By Ana Hernandez
Staff Writer

The Birmingham Patriots Boys water polo team battled in the City Championship game against Palisades Charter High School (PCHS).

However, the Patriots fell short with a score of 13-10, coming in at second place.

The City Championship game took place at Los Angeles Valley College on Nov. 7. PCHS won their first city title and ended their season with a record of 20-5-0. BCCHS ended their season with a record of 15-5-0.

This has been the second time in the past four years that Birmingham’s water polo team has lost the title. They lost the CIF Los Angeles City Championship title in 2010 to league rival Cleveland High School.

Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) senior Skylar Keck is one of the few players who made it to the varsity team in a short period of time.

“I was really devastated. We worked so hard this year,” said Keck. “They were faster than us. Just by their pure speed, they won.”

With the motivation of DPMHS alumna Silva Ayrapetyan, Keck joined water polo this year but has been swimming since November 2011 when he joined BCCHS’s swim team.

“Well, I literally started to play water polo over the summer and improved significantly. I was one of the few to make it to varsity,” Keck said.

Keck hopes that next year’s water polo team will bring back the title and bragging rights.

“I wish them good luck and train hard,” Keck said.