Water polo team has incredible season
By Hector Trujillo
The Scripps Ranch High School mens water polo team’s post-season run came to an end in a 2-13 loss to first-seeded San Pasqual High School on Nov. 11 in a CIF-San Diego Section Boys Water Polo Championship Division 3 semifinal match. The Falcons defeated Valley Center High 15-3 in the first round on Nov. 5 and beat Rancho Buena Vista High 8-6 in a quarterfinal match on Nov. 8 to get to the semifinal.
Scripps Ranch finished an impressive 2024 regular season with a 10-8 record and 4-2 league record, which earned it the fifth seed in the CIF-SDS playoffs.
This is the first winning regular season for the Falcons since 2017 when it finished 16-15 overall before losing in the opening round of the CIF-San Diego Section to Santana High School.
“We’re always wanting to peak at the end of the season,” said head coach Brad Oestreich. “This was the first year we had enough guys to run a novice team also.”
Scripps Ranch had 37 players forming part of the team this year with several standouts including captains Lucas Knowles, Alp Utsukarci and Evan Long.
Despite having started off slowly after losing three of their first four matches, the Falcons bounced back by winning their next four and outscoring the opponents 56-17 during that span.
“This was my first full-circle freshman-to-senior year,” Oestreich said. “I was really happy with the outcome of the season this time with big wins against very tough opponents. We got so much community support, particularly from the parents and other students.”
Despite having suffered back to back losses to University City High on Oct. 8 and Del Norte High on Oct. 17, Scripps Ranch managed to regain its form with another four-game winning streak thanks to victories over Mira Mesa High, Canyon Hills High, West Hills High and Valley Center High, with the last two coming during tournament play on Oct. 25.
The Falcons followed up those performances the following day with an 8-5 win over Hilltop High before falling in overtime 7-6 to San Pasqual High in the tournament championship.
“It was a fantastic game, and the kids continue to grow,” Oestreich said. “It just shows the growth of the team. We’re playing well and learn things from every game that we play.”
Despite finishing with back to back losses at the hands of University City High and La Jolla High School, the Falcons ended up earning a home match to open postseason play against 12th-seeded Valley Center at home, earning victories to advance in postseason play.
