The San Diego Section held its boys water polo championship games Nov. 13 at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex at La Jolla High School.
No South County team claimed a coveted division title but several teams were represented in later rounds of the playoffs.
Hilltop recorded a runner-up finish in the Division III final during the spring 2021 season while Mar Vista advanced as far as the Division I semifinals.
Both teams found some measure of success again in the fall.
Making waves
Mar Vista earned the No. 1 seed in the Division I playoffs for the second consecutive season based on its sterling x-x regular season record in the fall that included a x-0 run in Mesa League play.
The Mariners opened the playoffs with a 16-8 quarterfinal-round win over the eighth-seeded Helix Highlanders to advance to the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
The Imperial Beach team was once again denied a berth in the championship game by virtue of a narrow loss — 11-9 this season to fourth-seeded Canyon Crest Academy.
The Ravens proved their win over Mar Vista was no fluke by derailing defending division champion Poway, 11-10, in the finals.
Moving up
Hilltop found the move up from Division III to Division II to its liking with a 12-11 first-round playoff win over eighth-seeded Oceanside. The ninth-seeded Lancers (17-6) drew top-seeded Mt. Carmel in the quarterfinals and ended their season with a 19-8 loss to the eventual division champions.
Eastlake (14-14) also qualified for the division playoffs, topping Scripps Ranch, 16-8, in a play-in game before bowing out of postseason play with a 14-11 loss to sixth-seeded Mission Hills.
Trojan wars
South Bay League champion Castle Park (22-7) received the No. 3 seed in the Division III playoffs but ended its season prematurely with a 19-18 loss to sixth-seeded Canyon Hills in the quarterfinals.
Otay Ranch (ninth seed, 6-12 overall) and Bonita Vista (10th seed, 12-10 overall) were the only other Metro Conference teams to make the Division III playoffs. Both lost in the opening round.
SAN DIEGO SECTION BOYS WATER POLO CHAMPIONS
2021 FALL SEASON
Open Division: (2) Cathedral Catholic 11, (1) Bishops 8
Division I: (4) Canyon Crest Academy 11, (3) Poway 10
Division II: (1) Mt. Carmel 9, (3) Clairemont 8
Division III: (1) San Dieguito Academy 16, (7) Valley Center 7
Castle Park senior Ryland Humphrey earned his second consecutive South Bay League Player of the Year award. Photo by Phillip Brents
South Bay League All-League Teams
First Team
Ryland Humphrey Castle Park 12
Kai MacFarland Castle Park 12
Cannon Humphrey Castle Park 10
Caleb Hutchins Bonita Vista 12
Kristian Gutierrez Bonita Vista 11
Aziel Juarez Montgomery 11
Ian Osuna San Ysidro 12
Carlo Lira Southwest 12
Hector Martinez Castle Park 12
Robert Yetter Bonita Vista 12
Second Team
Gabe Garcia Bonita Vista 12
Emilio Lugo Castle Park 12
Ian Pimentel Southwest 11
Axel Jimenez Montgomery 11
Leonardo Chavez Castle Park 11
Shawn Talamantes Montgomery 12
Aidin Omelina Bonita Vista 10
Josaiah Mendoza Montgomery 11
Santiago Salinas Bonita Vista 10
Alex Aleman-Diaz San Ysidro 11
Honorable Mention
Ivan Galindo Castle Park 12
Alan Molina Castle Park 12
Sammy Ayala Bonita Vista 12
Ricky Sandoval Bonita Vista 12
Ethan Godoy San Ysidro 9
Diego Serrano San Ysidro 10
Omar Alvarez Montgomery 11
Jovan Checos Montgomery 11
Alan Aaron Montgomery 10
Miguel Segura Southwest 12
Alberto Verdugo Southwest 12
Alejandro Moreno Southwest 12
