Water polo squad wins tourney title

Michael Sciacca

The Laguna Beach 10-and-under boys’ “A” water polo team sprinted past

four opponents to claim the championship of the Southern Pacific Age

Group tournament.

The two-weekend tournament included teams from Laguna Beach,

Corona del Mar, Dana Point, Newport Beach, San Clemente, TRAP, Golden

West, So Cal, ORCA, Chino Hills, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos,

Irvine, Beach Cities, Northwood (Wolf Pack), El Toro, Split,

Capistrano Valley and Riverside.

The first-round games were played at Tesoro, El Toro and San

Clemente highs, and the final weekend play was held at Cal State Long

Beach.

Laguna went undefeated in winning the tournament for the second

year in a row.

Laguna defeated San Clemente, 14-4, in its first match, then

routed Capistrano Valley, 13-3.

Next came an 11-7 triumph over Newport Beach, and Laguna capped an

impressive tournament run with a 12-8 victory over Corona del Mar in

the championship match.

Playing for Laguna was driver/outside shooter Riley Browne,

driver/two-meter guard Cameron Hauer, driver/goalie Robert Clemons,

driver/two-meter man Caleb Scott, driver/goalie Erik Henricksen,

sprinter/driver/outside shooter Dylan Payne, driver/two-meter

man/guard Nicky Brunner, sprinter/driver Alex Shapero and outside

shooter/driver/two-meter player/guard Nolan McConnell.

“I felt my team played extremely well,” Laguna coach Chad Beeler

said. “The nine- and 10-year old boys were very focused and prepared

for their games by knowing their after goal and time out plays from

practice.

“It was really nice to hear parents from the other teams be so

surprised that nine- and 10-year old kids can learn and execute

special plays to score goals.”

McConnell was team’s top scorer in a balanced Laguna scoring

attack.

The Laguna 10-and-under A team was just one of eight teams Beeler

coached in the tournament.

Laguna also entered “B” and “C” boys teams in the 10-and-under

tournament, one boys’ team in the 14-and-under tournament, one girls’

and one boys’ team in the 12-and-under tournament and an “A” and “B”

girls’ team in the 14-and-under tournament.