If not for a free Hawaii trip, Rafael Ruano might be coaching basketball somewhere, perhaps even with his friend Mike Montgomery at Cal.

Ruano's first love growing up was basketball, although he dabbled in other sports – including water polo – at Rio Americano High School, where he graduated in 1995 and was the class valedictorian.

He was a team manager for Montgomery and the men's program at Stanford for four exciting and eye-opening years while majoring in international relations.

While Ruano was still in college, Chuck Hubbard, then Rio Americano's water sports coordinator, told Ruano the school needed someone to coach the year old girls water polo program.

"I was managing the basketball team and doing summer camps," said Ruano, 32. "I thought 'no way' at first. But he said if I did it, I'd get a free trip to Hawaii."

Ruano never dreamed that what started as a lark would turn him into the area's girls water polo guru and one of the most successful coaches in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Ruano and the Raiders have won all seven Division II section championships and will go after an eighth when the playoffs begin Friday at Woodcreek High School.

Raiders star Cailin Jope, a three-year starter and one of only five varsity returnees, says it's no secret why the program is so good every year. She says Ruano is an outstanding coach.

"He really pushes us to perform our best in both practice and the games," she said. "During games he's really serious, but afterwards he's really funny. He's easy to talk to."

Through Ruano's vision, water polo has grown dramatically since he started the American River Water Polo Club program nine years ago as an offseason training opportunity for his Rio girls. Now some 800 boys and girls of all ages are splashing in 10 area pools learning the ins and outs of the sport year-round.

"Things just sort of evolved," Ruano said. "When we started, we were competitive within our own league and section, but we couldn't keep up with the top Bay Area and Southern California teams. They were more experienced, and their kids were starting at younger ages.

"We decided we needed to model our program after youth soccer and baseball – make it another fun option for family and kids."

Ruano operates the club with his wife, Rachel, a former United States national team player, while also working as an estate planning attorney for a Sacramento law firm.

It's that punishing schedule, made more demanding by two energetic boys, Mateo, 3 1/2, and Lucas, 2, that has Ruano contemplating winding down his high school coaching career.

"This year has been the toughest for me," Ruano said. "At some point it is going to be impractical to continue to do it. I'm fortunate to have good assistants."

What Ruano has done, however, is turn the Raiders into one of the section's top college feeder programs. Five players from last year's 28-3 team, arguably his best, are competing in college this fall.

But this year's youthful bunch, led by scoring leader Jope (94 goals), junior two-year starter Vicky Gyorffy (56 goals) and senior goalie Alexis Shen, has been a joy and a challenge to coach.

"I had no clue about this team at the start, but they have really met expectations," Ruano said.

The Raiders are slight playoff favorites, Ruano says.

"We've beaten both Granite Bay and Ponderosa, but they certainly can beat us," Ruano said. "Whitney and Woodcreek are also good."

Jope admitted she was worried about the Raiders' prospects this season. "I'm not too concerned now," she said. "I'm positive our team will step up to the challenge and win again."

Call The Bee's Bill Paterson, (916) 326-5506.