Fords, Churchwomen win Eastern Prep titles

Somehow it was only fitting that on the Sunday leading up to the annual Haverford/EA Day, the boys water polo team from the Haverford School and the girls squad from Episcopal Academy came home with the championship hardware from the Eastern Prep tournament.

For the Fords, it was their first time winning the title.

The Churchwomen won for the second straight year and the fourth time in the last six years.

Senior goalie Koby Degenhardt made 15 saves to pace the Fords (26-1) to an 11-9 win over Gilman School in the final at the United States Naval Academy. Senior Ryan LaRocca led the offense with three goals. He also had three steals. Matej

Sekulic added two goals, three assists, two steals and one drawn ejection. Freshman Matej Sekulic contributed two assists, one steal and one drawn ejection.

David Gobora collected four goals, two steals, one drawn ejection and one block in the Fords’ 13-3 win over Mt. St. Joseph in the semifinals. LaRocca pitched in with three goals, four assists, seven steals and one block. Luka Sekulic had three assists, six steals and one block. Matej Sekulic posted two goals and three steals and Grayson Walker added two goals, one steal and one drawn ejection.

Goalie Katie Brian came up with 21 saves to lead the EA girls to a 16-8 victory over Lawrenceville in the final at EA’s Burke Natatorium.

Jovana Sekulic powered the offense with 13 goals. She also had three kick-outs drawn, two steals and won two swimoffs. Alex Swnepole (two goals, three assists, two steals) and Abby Bonner (one goal, three assists, four steals) also came up big for the Churchwomen.

Brian posted 27 saves and one steal to get EA to the final with a 16-9 win over Hill School in the semifinals. Sekulic collected five goals, six steals, one shot block, two kick-outs drawn and two swim-offs won. Swanepole added three goals, one assist, one steal and two kick-outs drawn. Bonner had two goals, one kick-out drawn and Gracie Sheehan contributed three goals and one steal.