Columbus boys, MAST girls continue dominance of GMAC water polo championships
Columbus’ water polo team has spent the past three seasons in a process it hopes will make them a perennial state championship contender.
The Explorers know the only way to get there is to play at a consistent high level in the toughest region in the state.
Columbus got a taste of what that would look like on Monday when it secured a hard-fought, 12-8, victory over the host Makos to win their second consecutive GMAC championship.
“This is the toughest region in the state when you look at MAST, Gulliver, Ransom, Belen and of course, Mater Lakes, which was a state runner-up last year,” said Columbus coach Jose Antonio Garcia, who is in his third season coaching the Explorers. “We’re working hard to break through that group and take this thing all the way to state. Our priority is to play at a high level and that will translate into victories.”
Sophomore Felipe Lerena led the Explorers (12-4) with four goals and junior Sergio Samada had two more as Columbus stormed out to a 6-1 lead in the first half. MAST (12-6) battled back behind Johan Miguel and Ayron Castro, who each had three goals, to cut the deficit to 7-6 at the half. But the Explorers took control midway through the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth.
Columbus beat Coral Gables in the semifinals to advance and MAST beat Mourning in its semifinal.
“We came in motivated to repeat as GMAC champs, which is an important goal for us,” Garcia said. “In the second half, we got a little too confident and you can’t do that with a time like MAST. They have talented players. But luckily, we recovered our form and got the win.”
MAKOS ‘4-PEAT’
About an hour before Columbus’ prevailed, the MAST Academy girls continued their dominance of the GMAC tournament. The Makos cruised to their fourth consecutive GMAC title with a comfortable 21-3 win over Cutler Bay.
Leonna Castro led the Makos (13-3) with a game-high six goals. Alexia Domenech and eighth-grader Valentina Acelor each had four goals. Isabella Miguel also had three goals.
Cutler Bay (3-7) beat Miami Beach, 14-13, to advance to the finals.
MAST, which had a bye in the semis, is also looking for a chance to break through a tough region in the upcoming playoffs.
“The girls are a great group. They hustle, play hard and look out for each other and they play the game the right way,” MAST coach Juan Miguel said. “We had some strong returnees, but we have some new players and they’ve mixed well. We’re not there yet, but I think it’s going to be good for us in the long run.
“This win should give these girls a lot of confidence (going into the playoffs), and it’s going to be hard to beat them.”
