Huntington Beach, Calif. - The Golden West College men's water polo program won their third straight CCCAA Men's Water Polo Championship and captured its 26th state championship overall, the most of any CCCAA program.
The Rustlers (26-1, 5-0) also won their 30th consecutive Orange Empire Conference title behind conference MVP Peyton Collins. Collins was also named the CCCAA water polo state championship tournament MVP.
A freshman attacker from Ventura HS, Collins stepped right into the program and emerged as one of the leaders. He finished second on the team in goals scored with 64 as he started all 27 games. The attention he drew from opposing teams allowed him to be unselfish with the ball; passing when double-teamed to help the Rustlers finish the season 26-1. The Rustlers captured the OEC, Southern California Regional, and CCCAA state championships en route to their three peat as champs.
The All-Orange Empire Conference teams were announced in the coaches meetings last week, and the Rustlers came away with five honorees.
First team All-OEC selections included attackers Nicky Ure, Manuel Augusto, and goalie Andrew Cameron.
The sophomore Ure, played in all 27 games while scoring 32 goals. Freshman Augusto, played in 25 games to lead the Rustlers with 65 goals scored. Rounding out the first team selections, freshman goalie Cameron, led the conference with only 56 goals given up.
Second team selections were center sophomore Micah Kamai and freshman attacker Cody Ingram.
Conference Champions: Golden West College
Conference Most Valuable Player: Peyton Collins, Freshman, Attacker
Conference Coach of the Year: Scott Taylor, Golden West College
First Team All-OEC
Golden West
Peyton Collins, Freshman - MVP
Nicky Ure, Sophomore
Manuel Augusto, Freshman
Andrew Cameron, Freshman
Orange Coast
Eduardo Wainberg, Sophomore
Nicholas Fichman, Freshman
Riverside
Alexis Gutierrez, Sophomore
Andrew Serrano, Sophomore
Saddleback
Andrew Dimino, Sophomore
Fullerton
Christopher Frias, Sophomore
All OEC Second Team
Micah Kamai, Sophomore - Golden West
Cody Ingram, Freshman - Golden West
Gabriele Simonit, Sophomore - Orange Coast
Angel Rosado, Sophomore - Orange Coast
Ethan Saenz, Freshman - Riverside
Luke Prendiville, Sophomore - Saddleback
Niko Vaccher, Freshman - Fullerton
*OEC Coach of the Year: Scott Taylor - Golden West
Honorable Mention
Taylor Lungu, Freshman - Golden West
Matija Jancic, Freshman - Golden West
Luke Rhone, Freshman - Orange Coast
Ryan Baumann, Freshman - Orange Coast
Kenny Wulf, Freshman - Riverside
Norbert Kouaos, Sophomore - Riverside
Kyle Kough, Sophomore - Fullerton
Niam Schade, Freshman - Fullerton
James Martin, Sophomore - Saddleback
Grant Chauncey, Freshman - Saddleback