 | | | Photo Doug Kohen
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Lamorinda is gearing up for a competitive water polo season. All three high schools boast strong boys' programs that could capture the NCS title.
Last season, the NCS Division I championship match pitted Acalanes against Miramonte. Acalanes defeated Miramonte in a 9-8 thriller, ending the Mats five-year win streak.
Campolindo competed in the NCS Division II tournament and fell in the semi-finals. First-seeded Las Lomas took the title.
Although the Lamorinda teams remain contenders this season, each school lost key players from last year.
Acalanes graduated DFAL All-League first team selections Robert Clemons (goalie) and Jake Kisner, and second team selection Michael Worthing. The Dons' biggest lost was league MVP Joe Dietrich.
However, the Dons return some important players from last season's campaign. Acalanes retains first team selections in current seniors Andrew Schnugg and Tanner Cullen along with other DFAL All-League selections.
While Miramonte graduated top players, the team also has young talent returning to fill leadership roles. The Matadors lost first team selections Nick Deaver, Joey Fabian and their starting goalie, Aleck Ryner.
This year the Mats look to current senior Tennyson May and junior Charlie Wiser, first team selections last season, to take charge. May and Wiser will be supported by four other returning All-League selections.
Campolindo graduated the least number of All-League selections from last year's team and returns with plenty of experience. The Cougars lost first team selection Jeffery Strausser and honorable mention selection, goalie Peter Price.
Despite the losses, head coach Miles Price believes this season's team's "improving size and water polo IQ make up for this."
Second team selections senior Tor Jensen, junior JD Ratchford, sophomore Grant Sivensend and Honorable Mention senior Devin Kennedy will return for the Cougars.
Building on last season's success, Campolindo is restructuring its preseason campaign with an eye to the postseason.
Moving to Division II last season, Price recognizes the shift in his team's post-season matchups and has opted for slight changes in the Cougar's regular season schedule.
"We decided to drop a lot of regular season, non-league games in order to enter into another tournament," Price said, "This will give us a chance to play different teams from different areas. I believe it is important to play a lot of different water polo."
The Cougars are going to be playing two out-of-league tournaments before DFAL games officially begin at the end of September. The team will play in the Schmitt Tournament in the South Bay, the NCS/CCS Challenge hosted by both Campolindo and Acalanes. They also play a tournament during the regular season - in October the Cougars will travel to San Luis Obispo for a three day tournament.
League play begins on September 28th. Campo will get a chance take on last year's Division II champs, Las Lomas, at the Soda Aquatic Center.
The Lamorinda rivalries begin on October 12th when Campo faces off against Acalanes, and one week later the Matadors will host the Cougars.
The very last game of the regular season on October 26th pits Acalanes and Miramonte in their first official matchup since last year's championship.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA