Quiet. Shocked. Subdued. This was the atmosphere as the loud and blaring buzzer signaled the end of the game, simultaneously ending the Loyola decade of domination over the Mira Costa Mustangs. The “rivalry” has been somewhat one-sided, so it was still pure disbelief and disappointment for the Cubs that night at LMU Burns Pool.
Facing an extremely tough schedule, the Cubs ended the regular season with a 10-15 record, playing in numerous nail-biting contests, highlighted by a hard-fought 18-17 overtime win against the Mater Dei Monarchs. It was a game that truly reflected Loyola tenets of brotherhood, mental fortitude, and teamwork.
“All of our games have been great opportunities for us to learn as a team, ultimately setting us up for a strong finish to the season and CIF playoffs,” remarked Head Coach Erik Healy, emphasizing the team’s goals and aspirations for the year.
This year, the water polo program has a larger-than-usual graduating class of seniors, including Santa Barbara commit Charlie Johnson ‘25, along with senior captains Jake Lee ‘25, Christopher Petrossian ‘25, and Kyle Jackson ‘25.
Another senior, Max Davis-Denney, a four-year varsity player, expressed his pride: “I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come this season, regardless of how many games we’ve won or lost. Being an athlete at Loyola means enjoying the most difficult lows with resilience and working through them together. It means being dedicated and upholding the values of our school through our hard work and commitment.”
The Cubs continued to fight their way to the top, competing in the physically demanding North vs. South Challenge and securing a top-eight finish in Atherton, California. This performance earned Loyola a third consecutive berth in the CIF-SS Open Division, the highest level of high school water polo competition in the nation. As the seventh seed, the Cubs were placed in a bracket with reigning national champions JSerra Catholic High School and the tenth seed San Clemente Tritons. After defeating San Clemente in dominant fashion, the Cubs fell to JSerra in an away game.
The 2024 water polo season was one of ups and downs, triumphs and defeats. While the Cubs fell short of their goal of a CIF title, they managed to secure a place in the Open Division—a significant accomplishment and a testament to their perseverance and commitment to excellence.