Local Teams Compete in Girls’ Water Polo

The 32-team Orange Magnolia girls’ water polo tournament, the largest event of its kind in the state, starts today and continues through Saturday at four sites in Orange County.

Glendale, Montebello, La Canada, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, Long Beach Millikan, Arcadia and Whittier La Serna are among the participants.

This is the second year that the Southern Section has sponsored girls’ water polo and the first year it is being contested as a championship sport with playoffs.

There are 128 teams competing in three divisions, with five leagues in Division I, five in Division II and 10 in division III.

The division championship matches will be played March 2-3.

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Running back Justin Fargas of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has been selected Gatorade Circle of Champions Pacific Region football player of the year, making him one of eight finalists for the national award.

Other national finalists are Brian St. Pierre, a quarterback from St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Maine; Marquise Walker, a receiver and defensive back from Henninger High in Syracuse, N.Y.; Ronald Curry, a quarterback and defensive back from Hampton High in Hampton, Va.; Drew Henson, a quarterback from Brighton High in Brighton Minn.; Aaron Kampman, a linebacker from Aplington-Parkersburg High in Parkersburg, Iowa; Matt Holiday, a quarterback from Stillwater High in Stillwater, Okla.; and Steve Cutlip, a quarterback from Arvada West High in Arvada, Colo.

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The Southern Section Division I and Division II football championship games will be televised by Fox Sports West 2.

The Division II game between Chino Hills Ayala and Palos Verdes Peninsula on Friday at Cal State Fullerton will be broadcast Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Division I final between Santa Ana Mater Dei and Long Beach Poly at the Coliseum will be broadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.