Cleveland Edges Palisades 9-7 for Open Title
Cleveland won its fourth straight City Section boys' water polo championship by defeating defending...
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Swimming
Cleveland defeated Palisades 9-7 to win the City Section Open Division boys' water polo title. Arthur Petrosian scored six goals, including the winner from the hole with 1:30 left to break a 7-7 tie.
Why it matters
The win extends Cleveland's run as the city's top boys' water polo program and continues a shift in the Open Division title picture. It also ends Palisades' hosting advantage in the final, as the No. 1 seed fell to the No. 2 seed in its own pool.
Matthew Prontenko made 10 saves for Cleveland, and Palisades' 18 City titles and 11-title streak, snapped two years ago, provide the historical backdrop. The extraction does not specify advanced stats beyond these figures.
The players
Arthur Petrosian
Petrosian, a Cleveland player, scored six goals in the final, including the go-ahead goal with 1:30 remaining.
Matthew Prontenko
Prontenko, Cleveland's goalkeeper, made 10 saves in the championship game.
The details
After Petrosian's winning goal, Charlie Rinsky scored an insurance goal 40 seconds later. Cleveland then played keep-away, running all but three seconds off the clock, and Palisades was thwarted on its next possession.
Timeline
Cleveland won its first section title in 2010.
Two years ago, Cleveland defeated Palisades 15-4 in the Open Division finals at Valley College.
Last year, Cleveland beat Eagle Rock 9-4 in the championship, while Granada Hills won the Division I title.
Thursday night, Cleveland defeated Palisades 9-7 for the Open Division title.
Season Trajectory
Cleveland's win extends its Open Division run that began two years ago, when it ended Palisades' 11-title streak with a 15-4 finals victory. The result reshapes the City Section Open Division picture, where Palisades had long held the most titles.
For Los Angeles water polo followers, the result reshapes the City Section Open Division standings and the competitive picture for next season. Fantasy and roster-watchers should note Petrosian's six-goal performance as the primary scoring source in the final.
The takeaway
Cleveland's four straight titles show how sustained coaching and depth can outlast a single season's advantages. Readers following local prep sports can watch how this streak reshapes the Open Division for coming seasons.
Further reading
For more on the sport, browse our Swimming coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
