Livingston High boys water polo surging toward history after Beyer blowout.
The Livingston High boys water polo team would love to add another year to the league championship banner this season. The Wolves took another step in that direction with Wednesday’s 17-8 victory over Beyer in a key Western Athletic Conference game at Livingston High. The Wolves improved to 12-3 overall and 9-0 in the WAC, two games ahead of Beyer and Pacheco, in the conference standings.
The Wolves last won a WAC championship in 2016. It’s the only league title since the water polo program was established at the school in 2012. “We're a young team, and a young program,” said Livingston coach Jose Alvarez. “If we're able to put any year on the banner at all it’s a huge feat. It’s been a nine-year gap. To be a part of history, this group of boys are going to be able to look up there every year and say, ‘That was my year,’ assuming we stay in first place. I have no doubt that they'll continue to play well and they'll be able to create that memory and make it happen.”
The Wolves started fast against the Patriots, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first half. Livingston built its lead with crisp passes and some efficient shot selections from Kelvyn Edwards and Aydan Ramirez. Edwards scored seven goals on his 10 shots from the field. Ramirez scored four goals on his eight attempts. The Wolves assisted on 16 of their 18 goals in the game.
“Our last two games against Pacheco and Beyer these last two weeks were some of our best games so far this season with our passing, coming back on defense early, and crashing if the ball gets passed into a driver,” Alvarez said. “We’re making a lot of smart decisions.”
Edwards added nine steals and Ramirez finished with four assists and six steals. Livingston goalie Giovanni Calderon recorded 10 saves. The blowout victory was a lot different than the 8-7 win over the Patriots in the first game earlier this season. “I was nervous because I thought it could go either way,” Alvarez said. “That's what I was thinking, but the boys, they surprised me.”
El Capitan 9, Atwater 8 (OT) – Colby Schanze drew a 5-meter penalty and Joe Rodriguez converted the penalty shot 1 minute, 40 seconds into sudden-victory, triple overtime to help the Gauchos improve to 4-0 in the Central California Conference and 16-3 overall.
Rodriguez led El Capitan with four goals. Matthew Brown added two goals two assists and three steals. Jack Nutcher recorded 13 saves at goalie. Joshua Borba led Atwater with four goals and three steals. Falcons goalie Cris Alvarez had 17 saves.
Atwater took an 8-7 lead with a goal in the first overtime period. The Gauchos tied the game at 8-8 on Schanze goal with 36 seconds left in the second overtime period to force the third overtime.
Merced 15, Golden Valley 0 – Cord McCall, Reid McCall, Eli Hamm, Jason Li, Holden Madruga and Hunter Gossett all scored two goals each as the Bears improved to 16-2 overall and 4-0 in the CCC.Buhach Colony 11, Los Banos 3 – Donavan Chamberlain scored four goals to lead the Thunder (6-6, 1-2 CCC) past the Tigers. Jackson Simmons finished with four assists and Victor Counga added three steals for Buhach Colony.
Girls Water Polo
Merced 12, Golden Valley 5 – The Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a victory as they improved to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the CCC. Jakobe Garcia and Katinia Ybarra both scored two goals each for the Cougars.
El Capitan 22, Atwater 2 – Brookley Ramsey paced the Gauchos with seven goals, six assists and four steals and teammate Payton Adrian added five goals, two steals and two saves. El Capitan improved to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in the CCC. Sloane Dingeldein added six goals and three steals for the Gauchos.
Beyer 18, Livingston 9 – Mariah Ramirez scored five goals, but the Patriots were too much as the Wolves dropped to 3-11 overall and 3-6 in the WAC. Natalie Perez Burciaga added three goals for Livingston.
Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.