Pali High Boys Pace TSM 18Us to First Place at JOs

Four Palisades High players helped Team Santa Monica’s 18U boys  squad make history last week after taking first place in the Bronze Division at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics up in the Bay Area.  Goalie John Possman, who resides in the Palisades Village and is entering his senior year at Pali High, led the way with clutch saves. Also contributing were sprinter/attacker Owen Grant, a junior-to-be from the Marquez Knolls neighborhood, senior attacker Gavin Levy of the Highlands and attacker Levvy Valdez of West Los Angeles.

The TSM squad, formed in 2021 and coached by Matt Flanders, was making its first appearance in the Junior Olympics. This is the best the Palisades boys, who previously played together for Westside Aquatics, have ever done at JOs. TSM defeated SOAC of South Alameda 10-5 in the finals. In group play, TSM beat South Coast White 13-4; lost to Costa Del Sur 11-10;  lost to Channel Islands White 11-7; beat Sacramento Black 13-4; and beat Praetoian 12-4. In the playoffs, TSM beat Stanford B 12-5 in the quarterfinals and topped Alameda 16-5 in the semifinals.