The old saying of “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships” came to fruition for the defending State Champion Seminole High School girls water polo team (27-1) as the Fighting Seminoles held off a determined Winter Park squad, 5-3, in the Region 1 Championship Game at the Larry A. Dale Aquatic Center last Thursday night.
The victory avenged the Tribe’s lone loss of the season and advances them to the State Final 4 for the third consecutive season and fourth time in five years.
A couple of hours later, it was deja’ vu as the Noles boys (20-8) outscored Oviedo, 13-10, to not only repeat as Regional Champions, but also advance to the State Final 4 for the second consecutive year.
This is just the fourth time that both the boys and girls teams from the same school have made the Final 4 in the same year, and Seminole became the first to do it twice.
The State Tournament will take this Friday and Saturday (April 25-26) at the Gian Zumpano Aquatic Center in Miami with Belen Jesuit Preparatory School serving as host school.
Admission is $13 per day with advance purchase via GoFan, and $16 the day of the games. Parking is included in ticket price.
Go to _ https://fhsaa.com/sports/wp _ for more information.
Here are the Regional results and Final 4 schedule:
REGION 1
At Larry A. Dale Aquatics Center, Sanford
BOYS
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, April 15
(1) Seminole 23, (8) Wekiva 7.
(2) Oviedo 18, (7) Lake Brantley 11.
(3) Winter Park 17, (6) Gainesville4 .
(4) Lake Mary 9, (5) Lyman 5.
Semifinals
Wednesday, April 16
(1) Seminole 15, (4) Lake Mary 7.
(2) Oviedo 14, (3) Winter Park 13.
Championship
Thursday, April 17
(1) Seminole 13, (2) Oviedo 10.
GIRLS
Quarterfinals
Monday, April 14
(1) Seminole 21, (8) Gainesville 3.
(2) Winter Park 20, (7) Timber Creek 3.
(3) Lake Brantley 16, (6) Oviedo 8.
(4) Lake Mary 14, (5) Bishop Moore 4.
Semifinals
Wednesday, April 16
(1) Seminole 18, (4) Lake Mary 5.
(2) Winter Park 7, (3) Lake Brantley 2.
Championship
Thursday, April 17
(1) Seminole 5, (2) Winter Park 3.
FHSAA STATE FINALS
At Gian Zumpano Aquatic Center, Miami
GIRLS
Semifinals
Friday, April 25
Game 1 _ Seminole (27-1) vs. Miami Country Day (13-9), 2 p.m.
Game 2 _ West Orange (17-5) vs. Gulliver Prep (25-1), 3:30 p.m.
Championships
Saturday, April 26
Game 3 _ Semifinal winners, 1:30 p.m.
BOYS
Semifinals
Friday, April 25
Game 1 _ St. Thomas Aquinas (20-6) vs. Westminster Academy (22-2), 5 p.m.
Game 2 _ Seminole (20-8) vs. Mater Lakes Academy (23-2), 6:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, April 26
Game 3 _ Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
