The girls water polo season might be young, but one theme has already emerged: The competition will be intense.
El Toro and Rosary moved into this week’s O.C. top 10 after posting upset victories last week.
But sorting the teams is no easy task. El Toro (6-3), Rosary (3-3), Mater Dei (6-2) and San Clemente (6-2) have beaten each other in a competitive four-way tussle.
Villa Park (12-2) remains just outside the top 10 despite a victory against former county-ranked Edison.
Several of the county’s leagues also appear deep and tightly grouped. The absence of at-large berths will only push teams harder once league play starts in early January.
The newly formed Crestview League features Division 1 powerhouse Foothill, as well as three solid teams in Villa Park, Canyon (8-1) and Yorba Linda (7-9). …
The Division 4 Sea View could be one of the most spirited league races. Laguna Hills (3-0), Mission Viejo (9-3), Trabuco Hills (6-3) and Capistrano Valley (5-2) will be in the hunt for three playoff spots.
The Hawks raised the league’s profile last week by edging Aliso Niguel, 14-13, in sudden-death overtime on a goal by Mika Honda.
Aliso Niguel (7-3) could emerge as a team to watch in the South Coast League. …
Capistrano Valley, meanwhile, reached the finals of a tournament in San Diego, falling to Valhalla, 10-2.
The Sunset and Trinity leagues appear to have four strong teams competing for three playoff berths. With Rosary back in the top 10, the Trinity League has four teams ranked in the county Top 10. …
Laguna Beach rising sophomore Aria Fischer (bruised knee) is questionable to play Tuesday when the top-ranked Breakers play host to No. 3 Newport Harbor at 3:30 p.m.
Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said Fischer could have played Saturday against Orange Lutheran but the team is being careful with the injury. “It needs some rest so it’s not a lingering issue,” Damato said. “If she’s not back (against Newport Harbor), we’re all pretty confident she’ll be back by the Holiday Cup.” …
The Breakers beat Newport Harbor, 10-7, in last season’s Division 1 final. …
University coach Jeff Colton, who had guided Foothill the past few seasons, has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Arizona State women’s team.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said of coaching at the college level.”
– DAN ALBANO
BOYS SOCCER
Four of the county’s top goal scorers will be in action when Fountain Valley plays Anaheim in the opening round of pool play in the Marina Tournament on Friday.
Larry Turner, Nicholas Cardenas and Jacob Shubin have scored 18 of Fountain Valley’s 21 goals this month. Turner had a team-leading eight goals through Friday, which put him in third place on the county leaderboard. Cardenas (six goals) is in a tie for sixth with six and Shubin (four goals) is tied for 13th with Anaheim’s Eduardo Chavez and others. …
Both teams were ranked in their respective divisions in the most recent CIF-SS polls. The Barons (5-0-2) were in eighth place in Division 1, while the Colonists, who suffered their first loss of the season on Friday, were at the top of Division 2.
Garrett Amador (Servite), Elijah Barajas (Servite), Tyler Bagley (San Clemente) and Amirgy Pineda (Century) were selected to the Lotto Sport Western Showcase all-tournament team. Servite beat San Clemente, 1-0, in the third-pace game. Century lost to Loyola in the consolation championship, 1-0.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
GIRLS WRESTLING
Tustin’s Jasmine Cordero won the 143-pound weight class in the Lady Warrior Classic on Saturday. Cordero won her semifinal and final matches by fall. Aliso Niguel’s Jaylinn Vega (111) and Kennedy’s Miyuki Pugrad (131) finished second at their weights.
Magnolia had three medalists. Gabriela Martinez (235) and Janeet Garcilazo (189) were third and Arlene Hernandez finished fifth at 160 pounds.
Godinez’s Diana Hernandez placed fifth at 121 pounds.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS WRESTLING
Fountain Valley’s Andrew Morgan recorded his third consecutive second-place finish Saturday. Morgan, who was second at the Cossarek Classic and Clovis West Shootout at 182 pounds, finished second at the Zinkin Classic at Buchanan High of Clovis at 170 pounds.
Morgan advanced to the finals with three victories by fall and another by major decision. In the finals, he lost to Dominic Kincaid of Clovis, 7-3.
Morgan’s teammates, Blake Vasquez (160) and Ben Madrid (195), finished sixth and fourth, respectively, at their weights.
The Barons were eighth in the team standings.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
GIRLS SOCCER
The Excalibur Tournament kicks off Friday at Foothill. Unlike most tournaments, the Excalibur is set up in bracket play, meaning the team that claims the coveted King Arthur sword at the conclusion of the three-day showcase will be the only squad to win five consecutive games.
Teams play first- and second-round matches Friday and the quarterfinals are Saturday afternoon. The two semifinal matches will be held at 9:30 a.m. next Monday, with the championship match at 2:15 p.m.
Los Osos High of Rancho Cucamonga is the tournament’s defending champs.
– KENNY CONNOLLY
COMMITMENTS
In softball, Valencia catcher Kassidy Williams committed to Dartmouth, and Loara pitcher Vanessa Ledesma committed to Savannah State. …
In football, Santa Margarita wide receiver Kyle Sweet (6-1, 190) committed to Washington State, “I was waiting all along for this one,” Sweet said of the Cougars’ offer. “I’m extremely excited.” and Mission Viejo offensive lineman Izrael Castellanos (6-5, 275) committed to New Mexico and Segerstrom linebacker Kenari Drayton (6-2, 215) committed to Brown. …
In boys water polo, four players for Mater Dei recently made commitments – attacker Nick Lavayen (USC), attacker Matt Payne (Princeton), goalie Jonathan Van De Velde (UCLA) and Spencer Carroll (Brown).
