Grand Blanc View

Bobcats’ water polo team state-bound




The Grand Blanc boys’ water polo team will be headed to the state finals for the first time in 36 years. Photo Provided

The Grand Blanc boys’ water polo team will be headed to the state finals for the first time in 36 years. Photo Provided

KENTWOOD – For the first time in 36 years, the Grand Blanc boys’ water polo team will be competing in the state championship, a three-game run for the title, held this weekend at East Kentwood High School.

Grand Blanc secured its seed in the regional tournament after defeating Birmingham Groves in its district seeding tournament earlier in October. The Bobcats then earned their way into the state finals following an 11-4 win over Ann Arbor Pioneer on October 26, a game in which they needed to win in order to advance.

“The team was unstoppable,” said Grand Blanc coach Dan Command, who was recently named All-East Region Coach of the Year, after the win. “They prepared all season for that win and played their hearts out to reach their goal of going to states to compete.”

The Bobcats have a strong core of players, including a starting line-up of six seniors and one junior that have been together since freshmen year. Seniors Reed Bearden and Leif Massey enter the tournament as All-East Region players, with Bearden on the First Team and Massey on the Second Team, and will be key to how deep of a run the Bobcats will make.