Bruins battle the Huntington Beach Oilers
For the first time since the devastating loss last year at CIF, the Bruins and the Oilers battled it out again, and the results were something different.
This week marked a the first full-program showdown of the season for the Bruins. Frosh/Soph, Varsity, and JV all took the pool against Huntington Beach High, and while the scoreboard told one story, what really stood out was the grit, teamwork, and (rowdy) family atmosphere that makes this program so unique.
From the first sprint to the last whistle, our boys fought hard and showed what Wilson water polo is all about.
Frosh/Soph Recap
Frosh/Soph Goals:
Gannon — 5
Bannan — 3
Shane — 3
Julian — 1
Wilson: 12 – HB: 14
The Frosh/Soph team opened the night and faced a tough Huntington Beach squad. HB jumped out early, but Wilson settled in and began chipping away.
Bannon Burmeister fought hard in the middle, pulling down rebounds and turning them into goals. Gannon Bloeser was fearless on the perimeter, firing in big outside shots. Shane kept the energy high with goals from inside, including a slick spin shot. And Julian Purcell’s finish from close range gave the team another boost.
The game stayed close, but in the end HB edged it out. Still, our Frosh/Soph boys showed that they’ve got plenty of fight and heart, and this is just the start of their season journey.
Varsity Recap
Varsity Goals:
Vaughn — 4
Keegan — 4
Kai — 2
Samson — 2
Nico — 2
Ace — 1
Louis — 1
Wilson: 15 – HB: 9
Varsity’s matchup was the highlight of the evening—and the boys did not disappoint. It was tight in the first quarter, but Keegan Abing set the tone early with a pair of goals, and Vaughn added firepower from the outside. Kai Bramble finished off a beautiful fast break, and by the end of the opening period Wilson led by one.
From there, Wilson only turned up the heat. Ace Dufault buried a man-up shot, Nico Tramontano muscled one in from set, and Samson Casem converted a 6-on-5 to extend the lead at halftime.
Then Vaughn Baker went on a tear in the second half, including one on a fast break that brought the bench alive. By the fourth, the whole lineup was contributing with Christian Marov-Perez and Andrew Demboski standing tall in the goal, making big stops and keeping HB from gaining momentum.
This game was a statement win; showing the depth, talent, and teamwork of this Bruin Varsity team.
JV Recap
JV Goals:
Nolan — 4
Jesse — 3
Evin — 2
Chase — 1
Felipe — 1
(Remaining goals spread across strong team play to total 13)
Wilson: 13 – HB: 6
The JV boys closed out the night with an electric performance. The first quarter ended tied at 2–2, with Jesse Knight and Evin Vanderwal scoring early. From there, the team took control. Nolan Kerry was everywhere—stealing, hustling, and finding the back of the net multiple times with the help of fellow big man, Scott Daniels putting up strategic passes and drawing assists.
Knight added two more goals under heavy pressure, and Chase Carson showed why he’s such a key player with his defensive toughness and timely offense.
Jack Cassiano made some clutch saves, and Vanderwal not only scored but set up his teammates beautifully with assists.
In the fourth, the energy stayed high, Felipe Aguilar had the crowd buzzing with a surprise lob shot for his first JV goal. Kerry capped his big night with yet another goal after strong ball movement from the team.
It was a complete performance, and the boys walked away with a well-deserved win.
Looking Ahead
It was a full night of Bruin Water Polo—three games, three different stories, and one big reminder of how deep this program runs.
All three squads head into another big test against Westlake High School on September 2nd, and If this performance was any indication, our boys will be ready to bring the same heart, hustle, and Wilson pride to the pool.
