Dons athletes and coaches jump into the pool to celebrate their victory.
(Photo by Masako Baron)
The San Diego Dons Water Polo Club 18u Boys team brought home gold and left behind lasting memories when they were named National Champions at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics held July 23-26, 2026 in Orange County, Calif., a news release stated.
In its inaugural season, the Dons, founded by Club Director and 18u Head Coach Tommy Corcoran in 2025, achieved what many strive for — a National Championship in the Platinum Division. Playing nine games over a four-day period, the Dons competed against the top water polo clubs in the country.
In the 2026 Championship final, the Dons, consisting of the water polo stars from Cathedral Catholic High School, faced off against the Newport Beach Water Polo Club, a team of athletes that attend Newport Harbor High School. This clash of titans was a rematch of the CIF Southern California Regional Championship, during which the Dons fell to Newport. This experience undoubtedly motivated and fueled the Dons. They demonstrated the kind of resolve and resilience that can be seen throughout high level sports and often is an ideal developed through youth sports competition, the news release stated.
In the championship match, the Dons surged to an early lead, with National Team athlete Jett Taylor scoring the first goal. MVP Eamon Bruhn scored the next two goals for the Dons, one resulting from a penalty and one natural goal. Bruhn blasted through the defense, hitting impossible angles with his powerful left-handed shot.
Later in the game, elite two way player Diego Dantas launched a low skip shot from outside through two defenders and a goalie. Sharpshooter Jack Davis demonstrated a maturity beyond his years, consistently waiting for the shift in defensive position to power three shots in from outside. The Dons’ single graduating senior, Hudson Tweed, scored with perfect accuracy. Goalkeeper Luke Anderson’s defense was a wall. He blocked 10 attempts to score, made 2 steals, 2 assists and dropped passes to his field players across the pool with nearly 100 percent accuracy. Seven Dons athletes contributed to the 17-15 final score to help the team maintain momentum and achieve victory, according to the news release.
The pool heated up in the fourth quarter. Despite the Dons maintaining momentum, Newport edged into the lead. The score was 14-13, Newport ahead with approximately 4 minutes left in regulation time. The Dons answered back, scoring three in the last few minutes to win by two points. Jack Davis fired one to the back of the net to tie it up. After Jett Taylor drew an exclusion, Maximus Bruhn scored with precision from the wing, finding the smallest opening in the Newport defense.
Jett Taylor scored again with a thunderous shot that nearly tore a hole in the back of the net. Then Braylen Kenly Axline drew an exclusion and accomplished the impossible with a shot from the post, blasting through three defenders. Jett Taylor fired one in from half tank at the last second, which would have extended the Dons lead to three, though the game officials did not award the point. The final score was 17-15, the Dons with a decisive victory to cement their place in water polo history.
This was the first 18u National Championship for head coach Tommy Corcoran. The news release stated that in a post game interview with Erik Boal Sports, Corcoran described the grit, discipline, and character of the team: “The resiliency these boys have-they are winners. Team full of winners, team full of boys that love, care, and work for one another. They needed to do it in this game more than anything.”
In addition, the news release stated that MVP Eamon Bruhn, after scoring 2 goals with 9 assists in the championship match, spoke to Erik Boal Sports, stating with passion and certainty, “This team has been on this stage before. We knew how to handle these emotions. We had three main things that we wanted to do–discipline, composure, and structure. We maintained that through the game. I’m proud of these boys. They didn’t push anything too fast– remained disciplined. Great water polo. Great defense.”
The San Diego Dons Water Polo Club finished with a total of 4 medals across age groups and divisions:
•18u Boys-Gold Medal in Platinum Division [First Place-National Champions]
•12u Boys-Silver Medal in Platinum Division [Second Place]
•10u Boys-Bronze Medal in Platinum Division [Third Place]
•14u Girls- Gold Medal in Gold Division
The San Diego Dons will continue to train throughout the year in preparation for the USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics in July of 2027. More information can be found at https://sddonspolo.com/