Aquinas’ Goldenberg, Westminster’s Cercols are Broward’s Water Polo Coaches of the Year

St. Thomas Aquinas and Westminster Academy once again had the top two programs in Fort Lauderdale and their coaches are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Water Polo Coaches of the Year.

Michael Goldenberg is the Herald’s Broward County Boys’ Water Polo Coach of the Year for once again leading the Raiders to the final four, and Daniel Cercols is the Herald’s Broward County Girls’ Water Polo Coach of the Year for getting Westminster to the second round of the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs and beating the only other team in the county to win an FHSAA postseason game.

Although it fell short of the championship game, St. Thomas Aquinas reached the state semifinals without a single senior on the roster. The Raiders expected it to be something of a rebuilding -- and still felt like it was during their run to the final four -- and they still were far and away the top team in Broward, winning all 11 of their games against county foes.

“Next year, probably, is going to be a little different for us,” Goldenberg said, “because most of the players are going to be the same.”

Although it has reached the final four in 10 of the last 11 FHSAA tournaments, St. Thomas Aquinas hasn’t been to the title game since 2015, and is still seeking a second championship after winning its first and only back in 2013. With the entire roster expected back, the Raiders hope to contend even more seriously next year.

The Lions couldn’t quite follow up their run to the 2021 final four this season, but Westminster was still the top team in Broward, winning all 10 of its games against county opponents, including a one-goal win against St. Thomas Aquinas — the only other team to reach the Region 4 semifinals — in February.

The Lions’ turnaround continues to be impressive, too. Until last year, Westminster hadn’t even made the FHSAA playoffs since 2015.

“We play good water polo, Cercols said. “We are really well organized on defense and on offense, too — we play coordinated.”

Like Goldenberg’s Raiders, Cercols’ Lions are in good shape going into next year. Even though Westminster will lose two first-team all-Broward County players to graduation, the Lions’ underclassmen are committed as year-round players, which has been unusual for Westminster of late.

“They want to enjoy it,” Cercols said, “and have this for three years or four years.”