GWC’s Henderson & SBCC’s Straley earn All-State MVP Honors

It was another incredible year for California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) men's and women's water polo. The Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros women's water polo team hauled in its first title since 2017, while the Golden West College Rustlers men's water polo team earned its sixth-consecutive state championship to continue their dominant reign. At season's end, each team hauled in the majority of the year-end awards mixed in with a handful of state qualifiers.

MEN

After leading Sierra to a third place finish in the state championships, Head Coach Bruce Hastie has been named the CCCAA Coach of the Year. He led his team to a 15-10 record that earned him a bid to the Northern Regional Championships, State Championships and a runner up trophy in the Big 8 Conference Championships. He had a number of quality victories with wins over Mt. San Antonio, San Joaquin Delta, Las Positas and a highlight win over Cuesta in the third place game.

Golden West's Garrett Henderson was named the state's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after an incredible showing between the pipes. The sophomore backstop compiled a 23-3 record with the three losses coming outside of the two-year field. He recorded at least one saves in 23 games. He shined in the state championship game with 12 saves, which was two-saves off his season high. In all but one playoff game, he had at least five saves. He ranked third in the state with a 53.5 save percentage.

Golden West's duo Felipe Ferriera and Augi Maachi hauled in all-state recognition after combining for an even 90 goals this season. Ferreira netted 57 goals to go along with 39 assists, 39 steals and 26 drawn ejections. He scored 18 postseason goals. Maachi totaled 33 goals and 29 assists, while scoring five postseason goals.

One of the most impressive offensive weapons throughout the year was West Valley's Ante Buzov. He ranked seventh in the state with 94 goals. He added 27 steals to prove he could perform on the defensive end as well. West Valley's Kai Seed joins him on the all-state list after earning 175 saves on the year and posting a 56.8 saves percentage which was second best in the state. He tied the state-leader in total wins with 23.

Cuesta's Dean Moody and and Sierra's Jake Rueter round out the all-state team in a start-studded lineup.

WOMEN

Head Coach Chuckie Roth has been named the women's Coach of the Year after leading his team to a state championship. After narrowly losing in the Southern California Championship, he coached his squad to a title against the same team, Orange Coast College, that beat them a week prior. His team led the state with 491 goals and 567 steals; two statistican categories that prove dominance on both ends of the pool.

One of Roth's top weapons, sophomore Bella Straley, was named the state's Most Valuable Player (MVP). She did it all as she finished with 69 goals, 40 steals, 21 assists and 59 drawn ejections. In the two state championship games, she totaled six goals, three steals, three drawn ejections and one assist. She scored in all but four games on the season highlighted by two five-goal games. In addition, she scored 18 goals in the final seven games of the season.

SBCC's Emily Daland earned all-state laurels after finishing the season with 68 goals which was second on the squad. She added a team-high 85 steals, which was fourth in the state. SBCC's Emily Lopez earned the all-state nod after finishing the season with 28 goals, 32 assists and 30 steals for the Vaqueros.

West Valley's Johanna Scheer earned all-state recognition after acting as one of the most potent offensive weapons. She ranked second in the state with 126 goals while adding 54 assists and 39 steals. She netted 16 goals in postseason play to lead the field.

Orange Coast's Annabelle Sherman and Ana Nardelli make the list after leading their team to Southern California Championship and a state runner up. Sherman finished with 338 saves, which led the state by 16 saves. She added 24 wins as well. Nardelli scored six goals in postseason action to contribute to her 33 goals on the season. San Joaquin Delta's Natalie Johnson rounds out the roster after leading the state with 102 steals; seven better than the second-place finisher.

2022 CCCAA Men's Water Polo All State Championship Team

Coach of the Year - Bruce Hastie - Sierra
MVP - Garrett Henderson – Golden West
Felipe Ferriera - Golden West
Augi Maachi - Golden West
Kai Seed – West Valley
Ante Buzov – West Valley
Jake Reuter - Sierra
Dean Moody - Cuesta

2022 CCCAA Women's Water Polo All State Championship Team

Coach of the Year - Chuckie Roth – Santa Barbara
MVP - Bella Straley - Santa Barbara
Emily Lopez - Santa Barbara
Claire Daland - Santa Barbara
Annabelle Sherman – Orange Coast
Ana Nardelli - Orange Coast
Johanna Scheer – West Valley
Natalie Johnston – San Joaquin Delta

Release by Nicho DellaValle, CCCWPCA SID