The 1997 La Canada High School water polo team will always be remembered as the team that changed the program and made it a national powerhouse. The change began in 1995, when Larry Naeve took over as water polo coach. Knowing that he had a talented group of sophomores and freshmen, Naeve built the team with 1997 in mind. He took the best sophomores and started them on the varsity side over the more experienced veterans. He also made the freshman and sophomore teams in numerous competitions for the team to play together. Although the varsity team suffered hard times and heavy losses in 1995 and 1996, its young players gained invaluable experience heading into the 1997 season.
With the entire team experienced and ready, the 1997 season started brilliantly. The team outclassed the competition and seemed to become a title challenger overnight. They began to win tournaments and draw the attention of many water polo powers, who previously knew that La Canada was a weak team. The team ran out of steam when starting goaltender and All American Russell Bernstein was injured for a few games, but quickly regained its playoff form as the number two seed in the division (rivals, Bell Gardens, were naturally number one seeded). of beating La Cañada twice during the regular season).
The team made it through the playoffs and set up a rematch with Bell Gardens in the finals. The game started slow and Bell Gardens jumped out to an early lead. But Naeve encouraged his boys at halftime and La Cañada began to dominate the game. They ended up winning the CIF Division III title by one goal, and with it, the recognition the program long deserved. Three of the players were named to the All American team, the first All Americans from La Canada to hear in 2 decades, and everyone on the starting squad was named to the All CIF team.
While building this team for success, Naeve created an age group water polo team, and with it came success. With more and more experienced water polo players entering high school, the team began to exceed everyone’s wildest expectations. After the 1997 season, the team won a few more CIF championships and earned All American honors for countless players, something that was previously just a pipe dream. Although the miraculous season of 1997 started it all, La Canada water polo became a powerhouse through the vision and work of Larry Naeve.