The 2024 high school boys water polo season could be especially rewarding for Metro Conference teams, the Eastlake Titans and Hilltop Lancers, in particular.
Eastlake entered the fall break 13-5 overall with the No. 2 power ranking among Division I teams behind the Valhalla Norsemen, whom the Titans lost by one goal earlier this season.
“We have everyone returning from our Division II semifinal team last year,” EHS head coach Edgard Espinosa said on a note of optimism.
“Juan Castillo — last year’s Metro-Mesa League player of the year — leads the scoring column for us (56 goals). Lawson Soukup is our three-year starter, returner and our goalkeeper, our best defender is Hugh Juden, also a returner. Everyone has played year-round water polo. This would be our third undefeated year in league at 26-0. I think we would follow Bonita Vista from the 1990s.”
Heady stuff. Those Baron teams were legendary.
The Titans have held up well against strong competition so far this season. The Titans finished 4-1 at the Coronado AFC tournament, losing only to Rio Americano 7-4 while missing Castillo for that game, Rio Americano went on to the final in that tournament.
Big wins have come against Helix (11-10), Clairemont (13-8) and Coronado (11-9).
Division I power rankings: 1. Valhalla 7-4, 2. Eastlake 13-5, 3. Helix 6-4, 4. Clairemont (9-7), 5. Patrick Henry 4-3, 6. San Dieguito Academy 7-4, 7. Classical Academy 4-4, 8. Pt. Loma 5-6, 9. Coronado 3-6, 10. Vista 4-9, 11. Mt. Carmel 4-8, 12. Rancho Bernardo 3-11
Hilltop advanced to the Division III championship game in 2021 but a last-second loss to the Ramona Bulldogs denied the Lancers a chance to claim their first CIF championship since 1981. Another chance to recapture that glory could be at hand.
Hilltop tops the Division III power rankings with a 7-3 overall record, followed by Rancho Buena Vista (second at 3-0), West Hills (third at 7-6), University City (fourth at 6-4), San Pasqual (fifth at 3-2), Otay Ranch (sixth at 5-2), Scripps Ranch (seventh at 4-3), Army-Navy Academy (eighth at 5-3), Mission Hills (ninth at 3-4), Montgomery (10th at 0-1), Mater Dei Catholic (11th at 3-6), Valley Center (12th at 2-5), Fallbrook (13th at 4-6), Monte Vista (14th at 3-5), Canyon Hills (15th at 2-4), Chula Vista (16th at 0-2), CVLCC (17th at 3-2), Santa Fe Christian (18th at 1-5), Escondido (19th at 3-7), Mt. Miguel (20th at 1-7), Southwest (21st a 1-4) and San Ysidro (22nd at 0-6).
As more teams submit up-to-date records, there should be more movement in the power rankings, especially near the middle and lower ends.
“Hilltop is sitting on top of Division III, very likely that they will also compete in the CIF finals” Espinosa said. “Coach Bri (Brianna Mullalley) is doing a magnificent job with the Lancers.”
Mullalley won a CIF championship with Eastlake in 2015 at the girls Division III level.
The Bonita Vista Barons are also in the playoff mix after dropping an 11-9 non-league decision to Hilltop on Tuesday. The Barons (3-2) are currently positioned at No. 13 among Division II teams ahead of No. 14 Olympian (4-6), No. 17 Castle Park (0-1) and No. 20 Mar Vista (1-5) among other Metro teams in the division.
Hilltop is led by goalie Atticus Naranjo while Bonita Vista is back-stopped by goalies Troy Manaligod and Freddie Salceda.
Among the eight teams that would qualify for the Open Division, Santana (8-0) is No. 1, followed by No. 2 Cathedral Catholic (7-2), No. 3 La Jolla (15-3), No. 4 Bishop’s (6-3), No. 5. Poway (12-4), No. 6 Carlsbad (13-6), No. 7 Torrey Pines (9-5) and No. 8 Canyon Crest Academy (7-5).
Photos by Lee Romero
Hilltop 11, Bonita Vista 9
9-24-2024
