Jon Puffer’s journey to the top feeding spot in CIF-SS boys water polo started four years ago.

The Aliso Niguel coach, in his first season, assembled an unheralded cast of players, mostly from a little-known but growing club team.

He began an intense indoctrination into competing at a higher level, and this fall the progress couldn’t be ignored.

Puffer guided Aliso Niguel to its first appearance in a CIF-SS final. The Wolverines fell to top-seeded Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, 9-7, in the Division 3 championship, but knocked off No. 2 seed Redlands East Valley, 8-7, in the semifinals. Read more...