Eight unanswered first half goals propelled the Westlake boys water polo team to a 15-8 triumph over Boerne Champion and its first state title in Saturday's Class 6A UIL state championship game at Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio.
"This is incredible," Westlake coach Darci Carruthers told the American-Statesman in a postgame phone call. "We're so proud of our team and our guys."
This is only Westlake's fourth season having water polo. Carruthers said the team believed all season that last three years were setting the stage for a historic campaign this fall.
"We got the kids to buy in to what we're doing. The parents bought in, just everyone was on the same page, and everyone was here to learn and grow," the coach said. "We just trusted each other and believed in each other. We put the work in."
The Chaps, who finished the season with a 31-1 record, scored the matchup's first eight goals and shutout their opponents in the first half to create a sizable early advantage.
"We had lockdown defense from the first moment the ball dropped in the water," Carruthers said. "Our defense was the best we've played all year, and it was a good time to have our best game."
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL:
Boerne Champion didn't get on the board until there was 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter. While the Chargers, who were also seeking their first state title despite five straight state tournament appearances, notched eight goals in the second half, it wasn't enough as Westlake found the back of the net seven times in the final two periods to keep distance on the scoreboard.
Goalkeeper Silas Chamas stifled numerous Boerne Champion opportunities as he played a pivotal role in Westlake securing its first state title.
Luke Welton, the game's most valuable player, paced the Chaps offense with six goals. Sophomore Zephyr Gates was not far behind with four of his own. Five Westlake players scored Saturday. Having a variety of attacking options helps free up players like Welton and Gates to post gaudy statistics, Carruthers said.
"We don't depend on one or two guys," she said. "We have everyone as a threat on offense, and it was hard for them to shut us down because if they shut down one guy, we just go to the next."
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This article originally published at Westlake boys water polo bests Boerne Champion to win first state title.