Published November 6, 2025
BY OLIVIA FORT
Carmel opened league playoffs with a 26-8 win over Palma on Oct. 30, advancing to face Stevenson on Nov. 1 in a rematch of last year’s championship game, with the Padres winning 14-13 after a sudden-death “golden goal.”
After going undefeated in league play and reclaiming the Pacific Coast Athletic League title, Carmel High boys’ water polo closes out the regular season with a 7-0 league record, entering the Central Coast Section playoffs with momentum.
Last season, Carmel finished 6-1 in league and 10-10 overall, after clinching the PCAL title with a win over Stevenson in their final game, ending Stevenson’s five-year undefeated league streak.
As of Nov. 3, this year’s team holds a 13-13 overall record, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
“This season, the focus has been playing the best competition available,” says head coach Jerry Smith. “All of our non-league games have been against top programs in both the CCS and the North Coast Section, so our play has vastly improved.”
Jackson Balas, senior co-captain for the Carmel boys’ water polo, led the team to victory against Stevenson on Sept. 24. courtesy of JACK BALAS
That strategy appears to be paying off, with multiple players ranking among the top in league and CCS for stats, including senior captain Jack Balas, who leads PCAL in both goals and total points, and senior Landon Onitsuka, who is ranked 15th in the nation and eighth in California for assists.
“Our success can be attributed to undisputedly outworking every team in the league over the past two years,” says Balas. “All members of the team play in the offseason and attend seven practices a week in season.”
With CCS brackets released Nov. 3, the Padres aim to make school history.
“The final goal is to win CCS and take home Carmel’s first-ever boys’ water polo championship,” explains sophomore varsity goalie August Hohman.
The greatest shift this season for the players has been the change in team size, as well as their unity. Going from a roster of 17 players last year to 11 this season has offered a new set of challenges, as well as opportunities. That shift has required players to step into unfamiliar roles. With a leaner roster, the team has relied on flexibility, grit and some movement of players between JV and varsity groups.
“I’ve been really impressed with how the boys have responded,” says Smith. “They’ve continued on with grit, flexibility and a team-first mentality.”
The Padres have also improved defensively, holding almost every one of their opponents in league, under 10 goals. Hohman’s performance in goal has been standout, with double-digit saves in multiple matches, ranking him first in league and 11th in CCS. David Bogart, a strong defender who is also the team’s only junior, looks forward to his senior season next year.
After defeating rival Pacific Grove 22-4 in the annual Fin Game, the Carmel team celebrates a dominant performance that helped secure their undefeated league season. courtesy of JACK BALAS
“I hope to be more active and play against teams located in Northern California and even SoCal,” explains Bogart. “That way our team can perform even more competitively.”
As the end of the season approaches, the team will lose four seniors when they leave for college and other ventures. Balas, who plans to continue playing in college, hopes to leave behind a legacy of brotherhood and unity.
“We’re all willing to make individual sacrifices for each other,” Balas says. “I hope that mentality carries into years to come.”
