Canada High School Water Polo Team

The 1997 La Canada High School Water polo Team will always be remembered as the team that turned the program around and turned it into a national powerhouse. The change started in 1995, when Larry Naeve took over as the water polo coach. Knowing he had a talented group of sophomores and freshmen, Naeve developed the team with 1997 in mind. He took the best sophomore players and started them on the varsity team, over more experienced veterans. He also entered the freshman/sophomore teams in numerous competitions to get the team playing together. Though the varsity team suffered hard times and big losses in 1995 and 1996, his young players gained invaluable experience heading into the 1997 season.

With the entire team experienced and ready, the 1997 season started brilliantly. The team rolled through the competition and seemed to become an overnight title challenger. They began to win tournaments and turn the heads of many water polo powerhouses, who previously had known La Canada to be a weak team. The team lost steam when starting goalkeeper and All American Russell Bernstein was injured for a few games, but quickly regained their form heading into the playoffs as the number two seed in the division (their rivals, Bell Gardens, was seeded number one by nature of beating La Canada twice during the regular season).

The team rolled through the playoffs, setting up a rematch with Bell Gardens in the finals. The game started slowly, and Bell Gardens jumped to an early lead. But Naeve rallied his boys at halftime, and La Canada began to dominate the game. They ended up winning the CIF Division III title by a goal, and with it, the recognition that the program had long deserved. Three of the players were named to the All American team, the first All Americans from La Canada in hear 2 decades, and everyone on the starting team was named to the All CIF team.

While building this team for success, Naeve built an age group water polo team, and with it came success. With more and more players being experienced water polo players as they entered high school, the team began to surpass everyone's wildest expectations. Following the 1997 season, the team won a few more CIF championships and garnered All American honors for countless players, something only a pipe dream before.