By Joohan Kim
The Boys’ Varsity Water Polo team demolished San Marino, 15-10, at San Marino High School on Thursday, November 3. With this victory, the La Cañada Spartans won the Rio Hondo League title, which hasn’t been won by the Spartans for nine years.
“The win was well deserved. After last year’s season, we rallied to do better than 4th place in league. There was no doubt in our minds that we would win,” said senior captain Toby Chung.
The water polo team boasts a very impressive 9-1 league record. Through lots of hard work, practice, and drills, the team has improved immensely. They definitely deserve all of the credit they receive from earnest supporters and fans.
“We knew Alessio, San Marino’s MVP, was their top player, and we essentially shut him down,” said Toby. “We left their smaller kids to shoot and trusted our defenders to get those blocks.”
Last year’s most valuable player and senior Wyatt Lowe added, “We practiced a lot of plays to force a bad shot from the other team to prevent Alessio from getting the ball. We had a hard time with their defense in the first part of the game. However, as the game went on, we adjusted and took advantage of Alessio’s tiredness.”
The team was especially ecstatic and excited for their future because they had brought home a long-sought victory.
“It feels so great to win a title. We worked hard all summer and, clearly, it paid off. Each and every member on our varsity team contributed,” Wyatt said.
Because the team won the league, they are automatically included in the CIF tournament.
“This is the last tournament we have together, and it is our last challenge. We hope to do well this next week as we were placed 2nd in our division. Every game might be the last high school game our seniors will play, so I believe we will all play like it is our last,” said Wyatt.
Water polo—like many other sports—requires motivation to be victorious.
“Since we are the only remaining CIF Fall sport at La Canada, we feel that other teams should look up to us,” said sophomore Robbie Louk. “We also have many phrases that we preach to each other such as: ‘In the Trenches’”
The Boys’ Varsity team’s ultimate goal is to win the CIF tournament and show everyone that they have what it takes. “There is no need to get cocky and look to0 far in advance when we are now in the knockout round,” Robbie said.
The Spartans, who are ranked second in CIF Southern Section Division V, are now going to move on to the playoffs, which will begin on Tuesday November 15th, with postseason pairings due to be announced on Saturday. Please come and support the team as they all look to move on to the next level.
