Redshirt sophomore Daniel Imatorbhebhe DAILY and the football team play for TROJAN the Pac-12 title PAGE 16 | THURSDAY,S NOVEMBERPORTS 30, 2017 | WWW.DAILYTROJAN.COM/SPORTS on Friday.

Following Jon Walters’ tragic death in 2014, his brother James looks to honor his memory in the fi nal match of his water polo career.

By JULIA POE means more than just redemption. Even their positions were complemen- practice at the pool of their recreation lost the first game of his high school ca- Sports Editor Because four years ago, after winning tary: James played utility, the polo version center. Jon pointed at the splashing play- reer. But it was alright, he said, because the national championship, Jon fell into a of a point guard, feeding the ball to Jon ers and asked if they could join. Within a next year he would be at USC. They’d play Every time he dives into the pool, se- coma after a New Year’s party. He battled down low in the 2-meter slot. They nev- week, Jon and James were water polo con- together and win a championship. Just as nior water polo captain James Walters pneumonia and a series of heart attacks er felt the need to compete because their verts. planned. carries his brother, Jon, with him. before dying eight days later. He was 19, roles in the pool were a perfect fit — de- They grew up in the game, spending Jon recovered in time for postseason Jon’s initials, JDW, are emblazoned on a freshman and a national champion. He signed to assist one another. every afternoon in the pool, reeking of play, netting 2 goals in an NCAA semi- James’ cap, suit and sweats. A plaque me- was also James’ best friend. Sometimes, James remembers, he chlorine and gobbling down sandwich- final to push the Trojans into the final morializing Jon, a 2-meter who was key This weekend, James will captain his didn’t even have to look at his broth- es and In-N-Out between swim and wa- game. On Dec. 8, James was in the stands to the Trojans’ national championship team in its final national title run. But er when they were in the pool. He knew ter polo practices. James never consid- watching as Jon won the national title in victory in 2013, hangs on the wall along- he’ll play for more than just a title or a tro- where he’d be, how he’d move, which ered being on a different team than Jon, an overtime thriller over Pacific. It was side the supporters’ section where James’ phy. He’ll play for his brother, for the final play to run. In three seasons together at so he played up an age group for the next the sixth straight national championship parents, Jaque and Bill, sit in the stands. time. And he’ll play for a ring of his own. Mater Dei High School, the pair never lost five years. for USC. Jon’s name is engraved in the NCAA “I think, at the end of it, I want to a game. Bill and Jaque knew the boys would al- Afterwards, Jon hugged his brother, championship ring that hangs on a chain make him proud,” James said. “I know “You had to be on their team because ways be good at whatever they tried, and grinning widely as they celebrated the around Jaque’s neck. She clutches at the he’s proud of me, but I still want to do this if you weren’t, you were going to lose,” said it was true from the start. The pair joined first of many trophies. The celebration pendant, running her thumb over the for him. I want to finish what he started.” senior goalkeeper McQuin Baron, who a club team that soon traveled the coun- continued weeks later, on New Year’s letters, when a game comes down to the has played with the Walterses since fresh- try and secured a national title. They won Eve back in Newport Beach. Jon, who wire. ARM IN ARM man year of high school. “If Jon and James state championships in high school and struggled with insomnia for years, took Bill has a ring of his own, as do Jon’s were on a team, they were winning. They declared for USC together during Jon’s Xanax before heading to a party with his older siblings. It’s one of their favorite For most of their lives, it was always were unstoppable together.” junior year. For both of them, water polo brother. They drank champagne and fell memories of Jon — a true freshman, still assumed that Jon and James were twins. They were on each other’s teams just made sense. asleep, like always, side by side. But that recovering from an elbow injury, who They had the same strong frame — from the start, although their athletic “We just got so caught up with it morning, Jon didn’t wake up. squared his jaw to lift USC to a victory. broad shoulders, long arms, square jaws. careers began on the football fi eld. Bill from the beginning,” James said. “When For a week, Jon remained in a coma. James is the only one without a ring. Jon wore glasses, and James was an inch played defensive line at the University of I think of growing up, I just think of the On the third day, he contracted pneumo- When his family ordered them four years shorter. They were separated in age by a Kansas, so he signed the boys up for Pop pool with Jon. It was our everyday, and it nia. On the eighth day, he suffered a series ago, he refused to accept one of his own. year, yet it was rare to see them apart. Warner, hoping they’d follow his love for just never got old. It still hasn’t.” of heart attacks. He died on Jan. 8, at the He didn’t want to take Jon’s ring. James In and out of the water, Jon and James the game. Jon’s freshman year both started and age of 19, exactly a month after winning needed to earn his own. were the perfect pair. Jon was hot-headed, They took to it immediately, as most ended with tragedy. He injured his elbow the national championship. For three years since, James has been stubborn, quick to act first and think lat- little boys do, except for one problem — within weeks of the first game, grinding “It was devastating for all of us,” Bill looking to redeem his brother’s champi- er. Despite being younger, James was the Jon’s size. He was a stocky kid, tall for his a promising start to the season to a halt. said. “It’s like a fog. It fills you and sur- onship. For three years, his team fought mature one. He woke Jon up in the morn- age and thick around the middle, and he As Jon warmed the bench and recov- rounds you, and you don’t know how its way to a No. 1 ranking, to an MPSF ings and reminded him to not forget his needed to drop 35 pounds to play in his ered from his injury, James adjusted to you’re going to get out of it. I think we’re title, to the national championship title glasses or notes on the way to school. own age group. Bill knew it was impos- life without his brother. They saw each just waking up now. Years later, I think game. And for three straight years, the They lived in a four-bedroom house sible, so he walked the boys home, deter- other on the weekends and talked on the we’re still just waking up.” Trojans have fallen just short. and insisted on sharing the same room. mined to find something else. phone, but the distance made things dif- For James, the weeks following Jon’s This weekend is his last chance to Neither one really seemed to make sense The answer came in that short ferent. change that. And for James, this weekend without the other. walk, as the trio walked past water polo Without his brother by his side, James | see WALTERS, page 14 | Football takes on Stanford Helton has for Pac-12 Championship shown he The No. 10 Trojans face the head coaches Lane Kiffi n and Steve Cardinal seeking their fi rst Sarkisian, it was the un-fl ashy, un- fl appable Helton who brought USC is right for conference title in nine years. back to national prominence. Yet in order to silence all doubt that By TREVOR DENTON he was the right hire in 2015, and the job Deputy Sports Editor cement this season as a successful As No. 10 USC prepares to face one, Helton requires one more win No.12 Stanford for the fi fth time at Levi’s Stadium this Friday. Julia in three years, some of the veteran “I feel like last year if we Trojan players refl ected on the last would’ve went [to the Pac-12 Poe time they clashed with the Cardinal Championship], we would’ve won it then too, and I feel like every- POE’S in a Pac-12 Championship. PERSPECTIVE After going 5-2 as interim head body in the country thought the coach in 2015, Clay Helton was same thing,” Hawkins said. “But s we reach the end of the sea- promoted to permanent head this is a big step moving forward son, I’ve become more and more coach leading up to the conference for this program and Coach Helton grateful for head football coach title game. It was a move that de- as well.” A Clay Helton. lighted the roster, but ultimately, Playing Stanford is always a I’ve griped about Helton a good the team was unable to deliver, los- difficult task, with its hard-hit- amount throughout this season, be- ing to Stanford 41-22. ting, physical style of play on lieve me. If I hear him repeat the “We were head over heels for both sides of the ball. Playing the phrase, “We control our own destiny,” him, but at the same time, we didn’t Cardinal twice in the same season one more time, I might just go out of come out and perform like we want- is even tougher. In the two teams’ my mind. And when I look at our rank- ed to,” redshirt senior safety and de- first meeting in Week 2, USC ings in the College Football Playoff one fensive captain Chris Hawkins said. trounced Stanford, winning by week before the end of the season, I USC now seeks redemption two three touchdowns and rushing for can’t get that dismal line of thought — years later, with the program in a over 300 yards. At the time, even the litany of different “what if” ques- much more stable position than Helton was surprised at the way tions — out of my head. before. In his fi rst two full seasons, his squad man-handled a David There’s a lot that can be blamed on Helton has gone 20-5 with a Rose Shaw-coached team. Helton for the struggles of this sea- Bowl victory and a Pac-12 South ti- But this Friday, the Trojans are expecting a different Cardinal Katie Chin | Daily Trojan son. Our deputy sports editor Trevor tle. After two brief, yet controver- Rinse and repeat · Redshirt senior safety Chris Hawkins will sial tenures turned in by former | see FOOTBALL, page 13 | look to keep Stanford’s offense bottled up once again this Friday. | see POE, page 14 | PAGE 14 NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | WWW.DAILYTROJAN.COM SPORTS WALTERS | James seeks one last victory for his brother POE | continued from page 16 | | continued from page 16 | death felt hollow. He forgot, almost ev- Denton touched on the mishandling ery day, that his brother was gone. of key injuries, such as those of sopho- Remembering again was the hardest more linebacker Porter Gustin, that part. When James graduated that spring, have held up players on both sides of Jon wasn’t there to see it. He wasn’t there the ball this season. There have been to help him move into his college dorm, poor play calls on offense, struggles or to shove him underwater in his first with redshirt sophomore quarterback practice as a Trojan. And in the weeks fol- Sam Darnold’s ability to stay cool in lowing his brother’s death, James became the pocket. accustomed to firsts without Jon. But the end of Helton’s second full With the last of her children away at season as our head coach, I still believe college, the house was too quiet for Jaque. that we’ve found a keeper. James knew that, so he called his mom I felt this the most strongly on every day, letting her know how his day Sunday as I watched the Tennessee was going. It wasn’t quite enough to fill football program self destruct. The the space that four children left in her program, which has struggled in re- home. But it helped. cent years, announced the hire of head In the time that passed, water polo coach Greg Schiano. allowed the Walters to heal. The team Within hours, a Twitter mob had dedicated its season to Jon, emblazon- formed. Schiano was accused of in- ing his initials on every piece of official volvement but legally cleared in polo gear. Head coach Jovan Vavic prom- the Penn State case against Jerry ised Bill and Jaque that the team would Sandusky, and although this accusa- treat James like family. To memorialize Katie Chin | Daily Trojan tion hadn’t affected him in past posi- Jon, he hung a plaque permanently in the Family strength · James (center), Jaque and Bill Walters will be at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center this tions, Tennessee fans became incensed Uytengsu Aquatics Center. week for James’ fi nal water polo match. James will look to cap his USC career with a national championship. at the hiring decision. At breakneck The family dove into the game again speed, Schiano’s offer was revoked, and with a new sort of passion. Bill and Jaque They moved several years ago, to a together. When he thought about the fu- invitations to the team. Baron now plays Tennessee’s football program was left refused to miss a game, cooking dinner lavish house overlooking the ocean by ture, he thought about ending each day of for the U.S. on his own, the final remain- fl oundering even more than before. for the players and their families after ev- Crystal Cove. Jon never lived here, but it’s work by going home with his brother and der of the trio from high school. In moments like this, I’m proud to ery match. And James quietly followed in hard to tell. Pictures of him and James best friend. After college, James will leave water have a man like Helton in charge of our the promising steps of his brother, scor- cover the wall of a hallway. Family por- For the first 20 years of their lives, Jon polo behind. The Olympic team might football program. There’s a reason that ing 34 goals as a true freshman. traits, awkward poses after water polo and James were two halves, two pieces of have allowed him to play for years into his players talk about him with that “I think that’s when you need the games, a faded picture of the pair back be- a puzzle. Now, it’s been three years and the future, but now, he’s OK with his time tell-tale tone of protective admiration. game,” James said. “There’s a comfort to fore they lost their baby fat. Jon’s obituary, James is still getting used to being on his in the pool coming to an end. That was Helton is everything you want out of a it, you know, to it being something that which filled the cover of the Daily Trojan own. their dream, not his. coach: stable, humble and passionate has always been here for me. I found so four years ago, hangs in between. It’s amazing, Baron says, because if But for now, there’s still a few more about his players. much comfort in my team and in the “There’s no new pictures, so we have you meet James now, you’d never knew games to play. If James has his way, his ca- If his approach to his team isn’t pool, especially in that first year when I to cherish all the old ones,” Jaque says, what he went through. He’s warm, friend- reer will end on Sunday, in the pool dedi- enough for you, his 20-5 record needed it.” running her hand across a framed pic- ly — the type of guy who is quick to help cated to his brother. over his fi rst two seasons out- Four years later, the Walters love to ture of Jon when he was young, his curly and easy to laugh. In the pool, he’s still the Most of this team didn’t know Jon. fl anks that of Pete Carroll, who talk about Jon. blonde hair falling into his eyes. “He died, same as before, fierce on defense and cal- For them, this weekend is a chance at went 17-8. Helton might not have Not in public. That freaks people out, and there’s no new pictures. It’s just mem- culating on offense. He’s a true captain, redemption for their seniors, at revenge stood up to this year’s preseason Bill says. It’s awkward. Other people don’t ories.” Baron says, the guy everyone else wants against Cal and UCLA teams that have hype, but I think the numbers re- know what to say, how to act. There’s to follow. upset them in the past. But for the team fl ect that he’s doing alright. nothing for a friend or a stranger to say James is still living the life he and Jon that has become a family for James, every MOVING FORWARD, At the end of the season, we are still when a family casually brings up their had dreamed. He’ll graduate this year as player knows the weight that a champi- NOT MOVING ON looking forward to the Pac-12 cham- boy who died too soon. a two-year captain and go into business onship would hold. pionship game. And while it may not But when they’re alone together, the James never planned for a life without with his family, just as planned. He’ll still Win or lose this weekend, James will have been what we expected, I think Walters talk about Jon. What he would Jon. buy a house and raise a family, just with- play for his team and his family, for his that’s something for which to be grate- say or think in a situation. A joke he He knew, in detail, what he want- out his brother next door. But there’s one brother and for the ring he feels he still ful. would probably crack, the line he would ed from life. He wanted to play in the dream that James won’t let himself live. must earn. And win or lose, Jon will be probably fall for, the advice he would Olympics alongside his brother. He want- When they were young, Jon and James watching from the best seat in the house. Julia Poe is a junior majoring probably give. ed to graduate USC, start a real estate were expected to become a star duo for “There’s still days where it hits me in in print and digital journalism. “I don’t go an hour without thinking of business with his siblings and father. the U.S. national team, natural athletes waves and I’m not sure how I’m going to She is also the sports editor of the him,” Bill says, and Jaque shakes her head He wanted to buy a house with Jon liv- who traveled along with Baron with the do it,” James said. “But you just keep do- Daily Trojan. Her column, “Poe’s in agreement. “Not an hour.” ing right next door, so the pair could eat Olympic development teams throughout ing it. You move forward. You don’t move dinner, get married, raise their children high school. Now, James turns down any on.” Perspective,” ran Thursdays.