A top boys water polo team at a Southern California high school is canceling the remainder of their season as an investigation into a hazing incident continues, according to multiple reports.
The 562, a local nonprofit newsroom covering Long Beach sports, reported on Tuesday that the Woodrow Wilson High School boys' water polo team won't participate in the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section playoffs, where they were expected to be a top team. Long Beach Unified School District sent a statement to multiple outlets confirming the news, saying the decision "reinforces that Long Beach Unified does not tolerate hazing and reflects our commitment to student safety, well-being, and upholding the expectations for respectful conduct."
The decision stems from a trip the team took to the Bay Area on the first weekend of October. As first reported by the Long Beach Post, Wilson coach Zac Polmanteer told parents that most of the team gathered in a single San Jose-area hotel room on Friday, Oct. 9. SFGATE previously identified the hotel as Element Santa Clara. Once gathered, Polmanteer wrote, "multiple student athletes were subjected to humiliating and physically harmful acts. Some athletes sustained injuries from being physically struck by their teammates."
Polmanteer did not learn about the hazing until after the Bruins had returned to Long Beach following the tournament. When Wilson returned to action on Tuesday, 13 players from the team's earlier rosters were not participating in the game against city rival Long Beach Poly.
Wilson played its final match in the Moore League on Tuesday night, defeating Lakewood 15-0 to complete a league title. But the Bruins forfeited their scheduled nonleague game on Wednesday at Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach. (They also forfeited a road game at Loyola last week.)
Wilson has historically had one of the state's best water polo programs, with a former player included on the U.S. Olympic team in each of the past seven Summer Olympics. (The most famous alum is Tony Azevedo, a five-time Olympian.) This season appeared to be a chance to return to past glory, with the Bruins ranking fourth in the Southern Section's midseason playoff rankings. But this year, Wilson will not be considered when the playoff brackets are set later this week.
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This article originally published at Long Beach HS cancels season as water polo hazing investigation continues.