Six Bulldogs earn water polo all league honors

By Joe Naiman

Six members of Ramona High School’s boys water polo team received all league honors during the Valley League coaches’ selection process.

“That was good. I’m happy for that,” said coach Donnie Williams. “I thought it was a good all-around selection for us.”

Two of Ramona’s players were named to the league’s first team: Matteo Franchello and Jesse Reiling.

“I think Jesse and Matteo definitely showed their worth,” Williams said.

Franchello is academically a junior but is an exchange student from Italy and will be returning to Europe for subsequent water polo activities.

“Matteo did a good job this year and it was great having him,” Williams said. “Made the team better all the way around.”

Reiling is a junior. “Jesse did a really good job and came up a long way from his sophomore year,” Williams said. “I think he’ll be a force next year.”

Isaac Gross, Ramona’s only all league player from the 2011 season who wasn’t a senior last year, received a berth on this year’s Valley League second team.

“Isaac did a great job for us all season,” Williams said.

Junior Thomas Abbott was Ramona’s other second-team selection. “He’s a big strong force,” said Williams.

Junior Ryan Hall and sophomore Garrett Klem were given honorable mention recognition. Klem and Franchello were Ramona’s only all league selections who did not spend last year with Ramona’s varsity; the other four are all two-year varsity players.

Williams noted that his all league selections aren’t the Bulldogs’ only four returning players for 2013.

“I can probably see two to three other players right in that same mix,” he said. “I think we’re going to see a lot of stuff coming from them next year,” he said.