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Charger water polo teams both earn bronze medals at state tourney

Charger water polo teams both earn bronze medals at state tourney

SAN ANTONIO - Both the Boerne Champion water polo teams were defeated at the state tournament last week in their semifinals matches and returned to Boerne with bronze medals.

The Lady Chargers fell to Richmond Foster, 23-4, while the Champion boys were knocked out later that day by Lewisville Marcus, 22-16.

Both teams that defeated the Chargers were undefeated heading into state but lost in the finals on Saturday to finish second and earn silver medals.

This is the first state medal for the girls team, while the boys have earned silver, silver and now bronze at state over the last three years.

The Lady Chargers end the year at 22-7 and the boys end their season at 23-5, with two of those loses coming to Lewisville Marcus. Cayden VanDyne and was named to the all-tournament team on the girls side and Bexon Harrison was voted to the all-tournament boys team.

Varsity Girls

Richmond Foster was in control by the end of the first quarter and was up 10-1 before winning the second quarter, 7-2, to take a 17-3 lead into halftime.

Foster outscored Champion in the second half, 5-1 in the third and 1-0 in the fourth to advance.

Chargers coach Scott Slay said the girls exceeded expectations. The Lady Chargers had never won a playoff game until this year and they ended up making it all the way to the state tourney.

“They overachieved,” he said. “We were happy with getting to the tournament. I knew we were going to play a really tough team, but they got to see it and they’ll have something to build off of.”

Senior Ana Metz agreed that they overachieved.

“We were just trying to make it to the second round of playoffs and we made it like four or five steps farther,” she said. “We were not expected to be here. It was such an underdog moment and I was so glad I got to share it with all my girls because I love them so much.”

Another senior, Cameron Kellogg, has won state swim medals but said this medal has more significance.

“This one means more because I’ve been swimming for a long time but I’ve only been playing water polo for a month so to be here was super exciting, especially for my senior year,” she said.

Because they hadn’t won a playoff match before this year, senior Kate Deykin said nobody saw them advancing to state.

“I think it’s crazy that we’re even here, I’m pretty sure none of us thought that we were going to be here, I know I didn’t,” she said. “I thought I was going to finish off my senior year in the first round of playoffs like usual but we’ve gotten so much better because our team is so much closer and we all truly love each other and I think that has helped us so far.”

Senior Victoria Adame said it was a great year and added that she’s had a blast playing water polo for three seasons.

“Being able to play with these girls the past three years and build this team has been the biggest blessing,” she said. “I know they are going to do amazing things.”

Breanna Hempton finished with 3 goals and Deykin had the other, while Cayden Van-Dyne came up with 5 saves and 5 steals

Varsity Boys

While the girls were ecstatic to win bronze, the boys team seemed a little disappointed since they’ve played in the championship game the previous two years.

Coach Slay said he understands the feeling because the expectation was to go and win it all.

“I’m disappointed myself but at the end of the day we have a lot to look forward to with our program and I think Champion will be a contender for years to come with the new pool and all the little kids coming up,” he said. “Overall, it was a good season. The kids played great and we’ll be back next year.”

In Friday’s match, the Chargers always seemed to be playing catch-up. They never held the lead at any point, although they tied it at one point in the second quarter at 7-7 on a Bexon Harrison goal.

Champion was down by a goal at halftime, 11-10, but that’s as close as they came. They were outscored in the third quarter, 6-3, and 5-3 in the fourth.

The six points that Lewisville Marcus won by was their largest margin of the match.

“They had a lot of offensive threats driving in and they had a good post-up game and got off a lot of good shots on us,” Will Harrison said. “You definitely have more momentum when you’re in the lead.”

Bexon Harrison is one of five seniors who will graduate. He said he’ll miss the simple things.

“I’ll probably miss just sitting with my friends between games, chopping it up, eating lunch and just hanging out,” he said.

Bexon Harrison finished with 5 goals, Julius Hoxhaj and Will Harrison both scored 4 goals, Ethan Altermatt had 2 goals and Owen Altermatt added a goal and 5 assists.

Jackson Hankins was in goal and came up with 6 saves.

Seniors this year are Aiden Carney, Andrew Gerhart, Sarp Peterson, Owen Altermatt and Bexon Harrison.

The Boerne Champion boys and girls water polo teams both earned bronze medals at this year’s state tournament. Star photos by Kerry Barboza

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