The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach in 2026-27 is sponsored by Watersafe Swim School.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
For a program with as much history as Wilson boys’ water polo, merely competing at the highest level isn’t enough. The Bruins set out to return to the top division in the CIF Southern Section for the first time in over a decade last year and accomplished that goal under fifth-year coach Zac Polmanteer, but simply making it to the Open Division wasn’t enough to satisfy the Bruins.
“We needed that experience of the highest level of playoff competition possible,” Polmanteer said. “I think that not getting an Open Division win last year hurt us, and it definitely made us hungrier and made the goal feel more tangible than it’s ever been. Making the Open Division is great, but ultimately nothing matters unless you have a ring on your finger. That is the only goal.”
With the team Polmanteer has put together, the timing has certainly lined up for Wilson to make a run at that goal. The Bruins return a starting lineup made up entirely of seniors who have gained plenty of experience over the last couple of years, along with a supporting cast of juniors and underclassmen to help balance out the roster.
Starting in goal will be three-year starter Christian Marov-Perez, with Fernando Rejon holding things down at center defense and center forward. The Bruins also have a dynamic duo of outside attackers in Vaughan Baker and Nico Tramontano, who round out Wilson’s experienced core.
Joining that core are a handful of seniors who have worked their way into the starting lineup in Ace Dufault, Gabriel Robles and Wyatt Sprenger. The Bruins will also have a deep rotation of juniors in Scott Daniels, Chase Carson and Nolan Kerry, along with sophomore center and standout swimmer Shane Radaich.
“This is the most experienced group that I’ve had since coaching here,” Polmanteer said. “That experience alone is so immeasurable but it’s also the guys who have been grinding their way to getting starting spots that are gonna be so important. We just have a really healthy mix of experience levels with guys that are all really hungry, and it creates an atmosphere where everyone is pushing themselves for different reasons.”
Last year, the Bruins finished as undefeated Moore League champions for the 18th straight year with an overall record of 19-11, falling to Santa Margarita, Corona del Mar, and Mira Costa in the Open Division pool play.
This year, the Bruins have already opened the season 7-1, with their only loss coming against one of the top teams in the country in La Jolla. Wilson has picked up an 8-7 win over Corona del Mar, its first over the Sea Kings in nearly a decade, along with wins over Laguna Beach, San Marcos and Torrey Pines all in one day at Long Beach Poly’s annual tournament.
“In order for us to get a ring, we have to beat the Corona del Mars early in the year, and we have to play teams like La Jolla or Harvard-Westlake,” Polmanteer said. “A lot of these are historic programs much like ours, and a lot of them have had our number for many seasons. This is the first year we’ve beaten Corona del Mar since I’ve been coaching, and it’s been a big notch of reality that a ring is not only a realistic goal, but we’re right there.”
