On Nov. 23, Menlo boys water polo won a NorCal championship for the first time in the program’s history. In a 12-6 game against Clovis, the Knights claimed the NorCal Division II title down the street, at Sacred Heart Prep.
Menlo has had a competitive team for years now, with five Central Coast Section championships and 19 Peninsula Athletic League titles. However, since this is only the sixth year of the CIF NorCal Water Polo Championship, Saturday’s win was a first for the Knights.
Menlo maintained a minimum of a two-goal lead throughout the game against fierce competition; the Clovis Cougars were semifinalists in the Central Section DI playoffs. Freshman Hunter Coleman led the team in scoring with five goals, while five other Knights contributed to the scoresheet. Junior goalkeeper Connor Burks had a standout performance with 13 saves in the game and a shutout in the second quarter.
After the match, head coach Jack Bowen and assistant coach Eddie Simonin celebrated the win by jumping in the pool with the boys.
