The Cooper City High School boys’ and girls’ water polo teams competed in their district tournament this past week against Pembroke Pines Charter High School. Although the girls fought hard they lost by a point, earning them the still admirable second place trophy. The boys, on the other hand, defeated the Jaguars and became district champions for the first time in three years. This puts them through to the regional finals and one step closer to the state tournament.
The district tournament began on Tuesday, April 16 when both teams took on South Broward High School. The boys played first and dominated the pool with ease. They maintained a steady lead throughout the entire game , and they won with a final score of 15-2. Outstanding scorers of the game were senior Matt Plunket with four goals, sophomore Brandon Bogumill with four goals, and junior Connor Geir with four goals. Other standout players were sophomore Aiden Goldberg with six steals and the team’s goalie, junior Sam Culver with 13 saves.
The girls team also took on the South Broward Bulldogs. They, like the boys, also maintained a lead throughout the entire game, and the score was 12-2 at halftime. The Cowboys then decided to slow down the game, focusing more on defense and allowing the second string players to get more time in the pool. The Cowboys ended the game with a final score of 17-7. Standout players included junior Kelly Chamura with three goals and junior Michelle Gontko with three goals.
These wins put both teams through to the district finals on Wednesday, April 18 where they bothed faced off against Pembroke Pines Charter. The girls played first against the Jaguars, but despite a tough fight, the Jaguars ended up beating the Cowboys by one goal, with a final score of 7-6, earning them second place in the district.
The boys then faced off against the Jaguars in a tight head-to-head match, at first anyways. The Cowboys soon took the lead and held onto it for the duration of the game. The Cowboys won with a score of 14-8. Standout players include Bogumil with five goals and Plunket with three. Thanks to the hard work and dedication put in by the boys’ team, the Cowboy’s win has earned them the title of district champions.