No Losses for Sharks in Malibu High Water Polo Tournament

The  boys varsity water polo team went undefeated in the annual Malibu High Tournament, which concluded Saturday. The host team ended the three-day competition with three wins and one tie. The tie knocked the Sharks out of the championship bracket, and Malibu ended up taking fourth place overall. 

The Sharks' first game on Friday was against the Agoura High School junior varsity team. Despite two goals apiece from Jordan Clarke and Michael Mitze, the game ended in a 6–6 tie. The team's second game on Friday saw the Sharks dominate the Carpinteria Warriors, 14-5.  Leading Malibu were Walker Gareri with four goals and Emmet Pierson with six steals and four assists. 

The next morning, it was an all-Malibu battle with the Sharks varsity and junior varsity squads playing against each other. The final score was 13–3 in favor of the varsity team, but the JV squad played with lots of spirit and never backed down.  

In the final game of the tournament for the Sharks, they beat the Calabasas Coyotes, 10-3. Clarke scored the final four goals for Malibu; Henry Buckley had three assists and three steals and Pierson had three steals. Dane Sartorius protected the goal well with 13 blocks in the final two games.

The Sharks JV team was in the tournament as a last-minute replacement for a squad that did not show up. The JV Sharks on Thursday beat Flintridge Prep, 6-5, and lost to Villanova, 9-5. After battling the Sharks varsity team Saturday morning, the JV squad played a tough game against Calabasas, losing 8-3 when the Warriors scored four straight goals in the fourth quarter. 

The JV team's win against Flintridge Prep was notable because the Rebels ended up taking third place in the tournament. The Sharks JV team finished in sixth place.

Malibu begins league play on Wednesday with an away game against archrival Oaks Christian. The Sharks and Lions are ranked in the top four in Division 6, with both teams eyeing a CIF championship.