The Acalanes Boys’ Varsity Water Polo team made a powerful statement this past weekend, sweeping all four of their games at the Vintage Valley Tournament hosted at Napa Valley College to claim the Burgundy Bracket Championship.
Friday: Setting the Tone
The Dons opened tournament play against Marin Academy, last year’s Division II NCS champion. In a hard-fought battle, Acalanes pulled away late to secure a 10–8 victory, setting the tone for the weekend with poise and toughness.
Later that afternoon, Acalanes faced Justin-Siena and dominated from start to finish. The Dons’ offense exploded for 18 goals while the defense locked down in front of the cage, cruising to an 18–3 victory and closing day one undefeated — and, in the process, securing a spot in Saturday’s semifinals.
Saturday: Finishing the Job
On Saturday morning, Acalanes squared off against Concord High School and never looked back. The Dons controlled the tempo from the opening sprint, outpacing the Minutemen on both ends of the pool to post a commanding 15–5 win and punch their ticket to the championship game.
In the final, the Dons faced Foothill and delivered a statement performance. Behind stifling defense and sharp ball movement, Acalanes surged to a 14–3 victory to capture the Burgundy Bracket crown and complete a perfect 4–0 weekend.
Player Spotlight
In the Cage: Goalie Fisher Bradford-Urban was a barrier all weekend, amassing 29 blocks and frustrating opposing shooters game after game.
Scoring Leaders: Freshman Borna Koopah led the way with an impressive 13 goals, pacing the Dons’ attack all weekend. Senior Thomas Parrott followed with 8 goals; while Senior Owen Hulst and Freshmen Aiden Castro and Gunnar Grant each added 6 apiece, underscoring the team’s depth and balance.
Assists Leaders: Koopah and Junior Issac Topp each tallied 6 assists, orchestrating the offense with sharp passing and vision. Parrott added another 4 assists, showing his ability to create as well as finish.
Steals Leaders: Grant anchored the defense with 6 steals, followed closely by Koopah with 5, setting the tone for the Dons’ counterattack game.
Ejections Drawn: Koopah proved equally dangerous off the ball, leading the team with 6 ejections drawn, while Hulst added 4, consistently putting Acalanes in man-up situations.
Coach’s Take
Head Coach Nick Jordan praised his squad for their discipline and energy, crediting the hours of preparation that began months ago. “This was a complete team effort,” Jordan said. “Every player contributed, and we saw great chemistry in and out of the pool. The work the guys put in over the summer is showing up already.”
Building Momentum
With the Vintage Valley Championship secured, Acalanes returned to Lafayette with some serious hardware in hand, and continues to build confidence and momentum as they move deeper into their 2025 season. Fans won’t have to wait long to see the squad back in action — the Dons return to the BEAST (Acalanes Aquatic Center) this Tuesday, aiming to extend their early-season winning streak.
Fear the Blue!
