Strong Second Half Leads Rustlers to their Eighth Consecutive State Championship

Long Beach, CA: The Golden West College Men's Water Polo team, the #1 seed from the South, claimed its eighth consecutive 3C2A State Championship, defeating the #1 North seed, West Valley College, 15-12. The highly anticipated final took place at Long Beach City College.

Trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Rustlers mounted an impressive comeback, outscoring West Valley 8-2 in the second half. Michael Rodgers led the charge with five goals, while Tomas De Luca and Neven Cerkez added three and two goals, respectively.

Golden West's defense tightened in the final two quarters, holding West Valley scoreless in the fourth. Goalkeeper Pablo Souza made key saves, limiting West Valley's scoring opportunities and securing the victory.

"This team demonstrated incredible resilience and heart today," said Head Coach Scott Taylor. "I'm proud of every player's contribution this season."

This victory adds to the Rustlers' storied legacy, marking their 31st State Championship. Under Coach Taylor, the program has become synonymous with excellence. In the last 16 seasons, Taylor has led the team to 13 state titles, including 10 of the last 12 championships, with an astounding 651-48 record (.931 winning percentage).

Souza was named state tournament MVP for his work in goal and teammates Ethan Carrington and Rodgers were named to the all-state team for their efforts in the 3C2A championships. 

Golden West finishes the season with a 37-4 record, while West Valley concludes at 30-6.