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By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The best matchup of the IHSA boys water polo state tournament was arguably in the quarterfinals.
That battle between Lyons and New Trier could have been considered the real state championship match.
But no matter what, the Lions are state champions.
Heading into the postseason, Lyons had just three losses, and two of those were to two-time defending state champion New Trier by scores of 11-3 and 5-4.
On May 16, however, it was the Lions’ turn for revenge, knocking the Trevians out of the tournament in the state quarterfinals with a wild 10-9 overtime win.
There was no letdown over that emotional win and the Lions went on to beat Whitney Young, 12-7, in the semifinals and Stevenson, 10-7, in the championship match on May 18 at Stevenson.
It was the Lions (27-3) third boys water polo state championship and the 33rd athletic team state title in school history.
In the title match, Luke Jackson and Sami Rabah each had three goals while Sam Garvin and Brendan Whelton each scored twice.
In the semifinals, Jackson and Whelton had three goals each while Rabah and Michael Wall netted two apiece.
Jackson also had three goals in the quarterfinal win, while Finn Vahey added two.
The Lyons girls water polo team also brought home a trophy, claiming third place with a 12-7 win over Naperville North.
The Lions (27-6) scored three goals in each of the match’s four periods. Bella Recker, Tess Filipiak and Estelle Wright each had three goals.
LIONS ROAR
Lyons IHSA team state championships
9 — Boys track and field (1914, 1915, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1961, 1973)
3 — Girls volleyball (1976, 1990, 2011)
Baseball (1967, 2003, 2011)
Girls tennis (1991, 1992, 1993)
Boys water polo (2012, 2015, 2024)
2 — Girls gymnastics (2013, 2014)
Boys basketball (1953, 1970)
Boys cross country (1956, 1957)
Boys swimming and diving (2016, 2017)
1 — Girls water polo (2010)
Boys golf (1938)
Boys gymnastics (2021)
Boys soccer (2010)
