The 2024 goals for the West Valley men's water polo team are clear: a 34th consecutive Coast Conference championship, a 4th straight NorCal title and the program's 7th state championship, but 1st since 2010. Coach Willo Rodriguez's roster, on paper, is loaded with experience, goal-scorers and relentless defenders. However, what happens in the water, especially during a challenging early schedule, will tell the tale of the 2024 Vikings. 

The 2023 Vikings played in a 3rd consecutive 3C2A state championship against Golden West, with the Rustlers holding off the Vikings 13-9 to claim their 7th straight title. While WVC is looking to return to the championship podium at Long Beach City Nov. 21-23, their immediate focus is on the 2024 Nyquist Invitational Sept. 6-7 at the West Valley Aquatics Center. 

WVC takes on four 2023 playoff teams, including two state tourney squads, at the Nyquist. Playoff teams San Joaquin Delta and Long Beach City battle the Vikings Friday, while state tournament teams Cerritos and Modesto square off against WVC Saturday.

View the complete 2024 schedule.

West Valley outscored opponents 623-274, 173-64 in the Coast, in 2023. 389 of those goals return in 2024 in the form of Berkecan Yalcin (131 goals), Phil Portisch (94), Ethan MacLeod (62), Taine Pickering (42), Sy Lazzaroni (31) and Mateja Cetkovic (29). Yalcin also led the Vikings in assists (63) and recorded 26 steals and shot 72%. Portisch led the team with 77 steals, while Macleod shot a team-high 91%. Ethan Ivey is back between the pipes for the Vikings. In 2023, the 6-4 netminder was 21-2 with 177 saves (50.8 save %).

Cetkovic, Portisch and Yalcin were All-State and All-State Tournament selections. Yalcin was the Coast MVP, Portisch and Ivey were named to the All-Coast 1st Team, while Cetkovic, Lazzaroni and Macleod all made the 2nd team. Pickering and Nathan Arakawa garnered Coast Honorable Mention. Rodriguez was the Coast Coach of the Year.