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ALL-COUNTY BOYS WATER POLO TEAM 2024
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lucca van der Woude, Newport Harbor, Senior
Newport Harbor boys water polo coach Ross Sinclair called it a “dream performance.” Lucca van der Woude made it a reality.
The senior delivered his best match in the CIF Southern Section Open Division final to help rally the Sailors past JSerra 11-10 in mid-November.
In leading Newport Harbor (33-1) to a record 15th section title, van der Woude showed his impact by scoring four goals, including the winner with 54 seconds left in regulation. The transfer from Harvard-Westlake is best known for 2-meter defense but displayed his all-around skill to help the Sailors overcome a three-goal deficit at half.
For his efforts, the UCLA commit is The Register’s Orange County player of the year.
“(A) huge addition to the team,” Sinclair said of van der Woude, who earned co-player of the year in the Open Division with teammate Kai Kaneko.
“It (was) a dream performance (in the final). Anyone would love to have that. … I’m really happy for him.”
In transferring to Newport Harbor from a private school in Los Angeles, van der Woude made a major change. The transition, he said, was eased by the Sailors’ welcoming attitude.
“Everyone helped get me situated with school and helped me meet everyone on the team,” he said. “It was an amazing experience.”
In the pool, van der Woude’s versatility fit well with Sinclair’s team-oriented approach.
He guarded 2 meters, played the double post on offense with Geoffrey Slutzky and produced in the postseason with his teammates. He had four goals and three steals against Santa Margarita to open the playoffs.
“Sometimes I think about the (championship) and I think about how well we came together as a team,” van der Woude said. “We really pushed through. Being down three goals in a final, that can really take a toll and (teams) can give up. But we didn’t do that.”
“We decided to keep going and it paid off,” he added.
In the coming weeks, van der Woude could put that lesson into use as he coaches age-group players with the Newport Beach club.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Damian Madrigal, Brea Olinda
In his sixth year, Madrigal guided Brea Olinda (21-8) to its first CIF Southern Section title and first appearance in the CIF Southern California Regional.
For his leadership and program development, Madrigal is The Register’s O.C. boys water polo coach of the year.
After finishing third in the challenging Crestview League, Brea Olinda opened the Division 2 playoffs with victories against El Dorado 16-10, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks 18-11, Long Beach Poly 9-4 and Irvine 9-8 to reach the program’s first section final since 1997.
In the championship, the Wildcats edged Capistrano Valley 9-8 for the first water polo crown — boys or girls — in school history.
Brea Olinda added another win in the Division II regional before falling in the semifinals to eventual champion Mira Costa.
Madrigal, who played at Servite and Long Beach City College, molded a team comprised of players who grew in his program. The Wildcats also benefited by playing year-round in club.
“All home grown,” he said of his team. “Very, very prideful.”
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Lucca van der Woude, Newport Harbor, Sr. (Player of the year)
Tyler Anderson, JSerra, Jr.
The left-handed Anderson, who was selected All-CIF in the Open Division, emerged as the most dominant center in the region by netting 82 goals.
Taylor Bell, JSerra, Sr.
The All-CIF attacker used his speed and shooting (98 goals) to help the Lions defend their CIF SoCal RegionalDivision I title. Bell narrowly missed the total of Olympian Ryder Dodd (103) last season.
Sam Bowman, Irvine, Sr.
The UC Irvine commit and All-CIF attacker tallied 132 goals, 39 assists, 58 steals and drew 52 exclusions to lead the Vaqueros to the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals.
Jackson Harlan, Corona del Mar, Sr.
The All-CIF attacker and UC Santa Barbara commit netted 139 goals and added 37 assists to lead the Sea Kings to the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Luke Harris, Newport Harbor, Sr., GK
The USC commit and co-MVP of the Sunset League anchored a defense that helped the Sailors capture the CIF-SS Open Division title. “He just put in the work,” Sinclair said.
Kai Kaneko, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Dubbed by Sinclair as the Sailors’ “Swiss Army knife,” the attacker earned co-MVP honors in the Sunset League and co-player of the year for the CIF-SS Open Division. “Just continues to improve,” Sinclair said. “He kind of did everything.”
Ryder Tonkovich, Portola, Sr.
The Pacific Coast League MVP recorded 113 goals, including nine in a 13-12 loss in the CIF-SS playoffs to eventual Division 1 champion Westlake. He also had 53 assists, 58 steals and 30 drawn exclusions.
SECOND TEAM
Kyson Becker, Mater Dei, Sr.
Colt Bradley, JSerra, Sr.
Charlie Child, San Clemente, Sr.
Kyle Franks, Brea Olinda, Jr.
Connor Ohl, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Jonas Ransford, JSerra, Jr., GK
Geoffrey Slutzky, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Evan Wu, Santa Margarita, Jr.
THIRD TEAM
Connor Colman, JSerra, Jr.
Micah Grantham, Corona del Mar, Sr.
Sebastian Mok, Los Alamitos, Jr.
Mason Netzer, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Edric Scott, Foothill, Sr., GK
Cannon Shupe, San Clemente, Sr.
Gavin Templeton, Brea Olinda, Sr.
Dylan Williams, Laguna Beach, Jr.
FOURTH TEAM
Julian Amakasu, Crean Lutheran, Jr.
Matt Bauer, Capistrano Valley, Sr.
John Bergstedt, Foothill, Jr.
Dusan Djordjevic, Huntington Beach, Sr.
Charlie Jones, Huntington Beach, Sr.
Derek Maddox, Brea Olinda, Sr., GK
Dylan Rosmann, Sage Hill, Sr.
Chase Walburger, San Juan Hills, Sr.
RELATED:
2023 All-County boys water polo: JSerra’s Ryder Dodd wins player of the year
