Even without head coach Dave Perry, the Fenwick boys water polo team didn’t miss a beat during play in its own 10th Annual Dan Lynch Classic last week.

While Dave Perry was in Texas for an NCAA swimming convention and son and assistant coach Kyle Perry assumed head coaching duties, the Friars swept through the field, befalling rival Oak Park 20-6 in the first round and annihilating second-ranked Naperville Central 14-4 for the title.

The defending state champs took a 5-0 lead in the first quarter against Oak Park on Friday and never looked back. Chris Wendt led the onslaught with six goals, while Craig Borkovec and Brian Barron each added five apiece. Matt Napleton finished with five saves and two steals in goal.

“We give a lot of credit to Oak Park,” said Kyle Perry, who played for the Friars during their 1999, 2000 and 2001 state champion seasons. “They didn’t give up. They were still working hard right up to the end. They are a very young and determined team and I foresee good things for them in the future.”

Against Naperville Central in the title game on Saturday the Friars seemed a little sluggish at the start, but then sparked in the second. Up just 1-0, John Osborne scored three of Fenwick’s nine goals of the period. Osborne, along with Will Rigali, led the Friars in a 23-5 pasting of Neuqua Valley in the semifinals. Osborne and Rigali finished with three goals apiece in that win.

“Osborne is our first guy off the bench and he was instrumental in our win over Naperville Central,” said Luke Perry. “He’s a big guy and to have him in the middle was helpful and really changed the momentum of the game for us.”

Osborne finished with four goals, while Borkovec and Wendt each chipped in three apiece. Napleton kept Naperville Central at bay with five saves and two steals.

“Defeating the second best team in the state by a score of 14-2 is certainly an indication that we have the potential to win another state title,” said Kyle Perry of the Friars, who are 10-0 on the season. “We need another good month and a half of good water polo playing and we’ll be ready.”

The Friars also blasted Brother Rice 22-6 last week. Brian Barron led the offense with seven goals to go along with his five steals. Rigali chipped in five goals for the win, while Dan Barron added four. Napleton recorded 10 saves in goal for the Friars, who led 12-2 at halftime.

Fenwick travels to a shallow-deep pool today (Wednesday, April 1) to take on St. Patrick.