Servite Top Seeded in Boys’ Water Polo

Anaheim Servite High is top seeded for the Southern Section Division II boys’ water polo playoffs, even though the Friars were never ranked No. 1 in the division this season.

The Friars were awarded the seeding based on their Oct. 22 victory over top-ranked Newport Beach Corona del Mar, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said. The seeding committee also took into consideration the Friars’ victory at the North Orange County tournament last weekend and their 14-game winning streak.

Servite Coach Jim Sprague, who submitted the section Division II rankings this season, said after the Friars’ victory over Corona del Mar that he still considered the Sea Kings the better team and would continue to rank them No.1. Sprague was not on the seeding committee.

There were no surprises among the other top-seeded teams: Long Beach Wilson in Division I, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in Division III, Ventura in Division IV, Riverside Poly in Division V and La Verne Damien in Division VI.

Divisions II through V will play will-card games today, with first-round play for all divisions beginning Thursday.

The finals are scheduled for Nov. 17 at the Long Beach Belmont Plaza pool.