West Albany exacted a little revenge on Hood River Valley by winning the 2023 boys Class 5A/4A state championship in water polo Nov. 11.
HRV had eliminated the Bulldogs’ title run a season ago with an exciting, 12-11, win in the 2022 state semifinals. West got payback by topping the Eagles, 11-8, in Saturday’s championship at Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis.
West Albany and Hood River, arguably the two premier programs (along with Summit, perhaps) in 5A/4A the past five seasons, have won three of the last four titles - West Albany in 2021 and this season; Hood River in 2019. The Eagles have finished second in the state tourney the past three years after COVID interrupted the 2020 season.
Coach Garrett Hall said: “Second in state three years in a row is a huge accomplishment, especially given where we started at the beginning of the season, but it’s hard not to grieve for the seniors. For everyone else, the lesson is ‘failure leads to growth’, but for the seniors, there is no next time.”
Hood River (15-9), which started the season 0-3, advanced to the final with a 9-7 win over Bend’s Summit High, last year’s state champ. West Albany (19-8) toppled Hillsboro, 22-6, in the other semifinal.
The spotlight was on HRV’s defense in each of its tourney games. Goalie Owen Sheppard was a big part of that. He had 11 saves in the semifinal game and 13 in the final.
Offensively, semifinal goals came from Jack Stehlik, Elijah Adams (2), Finn Spence (2), Caiden Titus (2), Forrest Hedberg, and Rohan Faber. Titus had two assists and Owen Sheppard, Hedberg, and Rohan Faber added one apiece. Hedberg led the team in steals with four and Spence added three. Kickouts drawn included Stehlik (2), Adams (3), Spence (2), and Titus (2).
The championship game was close throughout, as West Albany led by one through three periods. Senior captain Adams led the offensive charge scoring five of HRV’s eight goals.
“Unfortunately, we just couldn’t quite get those last three goals in the cage,” Hall said. “Even with being down, they kept fighting until the final buzzer and it was truly an inspiring performance.”
Finn Spence added two goals and Hedberg one against West Albany. Other championship stats included: assists, Spence, Titus (2), and Hedberg; steals: Sheppard, Adams, Spence, Titus (2), Hedberg (2), and Faber (2); kickouts drawn: Stehlik and Spence.
“While this wasn’t the finish we wanted, I am so proud of what this team accomplished this season,” Hall said. “Despite not quite reaching our goal, the season the boys put together is something to be so proud of.”
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