The Lodi and Tokay boys water polo teams both won league championships last year, and both will find obstacles to a repeat this year.
For Lodi, after going 12-0 in Tri-City Athletic League play for their first outright league title since coach Marshall Grim was a senior in 2015.
For Tokay, last year was a rebuilding year after missing a season due to low numbers, but the Tigers went undefeated in a three-team San Joaquin Athletic Association.
Now, Lodi has graduated two of its key players, and Tokay, with its pool being rebuilt, will play home games at McNair while joining the Delta League to play against teams from Elk Grove and Sacramento.
“Losing arguably the best goalie in LHS Aquatic history will be challenging, but the coaching staff is very excited to have Aalum Gill in the cage,” Grim said, referring to Tyler Carson, who is playing at Cal Baptist. “We also lost Rylan Takahashi. Leading scorer on our team last year with 138 goals. He is attending Chapman University in the fall where he will continue his playing career.”
Others who are back from that Lodi league-championship team are John Hammer, Temple Marcee, Jake Arreaola and Braxton Boone. Arreola had 53 goals and 28 assists last year, and Hammer had 34 goals and 11 assists.
“This year’s team will be very different than last year’s team. There is no denying that losing Rylan and Tyler will be challenging to overcome,” Grim said. “However, our program is on the cusp of winning its third TCAL championship in the last three years. The standard has not changed, and our young team is excited to meet that standard.”
Tokay is anchored by hole set Elias Hensel and goalkeeper Lee McLaughlin, both of whom were named All-SJAA last year.