The Long Beach Wilson High boys’ water polo team will not compete in the CIF Southern Section playoffs after a violent hazing incident involving members of the program led to an ongoing investigation and the cancellation of multiple games, according to multiple local reports.
The Long Beach Unified School District announced last week that Wilson’s season will conclude following its final regular-season game against Lakewood. The Bruins had already secured their 19th consecutive Moore League championship and entered the postseason conversation as the No. 4-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section.
Despite their success in the pool, Wilson will not have an opportunity to compete for a section championship.
“Wilson High School’s Boys Water Polo team will conclude its season following tonight’s game and will not participate in the CIF playoffs,” reads an LBUSD statement. “Because the investigation is ongoing and the details involve confidential student and employee information, the District is limited in what it can share about the individuals involved and any specific actions taken at this time. This decision reinforces that Long Beach Unified does not tolerate hazing and reflects our commitment to student safety, well-being, and upholding expectations for respectful conduct.”
Hazing Incident Led To Investigation
The decision comes after reports surfaced of a violent hazing incident inside a San Jose-area hotel room during a tournament trip last weekend.
According to an email from Wilson head coach Zac Polmanteer to parents, “multiple student athletes were subjected to humiliating and physically harmful acts. Some athletes sustained injuries from being physically struck by their teammates.”
Polmanteer wrote that he learned of the incident after the team returned to Long Beach. The coach said players who traveled on the trip were interviewed individually Monday as school administrators and members of the coaching staff worked to determine the appropriate response.
The extent of the injuries and the number of athletes involved have not been publicly confirmed. The district has declined to provide specific details about disciplinary action while the investigation remains ongoing.
“Hazing is a cultural problem, even when only a handful of athletes directly participate. You can distinguish individual responsibility while acknowledging that the entire program has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment,” Polmanteer wrote in his email to parents.
Wilson Played Shorthanded Before Cancelling Games
The Bruins appeared shorthanded in their win over Long Beach Poly last Tuesday, a result that clinched Wilson’s 19th consecutive Moore League title.
Thirteen players who appeared on Wilson’s roster for an earlier game against Millikan were absent from the roster against Poly, according to reports from The562 and the Long Beach Post. The missing players included much of the senior class that had made up the Bruins’ starting lineup this season.
It remains unclear which absences were connected to the investigation, potential disciplinary measures, injuries or other circumstances.
Wilson subsequently canceled its scheduled Senior Night matchup against Loyola High School on Wednesday.
“Due to issues within the Long Beach Wilson program, tonight’s Senior Night game originally scheduled for 6:00PM at LMU has been cancelled,” wrote the Loyola boys’ water polo team on X.
Season Ends Before CIF-SS Playoffs
Wilson’s final game against Lakewood will now serve as the end of its season. The Bruins also had a scheduled matchup against Mira Costa on Wednesday that will no longer take place.
Wilson had been ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS’s boys’ water polo rankings, positioning the Bruins among the section’s top teams heading into the playoffs.
The CIF-SS playoff brackets were scheduled to be released Friday, but Wilson will not be part of the postseason field.
In an email to parents announcing the decision, Wilson principal Suzanne Caverly and Polmanteer emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the importance of providing a safe environment for students.
“After careful consideration, Wilson school leadership and the Water Polo coaching staff have decided that the game against Lakewood will be our final game of the season. The team will not participate in the CIF playoffs,” the email began. “This decision reflects the seriousness of the hazing incident, the ongoing investigation, and our efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment for our students. We understand that ending the season brings disappointment and a range of emotions.”
The decision ends a season in which Wilson captured another Moore League title but will not compete for a CIF-SS championship as the investigation continues.
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