Not just Division I or Division II champion, but Southern Section champion.
But, the obvious problem is that's a lot to ask girls' water polo teams that just finished two grueling weeks of play for the right to be crowned division champion.
To be sure, there was some great water polo played. And there were upsets, like No. 6-seeded Laguna Beach making it to the finals and coming within a goal of upending No. 1 Foothill.
But what if Foothill had lost? It certainly would have been understandable, after beating Montebello in the Division I title game just four days earlier. After practicing for three months to play for CIF, it's extremely difficult to expect teams to come back strong just days later.
"CIF has always been the primary focus, ever since we started winning back in 2000," said Foothill Coach Dave Mikesell, whose teams have won six CIF titles. "That will always be the primary focus for me. This is all gravy; this is extra whipped cream. For me, it was difficult getting these kids back out here."
Yes, Foothill beat the Breakers, 7-6, in the Masters Tournament final. But if the Knights had lost, it would have been nothing more than a blip on the radar for a team that also won the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and the Irvine Southern California Championships.
So more power to Foothill for coming back strong at the Masters — but should high school kids really be expected to do that?
Sure, why not, Chaney said, paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill.
"There's a price that comes with greatness, and the price of that greatness is responsibility," Chaney said. "Everybody here went to CIF. Whether you win or lose at CIF, you still have to pick yourself back up.
