Daschbach, Boys & Girls Water Polo highlight Best of the Decade

1/7/2020

Nathan Mollat | San Mateo Daily Journal Staff

SHP grad Andrew Daschbach (SHP '16) was named the San Mateo Daily Journal's Athlete of the Decade, while SHP Boys & Girls Water Polo were tabbed as the decade's two best teams.

When going through day-to-day life, sometimes the bigger picture can lost in the shuffle — a “Can’t see the forest for the trees” phenomenon.

It didn’t even dawn me that 2019 was the end of the decade until I started seeing all those “end of the decade” lists. Similar to “end of the year” lists, but made more difficult because instead of looking back on the previous 365 days, now you have go through 3,650 days (give or take, I’m sure there are an extra few Leap Year days in there, but you get the general idea).

So I spent most of Monday morning going through the Daily Journal archives to come up with an end of the decade retrospective.

Boys’ Athlete of the Decade

Andrew Daschbach, Sacred Heart Prep (2012-2016). There were quite a few choices here, including guys who went on to have professional careers. But when you look at his high school accomplishments, it would be hard to choose anyone other than Daschbach. A three-year varsity player in football, basketball and baseball, Daschbach would go on become a two-time Daily Journal Boys’ Athlete of the Year. He first earned the distinction during his junior year and completed the double following his senior season. Daschbach would go on to be part of five Central Coast Section championship teams: three in football, and one each in basketball and baseball.

Boys’ team of the Decade

Sacred Heart Prep boys’ water polo. It may not have the cache of football or basketball, but when a team wins titles as often as the Gators, it’s hard not to take notice. You also have to give credit where credit is due as SHP is, year in and year out, one of the best teams in the nation.

In 2019, SHP won its ninth straight CCS title. From 2011 to 2016, the Gators reigned in Division II bracket and have since added the first three Open Division crowns in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Girls’ team of the Decade

Sacred Heart Prep water polo. Much like the SHP boys’ team, its hard to ignore the Lady Gators’ prowess during the last 10 years. They had already won three CCS titles in row when the decade began and went on to win seven more in row before having their streak broken at 10 in the finals of the first Open Division bracket in 2017. SHP lost in the 2018 semifinals before climbing back to mountain top this past season and claiming their first Open Division crown.

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