Sultans swab deck with Highlanders

By Ramon Scott
Updated: October 13, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS WATER POLO

EastCountySports.com staff report

SANTEE — Santana reversed its closest loss of the season and strengthened its place among the San Diego Section’s leading boys water polo teams.

The Sultans defeated Helix, 9-6, on Thursday, Oct. 8, handing the Scotties their first Grossmont Conference loss and avenging a 10-9 tournament defeat against Helix on Sept. 12.

The victory completed a 2-0 week for Santana, which also defeated Grossmont, 19-11, one night earlier.

Santana improved to 14-5 overall and moved to 3-0 in the Grossmont Hills League when the rescheduled Helix contest is counted as the teams’ first league meeting.

Helix entered the week as the highest-rated Grossmont Conference team and began the stretch with a 15-9 victory over Valhalla. The Scotties finished the week 12-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

The results left Santana alone atop the Hills standings, with Helix and Valhalla tied in the loss column behind the Sultans.

Santana’s victory also continued a strong run against quality competition. The Sultans have defeated Poway, Canyon Crest Academy, San Ramon Valley and Helix while compiling wins in 10 of their last 11 reported games.

Grossmont earned its first league victory Friday by edging Steele Canyon, 11-10.

The Foothillers had dropped league decisions against Valhalla, Helix and Santana, but broke through by winning the week’s closest Grossmont Conference contest.

Steele Canyon responded with two victories during Saturday’s tournament competition. The Cougars defeated Mission Hills, 12-2, and Rancho Buena Vista, 14-5, before falling to Granite Hills, 9-8.

The two wins represented an encouraging response for Steele Canyon following three consecutive close conference defeats.

In the Grossmont Valley League, Granite Hills produced the area’s busiest and most successful week.

The Eagles defeated Monte Vista, 16-7, and West Hills, 15-6, in league play before earning two more victories Saturday. Granite Hills defeated Canyon Hills, 12-2, and held off Steele Canyon, 9-8.

The four victories improved Granite Hills to 9-4 overall and 3-0 in league, extending its winning streak to eight reported games.

Granite Hills began the season 1-4 after facing La Jolla Country Day, Mission Bay, Francis Parker and Westview. The Eagles have not lost since their 13-10 setback against Westview on Sept. 22.

El Capitan also remained unbeaten in Grossmont Valley competition.

The Vaqueros defeated West Hills, 20-7, before falling to highly rated La Jolla Country Day, 16-10. El Capitan completed the week 13-4 overall and 2-0 in league.

Mount Miguel recorded a 9-5 victory over San Ysidro before falling to Diamond Bar, 21-13. A scheduled league game between Mount Miguel and Monte Vista did not have a result reported.

Patrick Henry supplied the week’s most complete individual performance.

Junior JD Lackey scored seven goals and added an assist as the Patriots defeated Point Loma, 16-12, in City League play.

Junior Sam Sanders contributed five assists, while junior Noah Jenkins recorded two goals, two assists and two steals. Senior Jimmy Reinheimer added three goals, and sophomore goalkeeper Auggie Perez made 12 saves.

Lackey ended the game with 79 goals and 107 points for the season, while Sanders increased his team-leading assist total to 38. Perez reached 145 saves.

The victory improved Patrick Henry to 8-7 overall and 2-1 in league.

Poway split consecutive games against Carlsbad. The Titans lost the first meeting, 16-13, before responding with a 16-13 victory the following day.

Ramona continued its productive season by defeating San Marcos, 13-6, improving to 12-4.

Canyon Hills came within one goal of Mira Mesa in a 14-13 loss before encountering a difficult three-game tournament schedule Saturday.

The week’s results elevated Santana to the top of the Grossmont Hills race while Granite Hills emerged as the early leader in the Grossmont Valley League.

Both races remain unsettled, but the Sultans and Eagles established themselves as the teams to catch entering the second half of conference competition.