Murrieta Valley’s Soto, Alta Loma’s Berzins earn top CIF-SS honors

Murrieta Valley senior goalkeeper Jaden Soto and Alta Loma freshman attacker Carly Berzins received top honors as the CIF Southern Section released its girls water polo awards for the 2022-23 season.

Soto was selected the Division 2 Player of the Year after helping Murrieta Valley win its first section title since 2016. Soto registered 22 saves as the Nighthawks beat Millikan 7-6 in the Division 2 championship match.

Berzins was chosen the Division 4 Player of the Year after leading Alta Loma to the program’s first title since 2017. Berzins

scored four goals to help the Braves beat Marlborough 13-6 in the Division 4 section final.

Murrieta Valley’s Bryan Lynton and Alta Loma’s Kristin Rodriguez were selected Coach of the Year in their respective playoff divisions for guiding their teams to section championships.

Eighteen additional Inland players were chosen to division first teams.

CIF-SS GIRLS WATER POLO HONORS

Open Division

Player of the Year:

Coach of the Year:

Orange Lutheran

Inland players on first team: none

Division 1

Player of the Year:

Coach of the Year:

Long Beach Wilson

Inland players on first team:

Division 2

Player of the Year:

Murrieta Valley, Sr.

Coach of the Year:

Murrieta Valley

Jaden Soto,

Bryan Lynton,

Other Inland players on first team:

Wood, Murrieta Valley, Jr.

Division 3

Player of the Year:

Sydney Chapman, Jserra, Jr. Natalie

Coach of the Year:

Seidemann, Jserra

Inland players on first team: none

Division 4

Player of the Year:

Alta Loma, Fr.

Coach of the Year:

Alta Loma

Carly Berzins,

Kristin Rodriguez,

Other Inland players on first team:

Division 5

Player of the Year:

Pasadena Poly

Coach of the Year:

Pasadena Poly

Division 6

Player of the Year:

Coach of the Year:

Placentia

Liz Forgassa,

Sean Grab,

Inland player on first team:

Taylor Stute, Upland, Sr.

Inland players on first team: