The 1997 La Canada Excessive Faculty Water polo Workforce will at all times be remembered because the crew that turned this system round and turned it right into a nationwide powerhouse. The change began in 1995, when Larry Naeve took over because the water polo coach. Figuring out he had a proficient group of sophomores and freshmen, Naeve developed the crew with 1997 in thoughts. He took the most effective sophomore gamers and began them on the varsity crew, over extra skilled veterans. He additionally entered the freshman/sophomore groups in quite a few competitions to get the crew enjoying collectively. Although the varsity crew suffered onerous occasions and large losses in 1995 and 1996, his younger gamers gained invaluable expertise heading into the 1997 season.
With your complete crew skilled and prepared, the 1997 season began brilliantly. The crew rolled by way of the competitors and appeared to change into an in a single day title challenger. They started to win tournaments and switch the heads of many water polo powerhouses, who beforehand had recognized La Canada to be a weak crew. The crew misplaced steam when beginning goalkeeper and All American Russell Bernstein was injured for a number of video games, however shortly regained their kind heading into the playoffs because the quantity two seed within the division (their rivals, Bell Gardens, was seeded primary by nature of beating La Canada twice through the common season).
The crew rolled by way of the playoffs, organising a rematch with Bell Gardens within the finals. The sport began slowly, and Bell Gardens jumped to an early lead. However Naeve rallied his boys at halftime, and La Canada started to dominate the sport. They ended up profitable the CIF Division III title by a aim, and with it, the popularity that this system had lengthy deserved. Three of the gamers had been named to the All American crew, the primary All People from La Canada in hear 2 a long time, and everybody on the beginning crew was named to the All CIF crew.
Whereas constructing this crew for fulfillment, Naeve constructed an age group water polo crew, and with it got here success. With increasingly gamers being skilled water polo gamers as they entered highschool, the crew started to surpass everybody’s wildest expectations. Following the 1997 season, the crew gained a number of extra CIF championships and garnered All American honors for numerous gamers, one thing solely a pipe dream earlier than. Although the 1997 miracle season began all of it, La Canada water polo turned a powerhouse by way of the imaginative and prescient and work of Larry Naeve.
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