Aquinas’ Goldenberg and Plitnick are the Broward Water Polo Coaches of the Year
St. Thomas Aquinas consistently remains among the top water polo programs in the state in both the boys and girls divisions.
And this season was no different.
The Raiders’ boys won their second state championship in the past four years and third overall. And the girls returned once again to the state final four.
Their coaches, Michael Goldenberg on the boys’ side, and Kristin Plitnick on the girls’ side are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Water Polo Coaches of the Year.
Goldenberg, who has guided the Raiders’ boys to all three of their state titles, has built his program into a perennial contender.
But this season, Aquinas was not the favorite heading into the state tournament. The Raiders, however, persevered through close battles throughout the postseason and knocked off favored Ransom Everglades, 14-12, in the state final.
The Raiders were led by a wall in goal named Marcell Varhalmi, the Miami Herald’s Broward Boys’ Player of the Year, who averaged nearly 13 saves per game.
Aquinas also beat Miami Country Day 10-9 in the regional finals and Seminole, 13-10, in the state semifinals.
Plitnick hopes to share that same success on the girls’ side in the near future.
She wins Girls’ Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Raiders’ girls through a dominant run through the regional playoffs, which included lopsided wins over Cooper City, Miami Country Day and Western. Aquinas’ march to the state final four was powered by Miami Herald Player of the Year Riley Andres, who led the nation in scoring with 282 goals.
