Water Polo Preview: State Championship Stage Set as Powerhouse Programs Face Off

Some newcomers mixed with the usual powerhouse programs will hit the ultimate stage on Friday morning as the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Men's and Women's Water Polo State Championship tournament is set for action.

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MEN

West Valley (28-1) enters the tournament as the north's top seed after earning the Northern California Championship and cruising to a Coast Championship title. The Vikings dominated Las Positas, 20-1 in the opening round, capped by a forceful victory over Sierra, 28-9.

West Valley leads the state with 538 goals scored and 18.55 goals-per-game. They have scored 20 or more goals in 16 games and have netted 20 or more goals in five of the last six games they have played.

Leading the charge is offensive anchor Ante Buzov, who is two goals shy of 90 on the season. He has pocketed 27 steals and dished out 12 assists.  Furthermore, he has fired home 26 goals in the last five games.

Golden West (25-3) will represent the south's top seed and looks to defend their 2021 State Championship after beating West Valley last season. They have won five consecutive state championships after earning their seventh-consecutive Southern California Championship and 33rd straight Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Championship.

Golden West ranks fourth in the state with 433 goals and second with 16.04 goals-per-game. Much like the Vikings, they have been on an offensive tear by netting 20 or more goals in four of the last five games. Additionally, they have held their opponents to single-digit totals in six of the last eight games while recording double-digit numbers on offense in 21 straight contests

Sierra (12-10) looks to make a push after being tabbed the Northern California runner up. Despite only tallying 309 total goals on the season, they average 14.05 goals-per-game, ranking third in the state, to prove they have a consistent and threatening offense.

Sierra worked to get to the NorCal Championship game after earning a first-round bye, then promptly defeating Diablo Valley, 20-9. They are led by freshman Chris Nihart who has 42 goals and 18 assists, while sophomore Filip Crnogoroc follows with 36 goals and 13 assists.

Cuesta (28-7) earned one of two first-round byes in the Southern Regional Championships and still had to work past some tough competitors in Riverside, 12-8, and Long Beach, 9-7, in order to make it to the championship dance. They fell to Golden West, 18-9, to earn the second seed for the south.

The Cougars rank first in the state with 1,184 shots, second with 527 goals and fourth with 14.64 goals-per-game. Long story short, don't sleep on their offense. They held a six-game winning streak entering into the SoCal Championship game.

WOMEN

Orange Coast (27-4) put together a historical run to reach the state championships for the first time since 2005. On top of that, they reigned supreme in the SoCal Championships and earned the top seed out of the south after defeating Santa Barbara, 10-9, in thrilling fashion.

The Pirates were considered a Cinderella story at the beginning of the season, but transformed into true contenders. They rank fifth in the state with 398 goals and 13.27 goals-per-game to prove they have multiple options in their firing squad.

They have the ability to win close games after defeating Fullerton for the OEC Championships by one score, backed by the win over SBCC. They are currently riding a six-game winning streak after dropping two-consecutive contests in late October.

West Valley (26-4) leans into the top seed in the north with ease after finishing with another NorCal Championship and a Coast Conference championship. They look to reclaim the state championship after defeating Santa Barbara, 6-5, last season.

The Vikings lead the state with 14.59 goals-per-game while ranking third overall with 423 total scores. They have won their last six showdowns against two-year schools with the streak beginning after a 9-6 loss to Orange Coast. In five of the six games, the point spread was 12 or more.

Santa Barbara (29-6) comes into the state championship tournament as the second seed out of the south and boasting the highest number of wins amongst any other team. After winning the Western State Conference (WSC) Championship, they reached the SoCal Championships and earned the runner up trophy.

They have arguably the strongest offense in the state as they lead all teams with 468 goals while ranking fourth overall with 13.37 goals-per-game. Furthermore, they lead the state with 531 steals proving they turn strong defense into a threatening offense. Prior to losing in the SoCal Championships, they held an eight game winning streak that featured a victory over top-seeded West Valley, 10-4.

San Joaquin Delta (21-11) rounds out the seeding as they come in as the second seed in the north after falling to West Valley in the NorCal Championships.

The Mustangs rank eight with 340 goals scored contributing to a 10.97 goals-per-game mark and a53.9 shooting percentage. They earned the Big 8 Championship and have the second-most wins amongst the entire Northern region. They have won seven of their last eight games and look to make a push for the state championship title.  

Release by Nicho DellaValle, CCCWPCA SID