An early-season coaching change stirred waves of controversy. The Sunset League offered long-established currents of resistance. And the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs again tugged to pull Alex Wolf and his teammates under.
But Wolf didn’t budge.
The Huntington Beach senior remained an imposing fixture in goal, blocking one hard shot after another to keep the Oilers on course to achieve their objectives.
Wolf’s play helped power Huntington Beach to its best season in more than 55 years, and for his efforts, he is the Register’s boys water polo player of the year.
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2014 ALL-COUNTY BOYS WATER POLO:
2014 All-County boys water polo team
OLu’s Carrera is 2014 boys water polo coach of the year
2014 All-County boys cross country: second, third teams
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Wolf averaged about about 10 saves per match as the Oilers (21-7) captured their first Sunset League title since 1983 and reached the CIF Division 1 semifinals for the first time since 1958. The Oilers’ run ended in the semifinals, just like that ’58 team.
“I would have been happy to break that (semifinal) record,” Wolf said, “but it was a great season.”
Wolf played his best in the postseason. The 6-foot-7 keeper made 16 saves in a 12-8 victory against Santa Margarita in the first round. He then made 11 saves in an 8-7 victory against third-seeded Loyola of Los Angeles in the quarterfinals. The Oilers won the game on a last-second power-play goal by sophomore Quinten Osborne.
The Oilers fell in the semifinals to Mater Dei, 16-10, but Wolf blocked a penalty shot to provide some early hope and finished with 12 saves.
“He’s pretty hard to score on if he’s locked on (you),” said San Clemente’s Chase Hamming, Orange County’s two-time scoring champion.
Wolf also helped lift the Oilers to a 5-0 record in the Sunset League, where they dethroned five-time defending champion Newport Harbor. He made five of his 13 saves in the first period of Huntington Beach’s showdown with the host Sailors, setting the tone for an 11-5 triumph.
Huntington Beach cruised despite the resignation of Coach Brian Anderson, who was replaced by interim coach Chris Kaps. Wolf said Kaps earned the program’s trust, and he was quick to praise his defenders in the field.
“Our defense was better this year, so it made me, maybe, seem better than previous years,” said Wolf, selected Sunset League MVP.
Wolf also benefited from the momentum he carried into the fall. He helped the United States strike gold at the Junior Pan American Championships in July. He then competed at the FINA youth world championships in Turkey in early August.
During the summer, Wolf worked on bringing his hands out of the water before certain quick shots and on coming out of the goal to cut off shooting angles. He said former University of Pacific goalie Alex Malkis helped his progression during training sessions.
“He taught me a lot, especially to play outside the cage more,” Wolf said.
Wolf will resume training with the U.S. national team later this month. A college decision also looms. He said he is interested in UCLA and Cal.
No matter what his future brings, Wolf’s legacy with Huntington Beach is secure. He was a fixture when the Oilers needed one the most.
“He anchored a young and talented roster,” Coach Brian Flacks of CIF Division 1 champion Harvard-Westlake said of Wolf. “He really has put Huntington on the map.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
