High school water polo gets shelved for the season

The decision affects teams from Sacred Heart Prep (boys and girls), Menlo School (boys and girls) and Palo Alto (boys).

While the main concern is the health and welfare of the student-athletes and those directly affected by the Camp fires in Butte County, the cancellations leave a void in a season full of accomplishments.

"This is certainly one of our best seasons we have ever had during my tenure," SHP boys coach Brian Kreutzkamp wrote in an e-mail. "I can comfortable say we are one of the top 3 teams in the country and it would have been great to see them finish this. That being said, we completely understand there is something much more important and dire happening in our area so we completely understand the decisions to cancel these games.

"Winning the North vs. South for the first time in program history, winning the S and R tournament, and runner up in the Elite 8 tournament were certainly our best moments."

Harvard-Westlake, which Sacred Heart Prep beat two of three times, won the Southern Section title, generally considered the toughest in the nation.

The Central Coast Section Open Division boys' championship game had to be abandoned after being rescheduled and/or relocated three times. The emphasis on academics was a determining factor for the game not being played Monday morning at Independence High.

"I am guessing there will not be a game," Kreutzkamp said. "We are off of school next week, so it would have to be weeks away."

The size and scope of the Central Coast Section has allowed for CCS football and cross country championships to be contested this weekend in the Salinas and Monterey areas.

The CCS office still had another 48 miles before running out of possible locations. The section runs from Daly City to King City and includes coastal areas.