On Wednesday, October 30, the ‘Iolani Boys Varsity 1 Water Polo team faced off against the Kamehameha Warriors in their first match of the ILH Water Polo Tournament at Dillingham Pool. The close game ended in a 4-6 Raiders’s loss. Despite the loss, both teams showcased dynamic offense and defense with the hopes of advancing to the next round of the bracket.

In the beginning of the match, both teams played solid defense, pressing the ball and swarming the inside players. Jorden Corpuz ’20 contributed greatly to the defensive force by using his body weight to pressure players and to retrieve the possession of the ball. The first period ended with a low score, tied at 1 point each after Sunny Katagiri ’21 popped the ball over the Kamehameha goalie. However, throughout the rest of the match, the Warriors amped up their offense to drive them toward victory, scoring three goals in the final quarter.

Although the Warriors remained dominant throughout the three periods, offensive players, such as Katagri, led amazing plays, which led to scoring several goals to keep the game close. These included shots from amazing angles and a one-on-one fast break against the goalie.
The Wednesday night match did not end well for the hopeful Raider fans, but both teams put all their energy and effort in the water. Although they didn’t advance to the championship, the team did seal a 4-2 win against the Mid-Pacifc Owls, ending third place in the ILH. Congratulations to the Raiders on striving for success in the tough season, and especially to the seniors as their last season playing for the Raiders goes in the books.