NOVEMBER 10
MICHIGAN WATER POLO ASSOCIATION STATE FINALS

Rockford players and coaches celebrate thier fifth straight championship at Groves High School.
Rams win 5th straight title
Rockford comes back to beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 5-4 to claim championship
Beverly Hills -- Rockford netted a comeback 5-4 win over Ann Arbor Pioneer to claim its fifth straight Michigan Water Polo Association State Championship Nov. 10 at Groves High School.
It wasn't easy by any means though.
Pioneer looked like they would break Rockford's championship streak going ahead 2-0 in the first half on goals by Evan Reynolds and Brian Gregorka.
But the Rams scored four straight goals in the third period to take a commanding 4-2 lead. Craig Peterman, Mike Mette, Chase Plank, and Taque Patino scored the goals.
Pioneer's Kenichi Osawa scored to close the game to 4-3. Mette came right back to score his second goal for the Rams to make it 5-3. Osawka added his second goal to close it to 5-4, but the Rockford defense held Pioneer in the final minutes to hold on for the victory.
Ann Arbor Huron finished third, East Kentwood fourth, East Grand Rapids fifth, Grandville sixth, Okemos seventh, and host Groves eighth in the tournament.
Pioneer beat Grandville 8-5 and East Kentwood 8-4 to advance to the final. Rockford made it to the title game beating Groves 19-10 and Huron 12-4.
It was Rockford's fourth straight win over Pioneer in the finals, also beating the Pioneers in 2004-06. Rockford beat Ann Arbor Huron for the title in 2003. Pioneer beat Rockford in the finals in 2001 and 2002. The Rams won their first title in 2000 beating three-time defending champion Pioneer in the final.