Turlock High’s Matt Reis finished with 22 saves, Drew Folly and Taylor Ward each had a team-high four goals and the varsity boys water polo team kicked off league play in the Central California Athletic League with a 13-7 win over Gregori High on Wednesday afternoon from home. 

The win was Turlock’s second consecutive victory and their 11th of the season. 

They currently hold an overall record of 11-3 and 1-0 in the CCAL. 

“We played Gregori in the first-round last year and beat them in overtime, so for the guys on the team who beat them last year, they didn’t want to let it happen,” said Turlock head coach Colin Wenstrand. “But compared to other games we have played, we got off to a slow start, but give them credit for being a strong team, it is hard to start fast and get a bunch of goals up on the board.” 

It took some time to get things rolling, but once they did, Turlock proved superior.

Gregori got off to a quick start that saw them notch the first goal of the game.  From there, the one or two-goal difference was steady throughout. 

The game was tied at 2-2, then Turlock went up 4-3 by the conclusion of the first. 

Gregori tied the game at 4-4 after a scoreless first three minutes of the second. 

Turlock’s Reis continued to make crucial blocks, while the defense deflected and managed to force many shots out of trajectory. 

Turlock outscored Gregori 2-1 in the third and then in the fourth, the Bulldogs pulled away with six goal, to end it at 13-7. 

“I told my guys that we have played in tough tournaments this year, we know what it is like to be behind,” said Wenstrand. “We have to pull our way back and at halftime I told them it is a fun game.
We had a little bit of a lead, but we were not freaking out, we are fit and confident and we were going to wear them down for four quarters and that is what we did. By the fourth we gassed them out and I just subbed one guy, our guys are in good shape right now.” 

Billy Marchy finished with a goal, three assists and four steals. Jackson Thomas added two goals, an assist, two steals and a field block. 

Along with four goals, Folly added three assists, a steal and a field block. 

“It is good to get this win and game out of the way early, so we can cross off Gregori, and we are going to see them again and I can guarantee it that they will bring us a better game,” said Wenstrand.

The next game for Turlock will be a road contest at Enochs High at 3 p.m. Monday.