The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
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Varsity water polo strives for CIF victory

Gianna Darden, Editor of News
November 14, 2024
Gianna Darden
On October 29th, after an intense game, Webb varsity water polo players participated in the customary post-game high five with the opposing team, Pioneer High School. This game marked the beginning of CIF and ended with a promising score of 13-4. “Coming in as the underdogs brings a thrill of uncertainty to the playoffs and knowing we’re playing our best is encouraging,” Neil Xu (‘27) said. As the team steadily progresses through CIF, their advancement raises the question: how did the team get here despite not participating in any league games?

Last year, Webb’s water polo team shocked the community with back-to-back victories throughout the season. The boys’ team ended the season undefeated, a feat that had not occurred since 2016. However, their first-place rank in the Valle Vista League did not ensure success in CIF, as the team was eliminated in the first round. 

In previous years, the boys’ water polo team competed in the Valle Vista League. However, with the results from last season and overall team improvement, the team desired tougher competition. 

“The Valle Vista League wasn’t preparing us well enough for post-season games, so we’d go undefeated in league and then get destroyed in CIF,” said Allen Wan (’26), varsity water polo player. 

To address this, Mr. Steve Wishek, Director of Athletics, and Coach Sawyer Belville looked for comparable leagues nearby. However, the nearby teams were either a level below or above, making it likely that playing in a higher-ranked league would be detrimental to their CIF success. 

Instead, the team adopted an “independent schedule” within the CIF framework. Essentially, they arranged their own games outside of a league structure but remained eligible for CIF playoffs based on their overall record. 

At the start of the season, the team submitted their schedule to the CIF Southern Section Commissioner for approval. CIF guidelines allow up to 28 games per season, with most of the boys’ games played in four tournaments or against scheduled one-on-one teams. 

Currently, for the 24-25 season, the CIF playoffs are underway, and the team is preparing for the semi-finals after their 11-7 victory in the quarterfinals against Hemet High School. The team will be matched up against Warren High School on November 12th for what is sure to be an equally intense game. 

With the team’s exceptional league performance last year, combined with the anticipation surrounding this season, their most recent quarterfinal game drew one of the largest student sections Webb has seen in a while.
“For once, Webb had a student section at the water polo game. Emma Kaivan-Mehr (‘27) said. With other sports such as soccer, it isn’t common to receive such energetic support from the students.” 

Although the path the team took to reach CIF was unconventional, their success continues to unite the Webb community as they attempt to secure the Division 5 championship title. 

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About the Contributor
Gianna Darden
Gianna Darden, Editor of News
Gianna Darden (‘26) is true to her Sagittarius sign, driven by an adventurous spirit, always eager to embrace new experiences, and takes on various leadership positions. As a peer advisor, admission ambassador, and Editor of News on the Webb Canyon Chronicle. Despite her busy schedule, Gianna is committed to living life to the fullest by exploring new places with friends, such as trails and long drives in new areas. Over the summer, she tried different cuisines like Chinese, Indian, and Thai, drove a jet ski, and traveled to Los Angeles. Not only is she passionate about having fun, but she also advocates for women’s rights and more accessible menstrual products. In her spare time, Gianna enjoys experimenting with strange recipes, watching movies, and playing wordscapes. Her favorite movie genres are fantasy and science fiction. She loves watching sitcoms and can predict movie plots since Sagittarians are known for their intelligence. As a history enthusiast, her favorite class is Honors Stories of Middle Eastern Conflict, where she will learn about different religions, cultures, and the history of The Middle East. Like a true Sagittarian, Gianna’s adventures continue as she aims to improve student body engagement and add humor to the WCC. Favorite song: 20191009 I Like Her by Mac DeMarco