The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach in 2026-27 is sponsored by Watersafe Swim School.
The CIF Southern Section released its 2026 playoff brackets on Friday, with three Long Beach teams learning their fate ahead of their postseason openers on Thursday.
Wilson was once again set to be the top-ranked playoff team in the city this year, having recently been ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS before being withdrawn from the playoffs. Now, Long Beach Poly will be the highest-ranked local team in the Division 2 bracket, while Millikan will compete in Division 3 and Lakewood snuck into the Division 5 bracket.
Division 2
Long Beach Poly has bumped itself up a division following a Division 3 appearance last year and will make its Division 2 debut on the road against Dana Hills on Thursday. Division 2 and down all feature 32-team brackets.
The Jackrabbits enter the playoffs as the Moore League’s top team after finishing 12-14 overall and 6-1 in league play, with their only loss coming against Wilson. Poly’s non-league slate featured six games against teams that also made the Division 3 bracket, with the Jackrabbits falling in five of those matchups while defeating Redlands East Valley, 15-8.
Dana Hills enters the playoffs following a 17-6 season that included an undefeated Sea View League championship. The Dolphins went 6-3 in their nine matchups this season against teams that also made the Division 2 bracket. Poly and Dana Hills have one common opponent in Vista, which both teams defeated by one goal.
Division 3
The Millikan boys’ water polo program is looking for its first playoff win in five years, and the Rams will have a chance to do so after being placed in the Division 3 bracket for the second straight year. Millikan will open the playoffs at home this time, hosting Fullerton on Thursday.
Millikan finished the regular season with a 15-10 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in the Moore League. The Rams faced three teams in the Division 3 bracket during their non-league slate, with wins over Brentwood and Norco and a one-goal loss to Ayala.
Fullerton finished second in the Empire League with an 11-12 overall record. The Red Hawks suffered losses to four Division 3 playoff teams but also picked up a win over Valencia.
Division 5
With top Moore League team Wilson withdrawn from the playoffs, the entire league shifted up a spot, sliding Lakewood into one of the top three Moore League positions that earned an automatic playoff bid. Lakewood will be making its first playoff appearance in well over a decade and will open the Division 5 playoffs at home against La Quinta on Thursday.
The Lancers finished the season 10-13 with Moore League wins over Cabrillo and Jordan. Lakewood went 3-1 against fellow Division 5 playoff teams this year, with non-league wins over Whittier, Cerritos and North Torrance.
Similarly, La Quinta went 10-13 this season with a second-place finish in the Grove League and played plenty of familiar Division 5 competition. The Aztecs went 5-4 against opponents that also made the Division 5 bracket.
