The gold-medal drought is over for the 805 Santa Barbara Water Polo Club at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.

Led by Ava Stryker's six goals, the club's 16-under girls team won its division championship with a 10-6 victory over Saddleback El Toro (SET) at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine. It was the 805's first JO's title since 2016, when Team USA Olympian Paige Hauschild and current 805 assistant coach, Stanford standout and national team player Ryann Neushul led the 16s to back-to-back crowns.

In addition to her offense, Stryker made a huge defensive play in the title game. Midway through the second period, she elevated to intercept a cross pass and sure goal from SET.  

Head coach Cathy Neushul called Stryker's overall play “one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen in a JO final.” 

The 16U girls crushed their opponents by a combined score of 66-18 in bracket play, including lopsided wins over traditional powerhouses Socal Black A (10-4) and San Diego Shores A (13-7). A 9-7 semifinal win over Lamorinda marked their closest game of the tournament.

“This 805 team stuck together since they were 12 and this is their first-ever final," said Neushul. "They put on a show."

She pointed to the outstanding play of goalies Elaia Hamilton and Ida Tully-Giles who shared time quarter for quarter throughout the tournament.

Coached by Cathy Neushul, Connor Levoff and Ryann Neushul, the 16U National Junior Olympic Champions include Ava Bennett (Dos Pueblos High), Emma Gilbert (DP), Madi Haaland-Ford (San Marcos), Brooke Ingram (San Marcos), Reagan McEachen (San Marcos), Kate Meyer (San Marcos), Olivia Obando (Santa Barbara High), Sophia Panossian (San Marcos), Charlotte Raisin (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel), Ava Stryker (San Marcos),  Ida Tully-Giles (Villanova Preparatory School) and Elaia Hamilton (San Marcos).

In other results from 805 Water Polo, the 14U Girls reached the semifinals, where they fell to North Irvine. In the bronze medal game, they lost to Socal. The 14s were led by Charlotte Raisin and Lucy Haaland-Ford. 

The 10U girls team, coached by Chuckie Roth, Kenzie Snyder and Stephen Neushul, fell in the Platinum quarterfinals against Newport Harbor, 14-10. 

Also placing in the top division were the 805 12U girls (13th), 16U girls (20th) and 18U girls (13th).  In the Gold Division, the 14U B girls placed sixth.

Roth, Snyder and Neushul’s 10U mixed team won the Gold Division.

Nine 805 seniors played in their final Junior Olympics before heading to college. They are: Zosia Amberger (Pomona Pitzer), Elise Power (Claremont McKenna), Chloe Spievak (UC Irvine), Bella Obando (LMU), Caroline Courtois (UCSD), JuJu Martinez Amaral (UCSB), Kelly Meckelborg (University of Hawaii), Charlie Winter (SBCC), and Emily Clapham (SBCC).