Coaches Jon Otsuki and Stephen Kim brought 20 Carpinteria High boys water polo players to Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table to be recognized for winning the school’s first-ever CIF-Southern Section championship in the sport.
The Warriors captured the CIF-SS Division 5 title and claimed runner-up honors in the CIF Southern Regional.
Kim, the team’s tactical coach, said while not all 20 played on the varsity during their postseason run, their contributions in practices were instrumental to the Warriors’ success.
“We brought all 20 of our players with us because they are the unsung heroes out there who actually give us the time to practice something to compete against while we’re waiting for the next round.
“Everyone up here is part of the CIF championship team.”
Kim said it was a special group of players that stayed together and accomplished great things at Carpinteria High.
“When you’re a coach, you know when a group comes by like this; it’s very rare,” he said. “When you get a group this special, you got to hang on to it and just enjoy the ride.
“They are really selfless, and that’s what makes the team so special and so strong.”
Head coach Jon Otsuki noted that the water polo title came on the heels of a CIF-Division 5 boys swimming title in the spring.
Five members of the swim team won a second CIF title in water polo: Justin Main, Asher Smith, Augie Sheaffer Jackson Melton and Eli Sheaffer.
“I just want to recognize them,” said Otsuki. “I think Carpinteria is catching on to the winning spirit through our aquatics.”
The members of the CIF-champion water polo team are: Jacob Taff, Seb Campusano Reed, Coby Gonzalez, Asher Smith, Reyn Clayton, Ben Persoon, Justin Main, Zach Isaac, Matteo Handall, Aiden Alcaraz, Ian Thomas, Gavin Lohuis, Sebastian McCurry, Jackson Melton, Augie Sheaffer, Kainoa Glasgow, Griffin Yamaoka, Eli Sheaffer, Brett Persoon and statistician Ty Wilson.
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