Sonoma Valley water polo teams season near end

Sonoma’s two varsity water polo teams, boys and girls, each had some wins and losses over the past two weeks, with the post-season tournaments scheduled to begin this weekend, Oct. 25 at Vintage High.

But their “no-pool school” status continues to hinder the athletes from being the best they can be, as they await the eventual construction of a competition-sized pool at Sonoma Valley High – now scheduled not to open until 2021.

Following their 16-12 win over Justin-Siena on Oct. 3, the boys team has suffered four straight losses, three at the hands of Vine Valley opponents and one non-league game at Cardinal Newman. On Oct. 8, the Dragons fell in a challenging match against the American Canyon Wolves, 14-11, but the following week, on Oct. 15, went down to the Cardinals more decisively, 21-7.

Two days later Napa won 19-13 in a game played at Vintage High, and on Monday, Oct. 21, the Dragons fell to Vintage again, also by a 21-7 score. Their record is now 3-8,

For the girls, October has produced better results. The Oct. 10 match with American Canyon brought the Lady Dragons an 18-9 victory, a feat they duplicated a week later with a tense, harrowing 6-5 win over Cardinal Newman on ?Oct. 15.

But the streak ended on Thursday, Oct. 17, when Napa’s Lady Grizzlies devoured them, 15-4, leaving the girls with a 4-6 record.

One more match is yet to play in the Dragons boys and girls waterpolo schedule, against the Ukiah Wildcats in Ukiah, scheduled for Oct. 24. The games were delayed due to smoke until a date next week to be finalized later.

In the meantime the Julian Szmidt Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, at Vintage High in Napa.