Water Polo (Boys) | 10/21/2025 1:44:00 PM
The Cathedral Catholic boys' water polo team delivered an outstanding performance at the prestigious North-South Challenge, finishing second overall — the first time in program history the Dons reached the championship final at both the Elite 8 and North-South tournaments in the same season.
Thursday Showcase: Cathedral 20, Greenwich 7
Dons kicked off the tournament with a strong performance against Greenwich. Their depth and talent were clearly evident as they scored five goals each quarter, finishing with a total of 20! Eleven different Dons found the net. A great start to the prestigious event.
Game 1: Cathedral Catholic 15, Rio Americano 5
The Dons officially started the tournament with a commanding victory over Rio Americano. The Dons led 11-0 going into the third quarter before they finally surrendered a goal. Scoring was again spread across the lineup, with
Colin McPhail,
Jett Taylor,
Diego Dantas,
Hudson Tweed,
Eamon Bruhn, and
Grayson Taylor each netting two goals.
Quarterfinal: Cathedral Catholic 14 vs. De La Salle 11
Despite early foul trouble among key players, Cathedral's depth and composure secured the win. The Dons went down 0-2 before tying it up at 3-3 to finish the first quarter. The second quarter was more of the same great back-and-forth polo, with neither team gaining a considerable advantage. The Dons held a narrow 7-6 lead going into halftime. The third quarter saw the Dons take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. They really tightened up in the fourth and finished the game with a hard-fought 14-11 victory. Sophomore
Diego Dantas led the Dons with five goals, with
Jack Davis adding three and
Max Bruhn two. Senior goalie
Oren Penning anchored the defense with multiple key saves throughout the match.
Semifinal: Cathedral Catholic 10, Sacred Heart 9
This was the game of the tournament for the Dons, against a strong team, the tournament host, and a nationally ranked Sacred Heart Prep. The Dons fell behind within the first 90 seconds but quickly responded, scoring twice in consecutive possessions. The Dons never led by more than 2 goals, and Sacred Heart Prep fought hard to tie the game three times in the second half, the third time with just 1:20 remaining. The end of the game featured several great defensive possessions and multiple timeouts as both teams battled until the final seconds. Ultimately, in a tense finish, senior
Maximus Arnold scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds, sending the Dons to the championship game.
Kenly Braylen Axline led all scorers with three goals, while Arnold added two, exemplifying a strong team effort.
Championship: Cathedral Catholic 10, Newport Harbor 15
Cathedral fought hard in the title game but ultimately lost to a very talented, nationally ranked #1 Newport Harbor team. The Dons got on the board first and looked poised to give Newport a challenging game. The very talented and experienced Newport team quickly responded and didn't let up, never relinquishing the lead. They led early 6-2 before the Dons responded. Halftime score was 8-4. The third quarter was a defensive battle for both squads, with the Dons ultimately giving up just two goals but unable to find the back of the net themselves. The Dons scored a few more goals in the fourth to finish with 10.
Maximus Arnold scored four goals, and
Kenly Braylen Axline added three in the game to lead the Dons.
This historic run showcases the team's resilience, depth, and development over the season. The Dons keep elevating the level of Cathedral Catholic water polo, and the outlook for the program is still promising.
