Boys water polo
First games: Thursday
Regular season ends: Nov. 1
Championship finals: Nov. 16
Defending champions: Cathedral Catholic (Open), Coronado (Division 1), Classical Academy (Division 2), La Jolla Country Day (Division 3)
Player of the Year: Lukas Peabody (Bishop’s), currently at Harvard
Top teams (in predicted order): Cathedral Catholic, Bishop’s, La Jolla, Santana, Coronado, Vista, Carlsbad, Poway, Helix, Rancho Bernardo
Notable: Rare is the team that has two sophomores who have already earned All-CIF San Diego Section honors. Such applies to defending Open Division champion Cathedral Catholic with Braylen Axline and Jett Taylor. The Dons are seeking their third championship in four years. Ready to challenge is Bishop’s, spearheaded by Charlie Martin, a senior All-CIF selection. The Knights have won the other three Open Division championships over the last five years. Also contending should be La Jolla, which claimed last year’s Southern California Regional Division 2 championship. Reigning Division 1 champion Coronado and runner-up Carlsbad seek to return to the Open Division, familiar territory for each.
Players to watch
(in alphabetical order)
Max Arnold, Cathedral Catholic, Jr.
Braylen Axline, Cathedral Catholic, So.
Brady Bailey, Ramona, Sr.
Colton Bell, Bishop’s, Jr.
Cameron Bench, Mt. Carmel, Sr.
Andrew Bockstahler, Point Loma, Sr.
Shane Borunda, Francis Parker, Sr.
Julius Brikho, Valhalla, So.
Collin Dubois, Oceanside, Jr.
Sean Fegan, Clairemont, Jr.
Ryan Fresca, Carlsbad, Jr.
Aiden Gayle, El Camino, Sr.
Nick Grandinetti, Bishop’s, Sr.
Caleb Harrison, Francis Parker, Sr.
Aaron Horse, Vista, Sr.
Aidan Johnson, Classical Academy, Sr.
Jackson Lloyd, La Jolla, Sr.
Lucas Knowles, Scripps Ranch, Sr.
Ryan Kreutzkamp, San Marcos, Sr.
Julian Larsen, Mission Bay, Sr.
Casspar Lightner, Bishop’s, Sr.
Charlie Martin, Bishop’s, Sr.
Tor Martin, La Jolla, Jr.
Colin Mhail, Cathedral Catholic, Jr.
Trenton Mikulanis, Patrick Henry, Jr.
Ryan Mondzelewski,Coronado, Sr.
Theo Noragard, La Jolla Country Day, So.
Nico D’Orio, Patrick Henry, Sr.
Oliver Ridge, High Tech San Diego, Sr.
Noah Sharp, Vista, Sr.
Xander Stewart, Patrick Henry, Sr.
Jett Taylor, Cathedral Catholic, So.
Nate Thomson, La Jolla, Jr.
Xander Trevitt, Carlsbad, Sr.
Colton Weed, Santana, Jr.
Luke Vargas, Santana, Sr.
John Williams, Rancho Bernardo, Sr.
