Water polo players shine in JOs

Laguna Beach athletes came up with key performances in the past two weeks at the USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics in Orange County.

The Junior Olympics, hosted by the William Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, was divided into two sessions starting in late-July.

Three Laguna Beach Water Polo Club teams competed in Session 1 held July 25-28, and each team had a top-10 finish including a pair of top-five placements. Its 10-and-Under Girls’ “A” team reached the division final in the Championship Division and came away with the silver medal. The 10U Girls’ “B” team also finished strong and took ninth in the Championship Division. The 12U Boys’ team reached the medal round and took fourth in the Classic Division.

In Session 2, which began July 30 and ended Sunday, four of five Laguna Beach teams earned a top-10 standing.

Finishing among the top five in its division was the 10U Coed “A” Team in the Championship Platinum Division. The 10U Coed “B” team took the sixth slot in the Championship Gold Division.

Laguna Beach had two 12U Girls’ teams in the tournament. Its “A” team placed fifth in the Championship Platinum Division, and its “B” team was ninth in the Championship Gold Division.

The 14U Girls’ team was 12th in the Championship Platinum Division.

Laguna Beach Water Polo Club does not have boys’ teams in divisions 14U, 16U or 18U, or girls’ teams in divisions 16U and 18U.

“Of course, we would have liked to have been No. 1 in all of our age groups but the experience of Laguna Beach Water Polo kids playing the best teams in all of the USA, was what it was really all about,” said Chad Beeler, LBWPC founder, administrator and 12U boys’ coach. “There were tough obstacles to get through and these kids gave it everything they could and more.

“I am extremely proud of these kids and how they never gave up no matter what the score was or how the game was going from beginning to the end. I can’t wait to go for it again next year.”

Laguna Beach athletes were part of SET Water Polo Club (Saddleback/El Toro) teams that also had high placements at the Junior Olympics.

SET had two 16U Girls’ teams in the competition. Its “A” team won silver in the 48-team Championship Division. The squad reached the division’s title game where it was edged, 9-8, by Santa Barbara. Its 16U Pink team took 15th in the division.

Laguna athletes on the 16U Girls’ “A” team: Thea Walsh, Bella Baldridge, Aria Fischer, Evan Tingler, Sophia Lucas, Sophie Leggett and Delaney Gendron. Laguna athletes on the 16U Pink team: Alana Evans, Isabel Riches, Danielle Borelli and Angelique Begay.

SET had three 18U teams. The “A” team was third and the Grey team was 12th, both in the Championship Division, and the 18 Pink team was seventh in the Classic Division.

Laguna athletes on the 18U “A” team: Bella Baldridge, Aria Fischer, Holly Parker, Haley Evans, Natalie Selin and Mia Salvini. Laguna athletes on the 18U Grey team: Ally Jochim, Taylor Julson and Daniella Lucidi. Laguna’s Kyla Whitelock played for the 18U Pink team.

“I was very proud of all our 16- and 18U teams and the way they competed at JOs,” said Ethan Damato, SET’s technical director and head coach of the 16U girls’ team. “While disappointed not to win any age group, overall, we had club-wide success and feel good about the season as a whole.”

— From staff reports

Beach Volleyball

Two weeks after the Amateur Athletic Union Beach Volleyball Junior Nationals in Hermosa Beach, several Laguna Beach female athletes traveled back to the beach site to compete at the AAU Beach Volleyball Junior Olympics.

The Junior Olympics competition hosted approximately 500 athletes in five age divisions (Under-12, U14, U15, U16, U18,, U12, U14, U15 and U16 girls, and U16 boys). The invitation-only tournament started July 23 and ended July 26.

Cammie Dorn and Katelyn Carballo of Laguna Beach qualified as partners for the U18 Girls’ Division by finishing third at the Tachikara Classic in Huntington Beach April 12. Also from Laguna Beach, Lexi McKeown qualified twice by winning the Isabel B. Dockweiler Open with partner Mandalay Rennon (Trabuco Canyon) and placed second in the Gold Division at the Junior Nationals with Savana Greene (Hawaii). Rennon qualified in both the U14 and U15 divisions but did not participate at the tournament due to injury. McKeown and Greene teamed up and played in the U15 Division at the Junior Olympics.

Laguna local Chloe Edep finished second with partner Jasmine Suarez (Corona) at the Hermosa Beach Southern Pacific District Championships in the U15 Girls’ Division. Laguna’s Hallie Carballo, 13, qualified in the U14 Girls’ Division with Jaclyn Sanchez (Fountain Valley) in the AAU Huntington Beach Open but partnered with Tessa Van Winkle (Coto de Caza) for the Junior Olympics.

Another Laguna player, Peri Brennan, 13, qualified for the U14 Girls’ Division but a registration error had Brennan and partner Olivia Bakos competing against older players.

Teams took part in pool play and either advanced to Championship or Consolation bracket play. The top 24 four teams in each division advanced to the Gold Bracket. Below are the division finishes for teams with Laguna players:

— Reader submission