A score late in the game, time about to expire, was the difference as South Pasadena High celebrated a long-awaited CIF-Southern Section water polo title Saturday.
Making it happen, like he’d done throughout the contest, was Kenta Fernandez, who connected on a last second shot, his sixth point on the day, launching a hoopla-fest in the Mt. San Antonio College pool in Walnut, site of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 championship.
The 10-9 victory sent Tiger players into a wild frenzy, the South Pasadena sideline bursting with excitement.
“Our boys water polo team had a storybook run, showing incredible grit and determination all the way to capturing the championship title,” said the Tigers Athletic Director CB Richards.
Playing a key role was, Joe Cox, who was hired in October when the Tigers made a coaching change, making winning it all even sweeter. “Joe brought an amazing spark to this team,” added Richards. “and together they made recent history for South Pasadena High School longtime water polo team success.”
South Pasadena, a powerful force in the 1980s and1990s when Jerry Wulf coached teams won CIF titles with regularity, last won one back in 1994, a span of 30 years.
The school now has six to its credit, thanks to the play of Fernandez and company, who led by three, 9-6, with just under five minutes in the game, only to see Cate, out of Carpenteria, battle back, tying it in final minute of regulation ahead of Fernandez tossing the game winner.
Four other South Pasadena players contributed to the win, and Tigers goalie Caleb Dephouse came up big, making seven saves on the day.
The Tigers, winners of five in a row, had quite the turnaround after going 5-5 against Rio Hondo League opponents, and are now 18-11 on the year.
The season continues on Tuesday, as now South Pasadena will move onto the 2024 CIF SoCal Boys Water Polo Championships with a first round 5 p.m. game against Granada Hills Charter at La Cañada High.
