Coach Ed Carrera jumps into the pool to celebrate the CIF title with his team. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs).
When Ed Carrera took over as the boys water polo coach at Crean Lutheran High School, he listed one of his goals as helping the team win an Empire League contest and qualify for the CIF playoffs.
Crean Lutheran had never been to the CIF playoffs before.
The Saints accomplished those goals and did the improbable, capturing their first CIF title with a 12-9 victory over Ocean View.
Later, Carrera was named the coach of the year and his players earned All-CIF honors.
Junior Tate Fitzgerald was named Division 6 player of the year and teammates sophomore Jonathan DiPinto, freshman Mark DiPinto and senior goalie Austin Griffin earned All-CIF first team honors.
The Saints advanced to the regional playoffs, losing in the first round.
Carrera believes the future is bright for the program.
“We are returning most of our starters, including Tate Fitzgerald, the DiPinto brothers, Bobby Holmes and Nik Mohrman,” he said.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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