Iolani Boys Intermediate Water Polo Wins Championship Over Punahou!

On Thursday night, the Raiders Intermediate Boys Water Polo Team had a chance to go for the season championship. I covered the first round of the playoffs when they beat a stong Kamehameha team 5-3 at the Punahou pool. In the next round, it was number 1 seeded Iolani vs. number 2 seeded Punahou. I couldn't attend this game, but I know it went to a 7-7 tie and Punahou ended up winning 9-8. This was at the same time our boys varsity volleyball team was losing to Punahou in the third 32-20, and our girls varsity volleyball team was beating Punahou in the third game, 27-25! Talk about 3 great, close matches!

This rematch against Punahou was held at the Kamehameha Schools pool and it was for the championship. According to some rabid water polo fans:

"The score was 5-3. The Iolani Boys' Intermediate Water Polo Team is the 2006 champion! There was excellent execution from the game plan to game time from Coaches David Grainer, Randy Bart, James Duca and Deven Matayoshi. The team played like champions with a tough and relentless defense. They made every opportunity to score count. Sweet victory was clearly earned by the Iolani Intermediate team."

And this:

"It was a great match. The boys were intense and had great defense. The goals were strong and skilled. Goals were scored by David Lim (2), Chris Nichols (2) and Tom Hartwell (1). Goalie Austin Strong made at least 8-10 blocks. Iolani beat Punahou 5-3! Other players, who often are scorers, contributed just as much with great defense and assists: Daniel Barr, Vladimir Bernstein, Shovan Datta, Kacy Johnson and Connor Grune.

"One Team" is the Raider way, and it took the whole team to win this championship. The rest of the members of the Intermediate Boys Water Polo team are: Zalman Bernstein, Jacob Butters, Calvin Chan, Grant Chang, David Jordan, Stephen Jordon, Matt Horner, Scott Marison, and Kyle Twogood."

The future of boys water polo looks to be in fine hands. Great job boys!

Thanks to Iolani parent Debra Lim for the photo.