STA’s Santarsiero, FTL’s Lucas each led Broward County in scoring
Nicholas Santarsiero and Charlotte Lucas are two of the premier scorers in South Florida and helped their programs become two of the best in Broward County this year.
It’s why they’re the Miami Herald’s Broward County Water Polo Players of the Year.
Both Santarsiero and Lucas scored more than 100 goals this year, and both led the county.
Santarsiero, a junior, helped guide St. Thomas Aquinas to its eighth final four in nine seasons even though there wasn’t a single senior on the roster this year. The utility player had 116 goals, 26 assists and 57 steals, and drew 52 fouls, primarily playing as the center forward.
“It was intense. It was a lot of work because it almost felt like we were rebuilding at certain points,” the Herald’s
Broward County Boys’ Water Polo Player of the Year said. “It was a journey. It started rough, but, in the end, we were able to get to where we’d like to be.”
Said Raiders coach Michael Goldenberg: “By
nature, Nick plays the center forward position and a majority of the plays go through center forward . ... The whole team was working to get the ball to him at certain times, for certain plays, and he was lucky enough
and skillful enough to finish a lot of it.”
While Santarsiero is the latest star for a traditional power, Lucas has helped turn Fort Lauderdale into an up-and-coming contender in South Florida.
The Flying L’s had
never made the Florida High School Athletic Association tournament before 2016 and now Lucas, a junior, gives them a singular talent unlike any they’ve had. The utility player had 101 goals, 71 assists and 110 steals, and drew 37 fouls this year to lead Fort Lauderdale to a District 11 championship.
“That’s definitely not been just thanks to me,” Lucas said. “It’s a mindset that everybody has. I get better, but I’m helping everyone get better and I think the team grows together.”
With both players coming back for one more year in Fort Lauderdale, they’ll have a chance to top themselves in 2023.
For Lucas, it would mean getting the Flying L’s to a region championship for the first time.
For Santarsiero, it would mean guiding the Raiders to their first state title since 2013.
The good news is Santarsiero thinks St. Thomas Aquinas’ last game was its best.
“Even though we did lose,” he said, “our team really clicked and we felt like we were playing for each other.”