No one expected DVC’s men’s water polo team to win the Big 8 conference with an undefeated record. Not with a new head coach and a new assistant coach.

But guess what?

The Vikings took the conference with a 5-0 record, despite an 11-8 season.

“Many people thought it was a fluke,” said head coach John Roemer.

DVC won the first game against San Joaquin Delta,14-9, followed by an 11-10 win over Santa Rosa. Next came Modesto, which the Vikings trounced 16-4, followed by American River, which went down 13-6.

The team faced Delta in the semi-final round, winning 16-7, and then blasted Santa Rosa 9-16 for the championship.

The team achieved its original goal.

“We realized we had the talent to win the conference,” said player Zach Roberts. “It was a matter of playing with one another and knowing each other’s tendencies.”

“But we viewed it as a realistic goal coming into the season.”

Roemer received a Coach of the Year award, and assistant coach Bowen received an assistant coach of the year award.

Player Matt DeTrain received the all-conference MVP award and joined teammates Danny Boessenecker and Kyle Peterson for first team all conference. Goalie Mike Lucey and players Zach Roberts and Taylor Herman were second team all conference.

The DVC team is currently ranked No. 8 in state, the first time it has been in the top 10 in eight years.

As far as regionals go, the team is currently placed as second in the north, and will go onto state as one of the three teams including West Valley in first and American River in third. The team had defeated Cabrillo by 10 points, but lost to West Valley in the championship games of the NorCal regional conference.

The team expects to do well in state and hopes to place in the Top 4 in state.

“I want to get up to at least third in state, that’s my goal right now,” said player Matt De Train.