By Kristi Pavelich

Special Contributor to The Review

The Dragons United varsity water polo teams had a busy week, beginning with travel to Troy on April 20, where the boys team soundly defeated the Troy United team, 22-6.

The Dragon offense started off strong and never looked back, led by LO junior Noah Watt and senior Michael Pavelich with five and four goals each.

LO senior Dane Herrick and Clarkston senior Owen Brown each chipped in three, while LO senior Jack Mozdzierz and LO sophomore Evan Fox added two apiece and LO senior Carter Brunni and juniors Nick Kadulski and Jack Watt each tipped one in for the effort.

J. Watt had a strong showing for the defense in net, making 11 saves, and Pavelich stepped into the net in the fourth, with two saves.

The Lady Dragons also took on Troy United, winning 14-9.

LO juniors Madison Gordon and Jenna Manganello led the team with seven and five goals, respectively. LO senior Emma Giem and Rose Corliss each added one.

Oxford senior Ellie Olheiser was a force in the net, blocking 15 shots and was aided by Oxford senior Emily Geda with six steals and Manganello with four.

The Dragons met Troy United again on Saturday in a close contest that tipped in the green favor with a score of 11-10. Gordon had three goals, with Giem, Corliss and Manganello each with two and Geda and LO junior Dakota Guldi each with one.

The boys traveled to Seaholm for the start of district seeding tournaments on April 23, meeting the Cobras of Walled Lake in the pool. The snakes were stunned by the Dragons and defeated 16-2.

Brown and Clarkston junior Canyon Roodbeen netted three goals each as Herrick, N. Watt and Fox each added one. J Watt was a brick wall in the net, making eight saves, and was assisted by Herrick who stole the ball seven times from the unsuspecting Cobras to return play to the Dragon offensive.

On Saturday morning, April 24, the Dragons drew the toughest tournament play of the day, as the only team with back-to-back games, meeting the 9th state ranked Seaholm team, followed by Birmingham Groves, the 8th ranked state team. The Dragons fought hard in both games, suffering tough losses of 16-5 and 15-3.

J. Watt led the defense in goal, blocking 19 goals in both games. The defensive line was strong, led by Herrick with eight steals, N Watt with four, Fox with three and Pavelich with two. The Dragon offense was varied with Herrick, Pavelich, and LO freshman Caeden Stauss with two each, while Noah Watt and Kadulski added one to the effort.

The Dragons will be traveling to Mason today and will host their last regulation home game on Thursday against Walled Lake.

They will also be honoring their six seniors that evening: Carter Brunni, Owen Brown, Martin Cordoba, Dane Herrick, Jack Mozdzierz and Michael Pavelich.