including an exceptional sophomore class. Starting in the cage will be senior Davis Jesperson. Jesperson has cat-like quickness and is a quality goalie. In the middle of the pool sophomore Demetrius Golden is a left-handed physical specimen. He is just scratching the surface, but he has magnetic hands and his fundamentals are improving. The ultra-athletic sophomore Axton Rasmussen is another prospect who oozes potential. The rangy left-side attacker is a high-level athlete with a terrific arm. Senior Brennen Weed, who is also a standout baseball player, will team up with Rasmussen on the left side. He is a capable shooter and a good athlete. Junior Aidan Carpentier will help out as a defender and put together a solid summer with the SD Shores 16u team. On the right side, sophomore Sebastian Trinidad and senior Cody Nelson will form a solid duo due to their respective motors and improved playmaking. Junior Kenny Catlow will help off the bench with senior Corban Nall–both of whom will play significant minutes. Santana will participate in the South Coast Tournament, Villa Park Classic, and Steve Pal Memorial Tournament, and has non-league games against Dos Pueblos and Mater Dei.
25.\ San Ramon Valley (ceiling 21, floor not in the top 25). San Ramon Valley has one of the best junior classes in Northern California. They have two strong goalies, Ronan Bugbee (Cal Baptist) and Hunter Freudenbuger (2028, started for the Berkeley WPC team that finished 2nd in the 16u age group at the Junior Olympics). Other key contributors will be center defender Emmit Neach, center Charlie Feaver (2028, one of the top junior centers in Northern California), center Brendan Devlin (2028), LH attacker JJ Thorner, Christo Decker (a D1 school?), Graham Hodson (2028, 22.06), Mateo Beltramo (2028), Ryder King, and Davis Hubbard (2028). San Ramon Valley will participate in the Roche Invitational, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Miramonte and Campolindo.
25.\ Huntington Beach (ceiling 21, floor not in the top 25). Too close to call between San Ramon Valley and Huntington Beach. Head Coach Nick Graffis has a team with solid all-around talent both in the cage and on the field. The depth at goalie is impressive, as junior Van Johnston will probably get the start after having a solid summer, but fellow junior Landon Hobson will be in the mix as well. Freshman Tucker Westmoreland will be waiting in the wings as he is one of the better goalies in the country in his class. On the left side, look out for junior Jackson Holmes. He was one of the breakout stars on the summer circuit. He has an excellent vertical game and has a ton of upside and shooting prowess. Junior Daniel Pearce is a solid all-around attacker who can play both sides on offense, while senior Jay Larson will provide solid production from the attacker position. Look for junior Ethan Brown to play some significant minutes as well. He is best on the right side due to his motor and physical play. On the left side, senior Connor Hatfield has good speed and should help with counterattacks. Coach Graffis has some depth in the middle of the pool with junior Devin Riley and senior Grayson Agriesti. Riley is a strong center-defender due to his leg strength and long arms. He can also put the shot in the back of the net if given the opportunity. Agriesti will help out at center and projects to have a very productive season. On offense, junior Kyle Sturdy is a strong and stout center who is tough to move out of the post. He has solid hands and can draw exclusions. Coming off the bench, the Oilers have some talented young players in sophomores Kai Mena and Michael Bunten, as well as a couple of freshmen in Zack Collins and Graham Kotksty. Huntington Beach will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, South Coast Tournament, and Memorial Cup, and has non-league games against Long Beach Wilson, Loyola, and Mater Dei.
Top 10 NorCal Schools
1. Miramonte
2. Sacred Heart Prep
3. Campolindo
4. Redwood
5. Menlo
6. De La Salle
7. San Ramon Valley
8. Soquel. Soquel, a Santa Cruz County high school, may have had their best season last year, finishing 2nd in the Roche Invitational, tied for 3rd in the Central Coast Section Open Division Tournament, and tied for 5th in the Northern California Regional Open Division Tournament. Four starters from last year’s team return this year, including Rafael Suarez-Abraham (Stanford), the starting goalie on the U.S. youth national team that won the silver medal in this summer’s Youth World Championships. Suarez-Abraham is considered by many to be the best high school goalie in the country. The other returning starters are Suarez-Abraham’s brother, Gabriel, center defender Sam Robertson, and center Ely Sullivan. LH attacker Cane Mitchell, Jaxon Nolan, Jake Martinez (2028), and Charlie Clima (2029) are other potential starters. Rafael, Gabriel, and Mary Suzarez-Abraham are triplets. Mary is the starting goalie for Santa Cruz High School. The Suarez-Abraham Family shares the story of their triplets, Rafael, Gabriel and Mary and how aquatics and #waterpolo have helped shape their lives. From water safety to overall physical strength, the triplets have benefited from their time in the sport and are happy to be a part of the Santa Cruz WPC community. #2025JOs | USA Water Polo | Facebook. Soquel will participate in the Steve Martin Memorial Tournament, Roche Invitational, Saint Francis Invitational, Memorial Cup, and North vs. South Challenge.
9.\ Bellarmine. By its standards, Bellarmine didn’t have a good season last year. This year’s Bellarmine team is young, with just 3 seniors on the roster. Bellarmine has a strong junior class and one of the best goalie tandems in Northern California. Romin Amburgey (2028) will be the starting goalie. Amburgey was the MVP of the 16u age group at this summer’s Junior Olympics. Dane Tallon (2029) will be the second goalie. He has D1 potential. The other likely starters are center/center defender Andrew Ischanov (2028), center/center defender Ryan Willey (2028), Dax Zucek, Blake Brennan, Neil Isaac (2028), and Nolan Brown (2028). Bellarmine will participate in the Santa Barbara Invitational, S&R Tournament, and Memorial Cup.
10. Too close to call.
Top 10 SoCal Schools
1. Cathedral Catholic
2. JSerra
3. Harvard-Westlake
4. Santa Margarita
5. La Jolla
6. Bishop’s
7. Newport Harbor
8. Oaks Christian
9. Mira Costa
10. Long Beach Wilson
Top 10 Public Schools
1. Miramonte
2. La Jolla
3. Newport Harbor
4. Campolindo
5. Mira Costa
6. Long Beach Wilson
7. Corona Del Mar
8. Redwood
9. Dos Pueblos
10. Beckman
Top 10 Private Schools
1. Cathedral Catholic
2. JSerra
3. Harvard Westlake
4. Santa Margarita
5. Bishop’s
6. Oaks Christian
7. Sacred Heart
8. Menlo
9. Loyola
10. De La Salle
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, we decided not to include them in our weekly rankings. Otherwise, we would have ranked them somewhere in the 12 to 15 range. Our east coast correspondent provides this summary of Brunswick’s 2026 team: “What this team lacks in experience, it makes up for with elite talent and versatility. Very strong at the 1/2, with Jackson Shaw (2028, youth national team, elite scorer and tenacious defender, one of the best players in the Class of 2028) and at 6, with LH center/attacker Peter Saunders (Cal, 22.1 and 46.7, very strong and fast, plays all over the pool - including taking swimoffs). The right side is anchored by lefties, Nico Zubko (2028, 6’ 6” confident shooter and can post up) and Reed Keller (2028, good distributor in 6v5 and crafty defender). However, it’s in the cage where Martin Robredo (2027) has jumped levels. He spent the past year playing with Club Natacio Barcelona and, as a result, was a top performer in Futures and JOs this past year. At center defender, Callum Holl will start, but will also see others (Saunders, Zubko, Keller) get reps there as well. The left side will see Grayson Shaw (2029, fearless shooter and tough defender), Henry Martucci (2028, good polo IQ and spot shooter), and Chris Myott (2029, fast, aggressive player with a hard shot), pair up with Jackson Shaw. Goalies Marco Leao and Eamon Lavin (2029) and Chris Myott (2029) should receive significant playing time." Brunswick will participate in the 4th Annual BIWPA NextGen Cup at CN Sabadell in Barcelona, the Beast of the East Tournament, and the Cardinal Cup.
Good luck to all of the schools.
