Boys Water Polo Makes a Splash

Along with the start of the new school year, the boys water polo team has been in action. Hoping to make it to CIF and win, the varsity water polo team has been training hard as they started their practices during the summer. 

This year the boys are competing in the Sea View League. The boys water polo team has had multiple games so far, and has held a six game winning streak this season. Coming halfway through their league season, the boys are undefeated. 

The boys varsity water polo team started off the season strong with a win against San Juan Hills on Sept. 9.

Some highlights so far this season was the game against Grossmont on October 8, where the boys varsity team won with a score of 14-9. Nearly tripling Tesoro’s score on Oct. 6, the boys won 15-4. On Sept. 24, their home conference game against Trabuco Hills was a secure win with a score of 20-5. On Sept. 28, Aliso dominated Mission Viejo with a score of 17-6. For the first time ever, the boys water polo varsity team won the El Dorado tournament. 

The boys lost their 6 game winning streak to Dana Hills on October 11. The final score ended at 14-8. The boys also played against Laguna Beach on October 15 with the end score being a close game at 12-11. 

As their winning streak came to an end, the boys refused to let the loss get to their heads as they scored a win against Trabuco Hills for a home conference game on October 13 with a score of 20-8. 

When asked how the boys are doing so far this season, varsity coach Jon Puffer replied, “Our whole team has been playing really well this year and I am very proud.”

This season’s water polo captains are Ethan Cooney (12) and Tanner Stagner (12).

While they train and swim for several hours during the day, the boys have one goal in mind: CIF. 

As they prepare for league championships and CIF, the boys varsity water polo team is not missing any time to practice.

 “Five days a week we are practicing, whether it is against each other, swimming, or split-team scrimmages,” said Captain Ethan Cooney (12).

Whether it’s warm-ups or lap swims to get lower times, the water polo team swims to a great extent. 

Captain Tanner Stagner (12) lets on that “a lot of the swimming we do helps us to become a lot faster than the other teams we go against.”

Coach Jon Puffer has been playing water polo since the end of his eighth grade year, following into his high school years, and his time at the University of California, Los Angeles. Coach Puffer has been coaching water polo at Corona del Mar for two years and at Aliso Niguel for the past 10 years.

Some goals Puffer has for the boys Varsity Water Polo team this year is to win League Championships and CIF.