Matthew Troche, Westminster Academy senior

Westminster Academy senior Matthew Troche had an impressive senior season and stepped up during the team’s playoff run to help lift the Lions to a state championship.  The senior top performer was selected as the Sun Sentinel Broward boys water polo player of the year.

Troche scored five goals and led this team in a second-half rally for an 11-10 victory in overtime against St. Thomas Aquinas in the state semifinal. Westminster Academy trailed 8-6 in the fourth quarter before Troche responded with two goals to make it 8-8. The Lions also trailed 10-9 late in the fourth before Troche’s game-tying goal to force overtime.

He delivered again and scored five goals in the team’s 10-9 victory against Mater Lakes Academy in the state championship. He had two consecutive goals to break a 5-5 tie in the third quarter and recorded a go-ahead goal to break an 8-8 tie in the fourth quarter.

Troche played his first three seasons at Cooper City High School. He made an impact at his new school during his senior campaign and led Westminster Academy to a 24-2 record. Troche recorded 27 goals and 11 assists in five playoff games, including eight goals in the regional championship victory. He finished the season with 88 goals, 56 assists and 43 steals.

Troche previously represented the Southeast Zone for the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program Youth National Team in Chicago.  He also had participated in the USA Water Polo ODP Regional Tournament in Dallas, Texas and was selected for the USA Water Polo 18U Junior Olympics in San Jose, California.

Troche continued his training in the sport while with the Barcelona Lions Water Polo Club for the last two years. He traveled to play in Colombia during the Open Men’s Tournament and also practiced with professional teams from the Honor Division in Spain, including CN Sant Andreu, CN Catalunya and CN Barcelona.