Water polo: Servite-Mater Dei dispute escalates

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An ongoing dispute between Anaheim Servite and Santa Ana Mater Dei surrounding an Oct. 10 water polo incident has caused Servite to announce that it has canceled scheduled matches on Thursday against Mater Dei in varsity, junior varsity and frosh-sophomore water polo on recommendation of legal counsel, the school said in a statement. Servite will thus forfeit the matches.

Servite has alleged that one of its players was choked in the match against Mater Dei on Oct. 10. Servite called Anaheim police. A police spokesman, Sgt. Rick Martinez, said Wednesday that detectives have been investigating the incident.

Servite informed Mater Dei and the CIF Southern Section of its decision to forfeit, but the office has not been asked to mediate the matter, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said.

Both schools belong to the Trinity League, which would be the first to decide if any action needs to be taken in the matter. Servite Principal Michael Brennan is president of the league.

The two schools are scheduled to play in a highly publicized football game next week.

-- Eric Sondheimer