Bishop’s aims for eighth straight water polo title, but has competition

2025-26 High School Girls Water Polo Preview

Regular season ends: Feb. 6

Championship finals: Feb. 21

Defending champions

Open Division: Bishop’s

Division 1: Rancho Bernardo

Division 2: Cathedral Catholic

Division 3: Ramona

Player of the Year: Aileen Shin (Bishop’s)

Preseason Top 10

1. Bishop’s

2. Valhalla

3. Carlsbad

4. La Jolla

5. Clairemont

6. Cathedral Catholic

7. Helix

8. Grossmont

9. Torrey Pines

10. Westview

Players to watch

Gianna Adams, Valhalla, Jr.

Layla Al-Khafaji, Mission Bay, Jr.

Malaea Benedicto, Patrick Henry, Sr.

Avery Boone, Valhalla, Jr.

Aviana Cavaiola, La Jolla, Jr.

Lauen Cohen, Del Norte, So.

Delaney Daniels, La Costa Canyon, Sr.

Jillian Duffy, Our Lady of Peace, Sr.

Avery Edstrom, La Jolla, Jr.

Maya Fulton, High Tech-San Diego, Sr.

Ella Gatarick, Torrey Pines, Jr.

Ava Grandinetti, Bishop’s, Jr.

Avonlea Hammonds, Ramona, Sr.

Isla Hunter, Mission Bay, Jr.

Gia Jacob, Valhalla, Jr.

Katie Johnson, Bishop’s, Sr.

Maci Kershner, Rancho Bernardo, Sr.

Lillian La Raia, Cathedral Catholic, So.

Lotte Lightner, Bishop’s, Sr.

Alyssa Luna, Olympian, Jr.

Evy McCullough, Grossmont, Jr.

Finley McNamara, Torrey Pines, Sr.

Frankie McNeil, Cathedral Catholic, So.

Farren Moss, Bishop’s, Jr.

Edie Nordan, Bishop’s, Jr.

Celine Parel, Westview, Jr.

Cora Pfau, La Jolla, Jr.

Isela Salas, Otay Ranch, Sr.

Fiona Salatka, Bishop’s, Jr.

Aileen Shin, Bishop’s, Sr.

Ella Thompson, Carlsbad, Jr.

Kira Walters, Poway, Sr.

Landon Wightlin, Del Norte, Jr.

Lillian Wylie, Helix, Jr.

Notes

Bishop’s goes for its eighth straight Open Division championship behind senior Aileen Shin, the reigning CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year. Juniors Farren Moss, Ava Grandinetti and Fiona Salatka also key the Knights, who had just one senior on last year’s team. Bishop’s has won 14 titles in the last 15 years.

• Set to challenge Bishop’s is Valhalla, paced by junior Avery Boone and sophomore Gia Jacob, who each earned all-section honors last season. The Norsemen lost to Bishop’s in last season’s semifinals. Carlsbad, which reached the last two finals, regroups following the graduation of a core group.

• Watch out for Cathedral Catholic, poised to reach the Open Division after winning last season’s Division 2 crown. Sophomores Frankie McNeal and Lillian LaRaia spark the Dons.

• Coronado welcomes back coach David Throop, who guided the Islanders to three consecutive titles from 2008-10. Coronado lost its Division 1 playoff opener last season after winning the championship the previous two seasons.

GLAE THIEN