West Orange girls water polo claims regional title

After graduating seven seniors from its 2024 state runner-up team, West Orange High girls water polo have won a second straight regional championship and again reach the State Final Four.

The Lady Warriors met area rivals Dr. Phillips High in the Region 2 title game — after topping the Lady Panthers in the district championship game in a penalty shootout just 10 days prior — and took care of business with a 15-6 win.

West Orange juniors Kate Beracoechea and Lindsay Gato led the way in the Final Four-clinching win. Beracoechea bagged four goals and handed out two assists while Gato dished out five assists and found the back of the net once. 

The experienced Warriors (17-5), led by longtime coach Jennifer Dailer and senior Bailey Dunn — who leads the team in with 71 goals, 53 assists and 101 steals — will face off against Gulliver Prep (25-1) in a rematch of last year’s state semifinals at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 25 at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami. If West Orange advances, it’ll play the following day for the state championship.