Newport Harbor Extends Its Water Polo Legacy with Dominant Open Division Victory
A long-standing rivalry in boys water polo—one steeped in tradition, talent, and countless championship moments—gained a memorable new entry as Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar faced off for the CIF-SS Open Division crown on Saturday, November 15, 2025. On a rainy evening at Mt. SAC, Newport Harbor delivered a commanding performance, relying on relentless defense and a powerful two-meter game to earn a 10–3 win and secure the program’s 16th top-division title.
For these two schools, whose “Battle of the Bay” rivalry resonates across every sport, any victory carries weight. But this triumph felt especially meaningful for the Sailors (30–1). Not only did it mark their 20th straight win over their crosstown opponent, it also cemented back-to-back Open Division championships—four in the last five years—and provided a storybook finish for a senior-heavy roster.
As the final horn sounded, roughly a dozen seniors rushed toward the deck before leaping into the pool in celebration, a fitting culmination for a group that has grown up competing side by side.
”This team is truly special as it is a very heavy senior-led team,” said Coach Ross Sinclair. “These guys have been playing together since they were 10 years old and have incredible chemistry and connection. They lead by example and have been the catalyst for the success that we have had all season long."
Sinclair was especially proud of the way they finished the season
“The championship game where we beat CDM 10-3 was a culmination of everyone’s hard work and all in commitment to reach success,” he said. “I could not be more proud of the boys and their families that poured their heart and soul into this process.”
Newport Harbor’s defensive stand was one of its strongest of the year. The Sailors held Corona del Mar (26–7) to its lowest scoring output of the season and shut the Sea Kings out on all six of their power-play opportunities. It marked a decisive improvement from the teams’ previous meetings, where Newport Harbor won 14–9 and 13–7 but allowed significantly more offensive freedom.
Senior leaders set the tone on both ends of the pool. Four goals from Kai Kaneko paced the offense, while Netzer, Kaneko and Dash D’Ambrosia each grabbed two steals. Netzer added three field blocks, and D’Ambrosia contributed two more, providing strong support for senior goalkeeper Connor Clougherty in his first season as the team’s starter.
With talent, chemistry and experience converging at the perfect moment, Newport Harbor’s seniors capped their final chapter in historic fashion—together, undefeated in the rivalry one last time, and once again at the top of the sport.
Many of the seniors have already committed to continue competing in the sport they love at the next level. As of press time, here are the players and colleges they plan to attend:
Declan Bartlett - US Naval Academy
Simon Burtnyk - Johns Hopkins
Connor Clougherty - Santa Clara
Dash D’Ambrosia - UC Santa Barbara
Kai Kaneko - Stanford
Mason Netzer - UC Berkeley
Connor Ohl - Stanford
Hudson Parks - US Naval Academy
Marco Rizof - Santa Clara
Geoff Slutzky - Harvard
*There are still some seniors deciding on their college choice