Boys’ U-12 squad captures tourney title

Four Huntington Beach Water Polo Club teams turned in strong showings at the San Diego County Cup, held April 28 to May 2 in San Diego.

Coach Brian Anderson said the annual event is one of the largest age group tournaments in the county and has a bearing on team seeding for the upcoming 2011 National Junior Olympic Championships.

Representing Huntington at the San Diego County Cup were the girls’ 14-and-Under, two boys’ 14-and-Under and boys’ 12-and-Under teams. They vied for their respective division titles with other club teams from Orange County, L.A. County, San Diego, San Francisco and from the east coast.

The boys’ 12-and-Under team, coached by Sasa Branisavlejic and Brian Anderson, won a division championship. Huntington defeated teams from Santa Barbara, Northwood, United and in the final beat SET (Saddleback-El Toro), 9-3, at the Jewish Community Facility in La Jolla. Matt Robert was named the division’s Most Valuable Player and goalie Patrick Saunders and driver Keegan Coleman were named to the all-tournament team.

The boys’ sixth-grade team is Reza Ali, Andrew Tucker, Jacob Van Mechelen, Wyatt Benson, Quinten Osborne, Patrick Saunders, William Khouri, Keegan Coleman, Matt Robert, Garrett Coker, Michael Goldbach, Ben Schmiesing and Quinn Simpson.

Huntington’s eighth-grade girls’ team, coached by Christina Wensmen and led in the tournament by Haley Epperson, Delaney Cleveland and Sydney Preston, finished in sixth place.

The boys’ 14-and-Under (eighth-grade) team finished in seventh place in a 32-team field. The locals bumped off Rose Bowl Club of Pasadena to earn seventh. Goalie Alex Wolf, driver/attacker Steven Marcin and defender/utility player Ryan Sillasen, made key contributions, Coach Uros Dzelebdzic said.

Huntington teams are preparing this week for the Junior Olympic Qualifiers tournament, which starts Friday.

— From Staff Reports