The Santa Barbara Dons won the California State High School Water Polo Championships in Orange County Sunday, beating Menlo 6-5 in the finals.
Santa Barbara went 6-0 in the tournament, beating Oakdale, Villa Park, St. Francis, Arroyo Grande, Corona del Mar and then Menlo.
In the final, the Dons were ahead 6-3 heading into the fourth quarter. Menlo scored twice in the first two minutes of the frame, pulling to within one. In the last 90 seconds, missed a penalty shot and an open shot in front the cage that hit the top bar, preserving the Santa Barbara win.
The tournament featured 32 teams from San Diego, Orange County, the Central Coast and Northern California.
The Santa Barbara team consisted of eight seniors — Wyatt Pieretti, Griffin Pieretti, Ryan Drake, Chris Graner, Neeno McDonald, Zander Meyer, Sean O’Brien, and Jack Taylor — and six juniors — Jaxon and Jerrad Burford, Carson Benedict, Ryder Greene, Landin Romo, and John Shafer.