Going undefeated through league, CHS’s boys water polo team took the CIF Southern Section Division 5 title. It was a very common game for the Wolfpack’s unstoppable team, who won 15-7 against Los Altos at Irvine’s Woollett Aquatic Center. The Wolfpack ended the season with an overall record of 22-11.

“The past couple of years the team has been playing harder and harder,” said Coach Rodriguez a week before the final CIF game, “More players are playing club so their knowledge has increased.”

In the course of league, one could sense the determination CHS had in the swimming pool with each week bringing the same news of a blowout win. The Wolfpack averaged a win of 13 points during league and had all five players on the league leaders list in scoring.

“We were so successful because of the fact that we were a deep team. Throughout our entire division, teams had 2 or 3 solid players. Our team had 8,” senior Adam Ward said.

Ward and senior Thomas Randles had 66 and 55 points respectively while the national average is 25 points. Sophomore Bruno Snow had 142 points and junior Jonathan Wong had 132 points. In addition to a solid offense, Claremont had an exceptional defense with senior goalkeeper Steven Cagle saving 289 shots while the national average is a mere 62 saves.

This exceptional defense and offense was seen within the first few minutes of the CIF championship game with Cagle blocking nearly every shot in the first quarter and the Wolfpack taking an early lead of 4-0. The Conquerors showed the Wolfpack why they made it so far, responding to the Packs early lead with a goal. Not the least bit phased, the Wolfpack ran the first half with a score of 9-2.

In an attempt to make up the points lost in the first half, the Conquerors focused all their energy on offense and pulled back their defense. This was of little help to the Conquerors because the Wolfpack quickly switched up their defense to compensate for the Conquerors new offense. At the end of the third quarter, the Wolfpack was still controlling the game with a lead of 13-3.

With only one quarter left, one could hear Los Altos’s coach raising his voice at his players to hustle harder and play tougher defense. The determined players fought hard until the very end scoring an additional four points in the last quarter. However, Claremont scored two points as well ending the CIF championship game with a final score of 15-7.

This is the first time CHS has won a CIF title for boy’s water polo and the coaches were ecstatic. After the championship game, senior goalkeeper Steven Cagle was named the Palomares League Most Valuable Player. Seniors Adam Ward and Thomas Randles, junior Jonathon Wong, and sophomore Bruno Snow all made first team. The young age of the Wolfpack’s boys water polo team will be sure to continue their dominance for years to come.

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