Poly Takes Home Two Prep League Championships

Poly celebrates both Girls Varsity Water Polo and Boys Varsity Soccer, who both took home the Prep League Championship during the winter season. 

 

“I am immensely proud of the water polo and soccer teams for their outstanding performances this year. They have set a great example of what we aim for here at Poly Athletics. I am eager to see their continued success in the years ahead,” said Director of Athletics Scott Bello.

 

After facing tough competition in an early winter tournament, the boys soccer team came together and showed their full ability in the second half of the league season. They had to deal with injuries and sickness from players of all grades and positions but overcame these challenges and proved their resilience. Class of 2024 senior captains Parker G., Jared G., Jesse B., and James O. stepped up in the second half of the season with their play and focused attitudes. The win over Flintridge Prep at home was a massive step towards winning the league title. With a solid core of returning players, the Panthers are in good hands for years as players continue to expect the best from themselves and their teammates daily.

 

Coach Dan Sheridan said, "The Boys Varsity Soccer team really came together after the new year. It took some time to incorporate new freshmen into the starting lineup, but after winning against Prep at home, we never looked back. Winning five consecutive Prep League titles is a remarkable achievement, and the players should be proud of it.”

 

Girls water polo came into this season with high expectations, having won the CIF-SS Championship last year. One of their primary goals was to reclaim the Prep League title. However, they faced unexpected challenges along the way. Fortunately, the team had a group of leaders who knew how to stay calm and a squad willing to adapt and overcome adversity. Seniors Kaylin Y. ’24 and Natalie V. ’24 anchored the team in the center lane of the pool and played a crucial role in the team's success, both in and out of the pool. Eden G. ’26 was also a valuable addition as a left-handed attacker capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. Sam G. ’27, a talented freshman attacker, led the team in scoring. 

 

Playing in the Division 3 playoffs this year was challenging, but Coach Sean Grab believes the team should be challenging themselves to be there. “Our goal every year is to win the Prep League. This year, we focused on league play as preparation for the playoffs. We aimed to ensure we were playing up to the Poly Water Polo standards. It is incredibly exciting to be at the top of the Prep League for the second year in a row, and I hope we can continue this winning streak,” said Coach Sean Grab. The team has a solid core of players ready to continue the hard work, and he looks forward to the future.

 

Congratulations to these two teams and all of our winter-season athletes.