How do all the high school football teams get around this? They seem to have teams crossing state lines all over until playoffs start. Also, can Brunswick not play in South Coast tournament, elite 8 or North south tournaments?
Relocating this to the Compliance Questions thread to avoid clogging the channel with pesky rules stuff.
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Here is our weekly summary of the 2026 boys’ high school water polo season.
Congratulations to Newport Harbor for winning the South Coast Tournament for the 10th time. This week’s tournament action includes the S&R Tournament. Individual games of note this week include Newport vs. Loyola, Newport vs. Bishop’s, Cathedral Catholic vs. La Jolla, Cathedral Catholic vs. Long Beach Wilson, Miramonte vs. Campolindo, Santa Margarita vs. Loyola, Harvard Westlake vs. Corona del Mar, and Sacred Heart vs. Campolindo.
Our unofficial rankings for the week ending September 19 follow below. Please let me know offline if we missed a score or reported a score incorrectly.
Top 25
1. Newport Harbor (8-1). Last week, Newport won the South Coast Tournament, beating Laguna Beach 23-7, Santa Margarita 15-8, Cathedral Catholic 16-15 in the semifinals, and Miramonte 11-10 in sudden-death overtime in the finals. With just one senior on their roster, I didn’t think Newport could win the South Coast Tournament. I was wrong. Newport plays Loyola on Wednesday and Bishop’s on Friday.
2. Cathedral Catholic (6-1). Last week, Cathedral finished third in the South Coast Tournament, beating Mira Costa 17-10, beating Bishop’s 18-11, losing to Newport 16-15 in the semifinals, and beating Oaks Christian 19-16 in the 3rd place game. Cathedral allowed 52 goals in four games at the South Coast Tournament, suggesting that they miss center defender Jett Taylor, particularly on the defensive end. Cathedral plays La Jolla on Wednesday and Long Beach Wilson on Saturday.
3. Miramonte (7-1). Last week, Miramonte finished second in the South Coast Tournament, beating Los Alamitos 20-8, beating Long Beach Wilson 17-13, beating JSerra 12-8, beating Oaks Christian 9-5 in the semifinals, and losing to Newport Harbor 11-10 in sudden-death overtime in the finals. Miramonte plays Campolindo on Wednesday.
4. JSerra (7-1). Last week, JSerra beat Loyola 12-6 and finished fifth in the South Coast Tournament, beating Loyola 13-8, losing to Miramonte 12-8, beating Harvard-Westlake 14-7, and beating Santa Margarita 13-9 in the 5th place game. JSerra plays St. John Bosco on Wednesday.
5. Oaks Christian (5-3). Last week, Oaks Christian finished fourth in the South Coast Tournament, beating Alta Loma 14-5, beating Campolindo 15-8, beating Harvard-Westlake 12-11 in overtime, losing to Miramonte 9-5 in the semifinals, and losing to Cathedral Catholic 19-16 in the 3rd place game. Oaks Christian plays Newbury Park on Tuesday, Westlake on Wednesday, and Agoura on Friday.
6. Santa Margarita (9-3). Last week, Santa Margarita finished sixth in the South Coast Tournament, beating Saint Marks (Texas) 18-9, beating Dos Pueblos 16-11, losing to Newport Harbor 15-8, beating Bishop’s 11-10, and losing to JSerra 13-9 in the 5th place game. Earlier in the season, Santa Margarita won the Villa Park Classic. Santa Margarita plays Mater Dei on Wednesday.
7. The Bishop’s School (9-2). Last week, Bishop’s finished seventh in the South Coast Tournament, beating San Clemente 14-5, beating Sacred Heart 18-14, losing to Cathedral Catholic 18-11, losing to Santa Margarita 11-10, and beating Harvard-Westlake 16-12 in the 7th place game. Bishop’s plays Coronado on Wednesday, Newport on Friday, and San Clemente on Saturday.
8. Harvard-Westlake (7-3). Last week, Harvard-Westlake finished eighth in the South Coast Tournament, beating Corona del Mar 13-6, losing to Oaks Christian 12-11 in overtime, losing to JSerra 14-7, and losing to Bishop’s 16-12 in the 7th place game. Harvard-Westlake plays Corona del Mar on Saturday.
9. La Jolla (17-2). Last week, La Jolla beat Damien 16-9 and won the America’s Finest City Invitational, beating Long Beach Poly 18-5, Damien 17-5, Riverside East Valley 15-5 in the semifinals, and Poway 17-7 in the finals. Earlier in the season, La Jolla won the Scott Roche Invitational. La Jolla plays Cathedral Catholic on Wednesday and Poway on Friday.
10. Sacred Heart Prep (6-1). Last week, Sacred Heart beat Menlo 12-11 and finished ninth in the South Coast Tournament, beating Foothill 13-9, losing to Bishop’s 18-14, beating Mira Costa 9-7, beating Dos Pueblos 11-9, and beating Corona del Mar 13-12 in overtime in the 9th place game. Sacred Heart plays Mitty on Wednesday and Campolindo on Friday.
11. Redwood (5-2). Last week, Redwood beat Monte Vista 16-5 . Earlier in the season, Redwood finished second in the Scott Roche Invitational. They play Tamalpais on Wednesday and in the S&R Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
12. Corona del Mar (10-4). Last week, Corona del Mar finished 10th in the South Coast Tournament, beating Santana 12-11, losing to Harvard-Westlake 13-6, beating Campolindo 13-10, beating Long Beach Wilson 13-8, and losing to Sacred Heart 12-11 in overtime in the 9th place game. Earlier in the season, Corona del Mar finished third in the Santa Barbara Invitational. Corona del Mar plays Edison on Wednesday and Harvard-Westlake on Saturday.
13. Campolindo (4-2). Last week, Campolindo finished 13th in the South Coast Tournament, beating Mater Dei 15-11, losing to Oaks Christian 15-8, losing to Corona del Mar 13-10, beating Loyola 16-12, and beating Mira Costa 15-12 in the 13th place game. Campolindo plays Miramonte on Wednesday and Sacred Heart on Friday.
14. Menlo (4-3). Last week, Menlo lost to Sacred Heart 12-11 and beat Los Gatos 13-8. Earlier in the season, Menlo finished third in the Scott Roche Invitational. They play Saint Francis on Wednesday and in the S&R Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
15. Long Beach Wilson (9-4). Last week, Long Beach Wilson finished 11th in South Coast Tournament, beating Huntington Beach 9-6, losing to Miramonte 17-13, beating Loyola 11-7, losing to Corona del Mar 13-8, and beating Dos Pueblos 12-11 in overtime in the 11th place game. Long Beach Wilson plays Jordan on Thursday and Cathedral Catholic on Saturday.
16. Dos Pueblos (10-5). Last week, Dos Pueblos finished 12th in the South Coast Tournament, beating Westlake 12-8, losing to Santa Margarita 16-11, beating Laguna Beach 12-11, losing to Sacred Heart 11-9, and losing to Long Beach Wilson 12-11 in overtime in the 11th place game. Earlier in the season, Dos Pueblos won the Santa Barbara Invitational. Dos Pueblos doesn’t play this week.
17. Mira Costa (8-5). Last week, Mira Costa finished 14th in the South Coast Tournament, beating San Marcos 14-7, losing to Cathedral Catholic 17-10, losing to Sacred Heart 9-7, beating Laguna Beach 10-9, and losing to Campolindo 14-12 in the 13th place game. Earlier in the season, Mira Costa finished 5th in the Santa Barbara Invitational. Mira Costa plays Los Alamitos on Wednesday and in the S&R Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
18. Laguna Beach (11-5). Last week, Laguna Beach finished 15th in the South Coast Tournament, beating San Ramon Valley 16-11, losing to Newport Harbor 23-7, losing to Dos Pueblos 12-11, losing to Mira Costa 10-9, and beating Loyola 12-11 in overtime in the 15th place game. Earlier in the season, Laguna Beach finished second in the Santa Barbara Invitational. Laguna Beach plays Northwood on Thursday.
19. Loyola (8-7). Last week, Loyola lost to JSerra 12-6 and finished 16th in the South Coast Tournament, beating Beckman 11-10, losing to JSerra 13-8, losing to Long Beach Wilson 11-7, losing to Campolindo 15-12, and losing to Laguan Beach 12-11 in overtime in the 15th place game. Earlier in the season, Loyola finished 9th in the Santa Barbara Invitational. Loyola plays Newport Harbor on Wednesday and Santa Margarita on Saturday.
20. De La Salle (4-0). Last week, De La Salle beat Monte Vista 15-13. De La Salle doesn’t play this week.
21. Beckman (6-6). Last week, Beckman finished 21st in the South Coast Tournament, losing to Loyola 11-10, beating Los Alamitos 15-4, losing to Huntington Beach 8-7 in overtime, beating Mater Dei 12-8, and beating Westlake 19-11 in the 21st place game. Earlier in the season, Beckman finished fourth in the Santa Barbara Invitational. Beckman plays Aliso Niguel on Thursday.
22. Huntington Beach (7-8). Last week, Huntington Beach finished 17th in the South Coast Tournament, losing to Long Beach Wilson 9-6, beating Los Alamitos 13-7, beating Beckman 8-7 in overtime, beating Santana 10-9, and beating San Marcos 9-8 in the 17th place game. Huntington Beach plays Alta Loma on Tuesday and in the S&R Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
23. San Marcos (8-8). Last week, San Marcos finished 20th in the South Coast Tournament, losing to Mira Costa 14-7, beating San Clemente 16-9, beating Foothill 16-15, beating San Ramon Valley 13-8, and losing to Huntington Beach 9-8 in the 17th place game. Earlier in the season, San Marcos finished 6th in the Santa Barbara Invitational. San Marcos doesn’t play this week.
24. Helix (7-2). Helix didn’t play last week. Earlier in the season, Helix finished second in the Villa Park Classic. They play Poway on Wednesday and St. John Bosco on Friday.
25. Yucaipa (7-3). Last week, Yucaipa beat Bonita 17-11 and Servite 17-10. Earlier in the season, Yucaipa finished seventh in the Santa Barbara Invitational. They play Redlands East Valley on Wednesday.
Top 10 Northern California Schools
1. Miramonte
2. Sacred Heart Prep
3. Redwood
4. Campolindo
5. Menlo
6. De La Salle
7. Soquel (7-3). Last week, Soquel won the Saint Francis Invitational, beating Serra 10-7, Buchanan 8-7 in the semifinals, and Valley Christian 9-4 in the finals. Earlier in the season, Soquel finished 4th in the Roche Invitational. Soquel plays Aptos on Wednesday, Valley Christian on Friday, and Saint Francis on Saturday.
8. San Ramon Valley (6-6). Last week, San Ramon Valley beat California 23-10 and finished 20th in the South Coast tournament, losing to Laguna Beach 16-11, beating Saint Marks (Texas) 13-7, beating Westlake 14-10, losing to San Marcos 13-8, and losing to Santana 15-12 in the 21st place game. Earlier in the season, San Ramon Valley finished sixth in the Roche Invitational. They play Monte Vista on Thursday.
9. Merced (8-1). Last week, Merced beat Del Oro 15-12, Northgate 11-8, Rio Americano 9-6, and Davis 14-13. Earlier in the season, Merced finished 5th in the Roche Invitational. They play El Capitan on Thursday and in the Roddy Svendsen Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
10. Buchanan (11-5). Last week Buchanan beat Sanger 17-7 and finished third in the Saint Francis Invitational, beating Arroyo Grande 15-2, losing to Soquel 8-7 in the semifinals, and beating Saint Francis 16-11 in the 3rd place game. Earlier in the season, Buchanan finished eighth in the Roche Invitational. They play Clovis East on Wednesday.
Top 10 Southern California Schools
1. Newport Harbor
2. Cathedral Catholic
3. JSerra
4. Oaks Christian
5. Santa Margarita
6. Bishop’s
7. Harvard-Westlake
8. La Jolla
9. Corona del Mar
10. Long Beach Wilson
Top 10 Public Schools
1. Newport Harbor
2. Miramonte
3. La Jolla
4. Redwood
5. Corona del Mar
6. Campolindo
7. Long Beach Wilson
8. Dos Pueblos
9. Mira Costa
10. Laguna Beach
Top 10 Private Schools
1. Cathedral Catholic
2. JSerra
3. Oaks Christian
4. Santa Margarita
5. Bishop’s
6. Harvard-Westlake
7. Sacred Heart
8. Menlo
9. Loyola
10. De La Salle