18u Boys Breakdown

[OCWaterpolofan29]

It’s almost May now and there hasn’t been any discussion on the 18u boys so far. I figured I would get the ball rolling. Ive only been able to watch most of the teams in Socal, and a few games from some of the NorCal teams.

18u Rankings So Far

1. Mission: With all of their players I don’t think they’ve lost a game yet. They return almost all of their top players from last year and high school season. Ryder Dodd, Will Schneider, Bode Brinkema, Tas Palcza, and Maddox Arlett are all big 4 level recruits. Their younger players off the bench also play valuable minutes as well.

2. Socal: This socal team probably has the most talent from top to bottom compared to any other team this year, pretty similarly to vanguard seniors last year. They have over 14 committed players on the team, Zach Bettino (USC), Wade Sherlock (UCLA), Jon Carcarey (Pepperdine), Carter Loth (CAL), Riley Clansen (CAL), Nate Tauscher (UCLA), Landon Akerstrom (UCSD), Nick Keane (LBSU), Micheal Soybel (LBSU), James Yan (UCSB), William Griswold (Brown), Sean Tunnicliff (Bucknell),
Nick Leung (LMU), Jack Bryant (CMC) and others.

3. Newport: Newport is led by Ben Liechty (UCLA), Peter Castillo, Finn, Genc (UCSB) and Lesiur (Princeton). Gavin Appledorn and Mason Netzer are also big contributors to the team. The entire team plays the system well and is always a dangerous team.

4. Del Mar: Like Socal, Del Mar has a lot of senior talent. Chris Arakelian and Daniel Mnastkanian (Stanford), Drew Vangrin (UCSB), Johann Thrall (UCI), Gavin Conant, Austin Kahn, Maddox Garahry (Navy), and Rick Lundh.

5. La Premier: Even without some of their seniors La Premier has a very solid team. Jack Burghardt (Harvard), Jaxon Tierney (Brown), Baxter Chelsom (UCD), Dean Strauser, and Otto Stothart are all key players.

6. Atherton: Haven’t been able to see them play but if they have their usual players they will be in the mix.

7. Trojan
8. 680
9. SF
10. CCU
11. SD Shores

[hmmm]

2. Socal: This socal team probably has the most talent from top to bottom compared to any other team this year, pretty similarly to vanguard seniors last year.

And we all know how well that Vanguard Seniors team ended up doing last year. Abysmal defense and too many heroes on offense with not enough balls to go around. Nobody wanting to do the little things it takes to win and everyone sniping at each other when things didn't go their way.

Actually, does sound pretty similar to SoCal this year.

[Rbpolo0414]

2. Socal: This socal team probably has the most talent from top to bottom compared to any other team this year, pretty similarly to vanguard seniors last year.

And we all know how well that Vanguard Seniors team ended up doing last year. Abysmal defense and too many heroes on offense with not enough balls to go around. Nobody wanting to do the little things it takes to win and everyone sniping at each other when things didn't go their way.

Actually, does sound pretty similar to SoCal this year.

Sounds more like Vanguard culture was a problem. They don’t usually have a “me” problem at SoCal.

[hmmm]

Sounds more like Vanguard culture was a problem. They don’t usually have a “me” problem at SoCal.

Have you watched them play this year? The roster is full of ex-Vanguard players.

[OCWaterpolofan29]

2. Socal: This socal team probably has the most talent from top to bottom compared to any other team this year, pretty similarly to vanguard seniors last year.

And we all know how well that Vanguard Seniors team ended up doing last year. Abysmal defense and too many heroes on offense with not enough balls to go around. Nobody wanting to do the little things it takes to win and everyone sniping at each other when things didn't go their way.

Actually, does sound pretty similar to SoCal this year.

From the limited games I’ve seen so far Socal has put far more emphasis on their defense than the vanguard team last year. Socal’s coach Mitchell runs a tight ship over there.

[retiredguy]

So Atherton beat Stanford by 1 this weekend at Futures — looks like the rosters this weekend were very even. Does anyone know if this is the plan for these teams at JOs as well?

[jeff]

It’s too early to make my predictions for this year’s Junior Olympics because we don’t know what the final rosters will look like and we haven’t seen the tournament draw. With that caveat, here are my preliminary observations.

Most likely to finish in the top 4 (in no particular order)

Mission. Mission is JSerra's club team. Mission has many potential “Big 4” players, including Ryder Dodd (2024, 46.08 in the 100) and center Will Schneider (2024), two of the top three players in the Class of 2024. I’m not the only one who believes that, for his age, Dodd has the most advanced offensive game of any American attacker since Tony Azevedo. In the Futures League games, Brett Ormsby has been playing Class of 2024 and 2025 players. Meanwhile, Class of 2023 players Drew Vangrin (UCSB) and Johann Thrall (U.C. Irvine) are playing for Del Mar and Mason Presley (UCSD) and Seamus Neppl are playing for OCWPC. I don’t know whether Vangrin, Thrall, Presley, and Neppl will play for Mission in the Junior Olympics. Even if they don’t, Mission has a good chance to win a medal.

Newport. Newport is the Newport Harbor High School club team and includes Class of 2023 players. Cooper Mathisrud, the starting goalie for Newport Harbor’s 2022 CIF Southern Section Open Division championship team, has not played recently and has apparently decided not to play in the Junior Olympics. Luke Harris, the goalie for Newport Harbor’s 2022 Junior Varsity team, has been starting for Newport in the Futures League games. Newport has many very good players, including LH attacker Ben Liechty (UCLA) and center Pete Castillo (2024). Liechty and Castillo will be two of the top four players in the Junior Olympics.

SOCAL. Even more than a typical year, this SOCAL team looks like an all-star team, with Class of 2023 players from Foothill, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran, Oaks Christian, and Long Beach Wilson. Center Carter Loth (Cal), who didn’t play during the 2022 high school season, is also playing for SOCAL. SOCAL will probably have two of the three best goalies in the JOs: Nathan Tauscher (UCLA) and Riley Clansen (Cal). I’ve heard mixed reports about whether SOCAL is gelling as a team but it’s probably safe to assume they won’t play as cohesively as the best high school club teams: Newport, Mission, Premier, Atherton, and Pride. Nevertheless, I’d be surprised if SOCAL doesn’t win a medal.

Los Angeles Premier. Premier is Harvard-Westlake’s club team. Like Mission, Premier has been playing its Class of 2024 and 2025 players in the Futures League games. Harvard-Westlake Class of 2023 players Chris Arakelian (Stanford) and Daniel Mnatsakanian (Stanford) have been playing for Del Mar in the Futures League games. Premier is my early favorite to win the boys’ 16u division. If Arakelian and Mnatsakanian play for Premier in the JOs and Jack Grover plays Premier’s top 15 and 16 year-old players in the 16u and 18u divisions, Premier could win a medal in both divisions.

The next two

Greenwich. Most of Greenwich’s players are from Brunswick School and Greenwich High School in Connecticut. Their Class of 2023 players include goalie Ryan Miele (Brown), center defender William Ewald (MIT), center Chase Wilson (Pepperdine), utility player Luke Nelson (Greenwich Country Day School, USC), Charles Kosinski (Santa Clara), and LH attacker Vilas Sogaard-Srikrishnan (Harvard). LH attacker Dado Soares (Greenwich High School Class of 2022) played for Johns Hopkins during the 2022 college season and will play for Greenwich in the Junior Olympics. Brunswick’s Ryan Ohl (Stanford, 20.97 in the 50 and 45.66 in the 100) is one of the top four players in the Class of 2024. His brother, Connor Ohl (relay splits of 20.72 and 45.91), is one of the top two or three players in the Class of 2026. Greenwich also has a very good 16u team. I’ve heard that Brunswick’s talented LH center Adam Blum (2024) and Connor Ohl will play for Greenwich’s 16u team. If they don’t play for the 18u team, the 18u team won’t have as much depth as the other top teams.

Del Mar. Many of Del Mar’s players are from Cathedral Catholic. If Arakelian, Mnatsakanian, Vangrin, and Thrall play for Del Mar in the JOs, Del Mar has a chance to finish in the top three. Otherwise, I don’t think they will finish in the top six.

Other potential top eight teams

Trojan. Trojan is very well coached by Loyola coach Erick Healy. Many of their players are from Loyola. Taj Whitehead (Palos Verdes Class of 2024) is one of the top players in the Class of 2024.

San Diego Shores. Many of San Diego Shores’ players are from Bishop’s. In recent years, San Diego Shores has added out-of-area players to its Junior Olympics roster. If that happens this year, they could finish in the top six.

CC United. Within the last two weeks, three of Lamorinda top 18u players left Lamorinda to join CCU: Charlie Engs (Santa Clara), Grant Roesch (Santa Clara), and Henry Engs (Miramonte Class of 2024). Because Lamorinda was shorthanded even before these departures, it won't field a boys’ 18u team in the JOs for the first time in its history. CCU’s best player may be Ben Forer (Northgate Class of 2024), one of the top seven or eight players in the Class of 2024. In recent years, CCU has added out-of-area players for the JOs. If that happens this year, CCU could finish in the top four.

680. 680 is coached by Cal’s Kirk Everist. Most of their players are from De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, and Monte Vista. Goalie Haakon Lacy (Archie Williams Class of 2024) recently left SHAQ to play for 680. Lacy is one of the top goalies in the Class of 2024. LH attacker Carsten Peters (Cal) is recovering from an injury. I’ve heard rumors that two Cal players from the Class of 2022 will play for 680 in the Junior Olympics. If these rumors are true and Peters is able to play, 680 could finish in the top four.

Other NorCal teams

Atherton. Atherton is Sacred Heart’s club team. Within the last few weeks, Sacred Heart Class of 2023 players Will Swart (Princeton), Luke Bachler (UCSB), Harry Rohlen (will be a “walk-on” player for Stanford in the fall), and center Hassen Hove (CMS) returned to Atherton after playing for Stanford since the end of the high school season. Sacred Heart Class of 2023 player Jake Tsotadze (Harvard) is still playing for Stanford but reportedly will not play in the Junior Olympics. Atherton is an exceptionally well-coached team and has two of the best Class of 2026 players (goalie Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka and center Oliver Marcin) but I don’t think they will finish in the top eight.

Stanford. The Stanford “A” team is comprised of Class of 2023 players from several South Bay High Schools. James Lathrop was coaching the “A” team before Stanford University decided not to renew his contract for the 2023 college season. At the Futures League games on April 16, Stanford assistant coach Matt Kubeck coached the “A” team. With the departure of four SHP Class of 2023 players, I expect Kubeck to call up several players from Stanford’s “B” team (comprised of Class of 2024 players). Stanford should be competitive at the JOs but, without Jake Tsotadze, I don’t think they will finish in the top ten.

San Francisco Water Polo Club. The San Francisco Water Polo Club has players from Marin and San Francisco Counties. They are led by Redwood’s Charlie Mills (USC) and Max Matthews (UCLA, 20.55 in the 50 and 45.19 in the 100) and Archie Williams’ Mac Berry (Brown). Mills is one of the top three goalies in the Class of 2023. If he is at the top of his game, San Francisco Water Polo Club could upset some higher-ranked teams. Otherwise, I don’t think they will finish in the top ten.

Girls’ 18u teams. Although it's unlikely a NorCal boys' 18u team will win a medal, Lamorinda’s 18u girls’ team is one of the favorites to win the gold medal. Last week, Lamorinda beat Set 16-12 in the Cal Cup championship game. Both teams were playing without at least one of their best players. Lamorinda’s top players are goalie Lauren Steele (OLu Class of 2024, UCLA), center defender Allie Lurie (Princeton), center Dania Innis (UCLA), Meghan McAninch (USC), Quinn Healy (Stanford), Elektra Urbatsch (UCLA), Lucy Berkman (Harvard), Kaia Levenfield (Michigan), Tali Stryker (Miramonte Class of 2024, UCLA, 23.80 in the 50), and Ana Pieper (Campolindo Class of 2024). Stryker is recovering from an injury and is unlikely to play in the Junior Olympics.

[LimeyPoloDad]

Girls’ 18u teams. Although it's unlikely a NorCal boys' 18u team will win a medal, Lamorinda’s 18u girls’ team is one of the favorites to win the gold medal. Last week, Lamorinda beat Set 16-12 in the Cal Cup championship game. Both teams were playing without at least one of their best players. Lamorinda’s top players are goalie Lauren Steele (OLu Class of 2024, UCLA), center defender Allie Lurie (Princeton), center Dania Innis (UCLA), Meghan McAninch (USC), Quinn Healy (Stanford), Elektra Urbatsch (UCLA), Lucy Berkman (Harvard), Kaia Levenfield (Michigan), Tali Stryker (Miramonte Class of 2024, UCLA, 23.80 in the 50), and Ana Pieper (Campolindo Class of 2024). Stryker is recovering from an injury and is unlikely to play in the Junior Olympics.

Hi Jeff, it was a great game. SET was missing 5 key players and played with only 2 subs. LAMO went up early and dominated the 1st half. SET came back to win the 2nd half, but not enough for the game. Should be an even better game when SET is at full strength! Hopefully US Club Champs.

[Justafan22]

It would be awesome to have Greenwich, get a top 3 finish at the JOs. I don't think it's going to happen unless one the southern Cali teams implodes, but what a great job they have done with this program, to bring it up to this level.

[JFranpolo]

Zach Bettino has left SoCal and is apparently going to play with San Francisco WPC. Also, 2023 UCI commit Wyley Dale (very solid center) will play for So-Cal.

[newtothisgame]

Girls’ 18u teams. Although it's unlikely a NorCal boys' 18u team will win a medal, Lamorinda’s 18u girls’ team is one of the favorites to win the gold medal. Last week, Lamorinda beat Set 16-12 in the Cal Cup championship game. Both teams were playing without at least one of their best players. Lamorinda’s top players are goalie Lauren Steele (OLu Class of 2024, UCLA), center defender Allie Lurie (Princeton), center Dania Innis (UCLA), Meghan McAninch (USC), Quinn Healy (Stanford), Elektra Urbatsch (UCLA), Lucy Berkman (Harvard), Kaia Levenfield (Michigan), Tali Stryker (Miramonte Class of 2024, UCLA, 23.80 in the 50), and Ana Pieper (Campolindo Class of 2024). Stryker is recovering from an injury and is unlikely to play in the Junior Olympics.

I know that this is primarily a Boys thread, but why is the Orange Lutheran goalie playing for Lamorinda and not one of her local clubs in Southern California?

What club to the other Orange Lutheran players play for? Do they have their own closed club?

[wpolo93]

I know that this is primarily a Boys thread, but why is the Orange Lutheran goalie playing for Lamorinda and not one of her local clubs in Southern California?

What club to the other Orange Lutheran players play for? Do they have their own closed club?

Maybe because she wants to. Does it matter, really?

Also, Lamo 18U team has several of her future UCLA teammates...

[newtothisgame]

Maybe because she wants to. Does it matter, really?

Not really and not a big deal. I was just curious why a girl who plays high school in Southern California would play for a team 300 miles away rather than with her Orange Lutheran teammates.

[wpolo93]

I understand. But you probably agree that kids do not have to explain decisions like this to the general population. I guess that her teammates probably know. Again, a chance to play with future UCLA teammates on a very high quality club team could be one of the reasons, who knows.
Let it be :)

[Tomwater5]

Girls’ 18u teams. Although it's unlikely a NorCal boys' 18u team will win a medal, Lamorinda’s 18u girls’ team is one of the favorites to win the gold medal. Last week, Lamorinda beat Set 16-12 in the Cal Cup championship game. Both teams were playing without at least one of their best players. Lamorinda’s top players are goalie Lauren Steele (OLu Class of 2024, UCLA), center defender Allie Lurie (Princeton), center Dania Innis (UCLA), Meghan McAninch (USC), Quinn Healy (Stanford), Elektra Urbatsch (UCLA), Lucy Berkman (Harvard), Kaia Levenfield (Michigan), Tali Stryker (Miramonte Class of 2024, UCLA, 23.80 in the 50), and Ana Pieper (Campolindo Class of 2024). Stryker is recovering from an injury and is unlikely to play in the Junior Olympics.

I know that this is primarily a Boys thread, but why is the Orange Lutheran goalie playing for Lamorinda and not one of her local clubs in Southern California?

What club to the other Orange Lutheran players play for? Do they have their own closed club?

OK Karen, did you get your whine out of your system. Were you"heard". Really, get a therapist next time.