Youth Scene: Laguna squad wins at water polo tourney

The Laguna Beach Water Polo Club’s 10-and-Under coed “A” team brought home the first-place medal from the eighth annual Pacific Winter Classic tournament.

The 10U division games were played Jan. 10-11 at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego.

The Laguna Beach “A” team, coached by Albie Beeler and Rob Capobianco, started the tournament with a 12-0 victory over Coronado Water Polo Club. After an 11-6 win over La Jolla Water Polo Club in its second game, Laguna took on Pacific Polo Water Polo Club in the rain and came away with its third win of the tournament, 15-4.

In the division final, also played in the rain on Jan. 11, Laguna faced International Water Polo Club (Los Alamitos) and completed a perfect tourney run with an 11-4 victory.

The title marked the third time the 10U coed team has won a tournament medal this season.

“I am proud of each of the players on the team,” Beeler said. “The cold and the rain did not slow them down. It is great to see their hard work pay off.”

Laguna next will participate in the fifth annual KAP7 International tournament Feb. 14-15 in Irvine.

Members of the Laguna 10U coed “A” team competing at the tournament were: Sai Bassett, Joey Capobianco, Sophie Colladay, Natasha Denny, Nate Evans, Myha Pinto, Eleanor Ramsey, Rebecca Storke, Cleo Washer, and Dylan Weeks.

— Reader submission