As the clock ticked down Merced High water polo coaches were prepping for a celebratory jump in the pool.Shoes were taken off, cell phones were stored and anything Bears head coach Eric Larson and assistant coach Bill Gossett didn’t want to get wet were put away. 

The top-seeded Merced boys water polo team left no doubt as they ended a 31-year section title drought with an emphatic 17-2 victory over No. 3 Ripon to claim the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship on Saturday afternoon at the Roseville Aquatic Complex. “it's a lot to take in, but it's about the kids,” said a drenched Larson. “At the end of the day, it's all about the  kids. They worked hard. This was their goal they wanted to achieve. We ended up doing that.”

The Bears didn’t just achieve it, they left a giant wake of destruction in their path as they finished the regular season with 25 consecutive victories to improve to 30-2 on the year. Merced outscored its opponents 546 to 152 on the season. ​​”We've been talking about everything that we've wanted to accomplish for four years,” said Merced senior Eli Hamm. “We’ve put in work in high school, in club season, we’ve worked year round, since we were little. It's just been a grind. So this is awesome to see everything we put in pay off.”

The Bears were able to watch the Merced girls win their section title prior to their game. They were able to celebrate as one program after the boys won their first section title since 1994. The boys and girls both joined together for a big group photo with both blue banners. Many players have siblings on both teams. Merced brothers Reid and Cord McCall were able to take photos with their sister Maren McCall, who plays on the girls team. “I didn’t get to watch too much because I was focused on warming up, but I'm really excited for them,” said Reid. “I’m excited for my little sister. It's amazing for sure.”

The Bears’ dominance was on display early as they blitzed Ripon with seven consecutive goals in the first quarter. Cord McCall found the back of the net three times in the first quarter for three goals. Reid McCall scored twice and Kade Slocum and William Hunter Gossett added goals.

Four different Merced players scored in the second quarter as Slocum, Hamm, Reid McCall and Nathan Larson all recorded goals to extend the lead to 11-0 at the half. “Honestly, the game was anticlimactic, but it was a fun way to end the season,” Hamm said. The Bears will continue with the NorCal Regional Playoffs next week.

Reid McCall finished with seven goals and Cord McCall added four goals. Hamm recorded five assists and four steals and goalie Eli Morison was stellar in the came with 16 saves. “I think the best thing about this is the family tradition,” Larson said. “Everybody somehow gets touched by a family member who played Merced water polo. Our parent support has been awesome. I’ve coached these kids since they were 10 and 11 years old. This reward is worth all the hard work.”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached Sjansen@Muhsd.org.