He ended his water polo team's playoff drought. Now he's the league MVP.
To the victor go the spoils.
The resurgent Johansen High boys water polo team captured the Modesto Metro Conference championship, sweeping all league competitions. The Vikings were 12-0 and 25-6 overall.
Their dominance wasn't relegated to the pool. Johansen had a league-high three players named to the all-conference first team, including MVP Shelby Johnson.
Johnson tallied 105 goals in 31 matches, averaging nearly four goals per game. He was named to the all-Sac-Joaquin Section Division II team after ending the program's three-year playoff drought.
The Vikings were a No. 7 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and opened the tournament with an 11-4 victory over No. 10 Roseville. The Vikings' run ended in the second round, where it pushed second-seeded Rocklin in an 11-8 loss.
Johnson was joined on the first team by junior teammates Will Johnson and Nelson Sabatini.
Runnerup Gregori received two first-team selections: senior Jack Runyan and junior Ethan Wentzel. The Jaguars finished on the Vikings' heels at 10-2.
Downey also landed two on the first team, including the league's top goalie, senior Tanner Plaa. Plaa helped guide the Knights to an 8-4 mark in league and a D-II playoff berth. Matt Ciccarelli was also named to the first team.
Enochs' Matt Vinson rounded out the first team. The Eagles were 5-7.
The second team consisted of: sophomore Ben Berry of Beyer; juniors Joshua Romano of Downey and Dominic Sabatini or Johansen; and seniors Matt Kaufmann of Johansen, Isiah Gutierrez of Gregori, Ethan Haak of Enochs, and Jon Pallios of Modesto.
Those receiving an honorable mention were: juniors KD Gwarsia of Modesto, Sean Gutowski of Gregori and Peter Cline of Downey; and seniors Maclain Draper of Beyer, Julian Hernandez of Davis, Dylan Lahti of Enochs, and Michael Guerrero of Johansen.
Girls
Gregori senior Elizabeth Taggar was named the MMC's Most Valuable Player.
Taggar was joined on the first team by senior teammate Ella Cheek. Together, the two spearheaded the Jaguars' pursuit of a league championship.
Gregori finished 11-1 and qualified for the Division I playoffs as a No. 9 seed. The postseason run didn't last long, though. The Jaguars were eliminated by Oakdale in the first round.
Beyer finished second in league, qualified for the Division III playoffs, and received two first-team picks: Seniors Christine Berry and Sydney Castle.
Downey junior Raney Hicks was the league's top goalie. She was joined by teammate Eleni Davis, a senior. The Knights clinched a berth in the D-II tournament, but were ousted by No. 7 Del Oro, 10-6.
The MMC was 0-3 in the playoffs.
Enochs senior Greta Viss rounded out the first team. The Eagles finished in a tie with Downey for third place at 7-5.
Members of the second team were: Sophomore goalie Trinity Edwards of Gregori; juniors Lauryn Leventini of Beyer and Grace Austin of Modesto; and seniors Chloe Kline and Priscilla Dominguez of Downey, Alyvea Olanolan of Enochs, and goalie Haley Petero of Johansen.
Those receiving an honorable mention were: Sophomore Emily Sisco of Johansen; juniors Kaylin O'Brien of Beyer and Daly Cheek of Johansen; and seniors Athena Bauer of Davis, Kayla Green of Downey, Barak Solomon of Enochs, and goalie Josie Neifer of Modesto.
This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 11:01 AM with the headline "He ended his water polo team's playoff drought. Now he's the league MVP.."