Maybe there’s a winning formula in the pool at Segerstrom. Or maybe it’s the combination of hard-working players and strong coaching.
But this much is certain: Segerstrom is getting major results in water polo.
The Jaguars delivered a breakthrough regular-season on the heels of the school’s first CIF championship boys season in the fall.
The Jaguars (20-8) earned the No. 1 seed for the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs and claimed their first league title.
They captured the Golden West League crown by going 10-0, including their first two victories against Ocean View.
And like the boys program, the Segerstrom girls accomplished it all in only their third season of varsity competition.
“These girls have jumped over some big milestones this year,” said Segerstrom coach Tim Fredericksen, who also coaches the boys team.
“These kids work harder than anyone I’ve coached.”
Segerstrom’s girls are led offensively by junior Justine Mills, who has 67 goals.
The Jaguars count on a trio of seniors to anchor the defense. Fredericksen said Melissa Osorio is an improving goalie while Michelle Gonzalez has emerged as a strong 2-meter defender. Gillian Robles is among the team’s best perimeter defenders, Fredericksen said.
The squad also has depth, another characteristic of the boys team in the fall. Sophomore Aurora Oceguera scored the go-ahead goal in overtime in the Jaguars’ 9-7 victory against Ocean View in the second round of league.
Senior Nathania Cuevas paced the attack with five goals. Juniors Margie Vera and Rebecca Gutierrez are two other starters.
The Jaguars also have the experience of watching the Segerstrom boys capture the Division 7 title in November – as the No. 1 seed.
“The girls did the stats for all the boys games,” said Fredericksen, the Register’s boys coach of the year in 2013. “They learned a ton.”
Ocean View (14-9) is seeded second in Division 7. The Seahawks finished as the division’s runner-up last season to Hemet but have reloaded despite having only one senior, Raquel Zorich.
If Segerstrom wins its first-round game against Carter of Rialto (13-10) on Thursday, it plays the winner of the Hemet-San Dimas game in the quarterfinals Saturday.
MATCH OF THE DAY: TUESDAY
In the Division 2 first round, Rosary plays host to Royal of Simi Valley at Fullerton College at 4:15 p.m. The Royals finished third in the Trinity League and eighth in the final coaches’ poll. Royal, third from the Marmonte League, was 15th in the final Division 2 poll.
‘CRAZY’ DAYS
Count Garden Grove coach Eric Henninger among those surprised to see Pacifica (15-13) in the wild-card round in Division 6.
The Mariners, last season’s Division 6 runner-up and third in the final coaches poll, are in the wild-card round because of the size of the bracket. There are 24 teams for a 16-team bracket. Pacifica finished second in the Empire League, and all but one second-place team was placed in the wild-card round.
“Pacifica getting a wild card is crazy but I guess it was necessary to keep them in their position,” Henninger said in a text message.
Garden Grove claimed the No. 3 seed but could face Pacifica in the quarterfinals. The Mariners take on Xavier Prep of Palm Desert in the wild-card round Tuesday night at Garden Grove at 6:30.
CONSISTENT MUSTANGS
Trabuco Hills has qualified for the playoffs twice under second-year coach Allison Beck. The Mustangs travel to Newbury Park — the Marmonte League No. 2 — for a Division 2 first-round game Tuesday.
Beck played water polo at Santa Margarita and is the sister of former Santa Margarita standout Mackenzie Beck and Capistrano Valley stalwart Jon Beck. Mackenzie and Jon both play water polo at Loyola Marymount.
