They’re No. 1, but . . . : Reclassification to 2-A, Move to Pacific Coast League Irk Costa Mesa Water Polo Players

On the surface, things couldn’t be much better for the Costa Mesa High School water polo team. The Mustangs are the No.1-ranked team in the Southern Section 2-A division and beating their Pacific Coast League opponents by an average of 15 goals a game.

But there’s little satisfaction among the Costa Mesa players. The Mustangs feel trapped playing against 2-A teams, knowing that the county’s strongest competition is found in the 4-A division.

The Southern Section moved the school’s athletic program from the 4-A division to 2-A in September, and though the change was implemented to make Costa Mesa more competitive in all sports, Mustang water polo players felt they were shown a lack of respect after being forced to leave the powerful Sea View League.

“It was a big disappointment,” second-year Coach Mike Conroy said. “But one team from our league had to bite the bullet and it was us.”

Said junior Shane Coons, a member of the team: “It wasn’t fair. We never should have been moved out of our league.”

Although the Mustangs failed to make the playoffs last season and finished fourth in the league, Costa Mesa players thought 1986 would finally be their chance to emerge from the shadows of traditional powerhouses Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor and University.

Though Conroy doesn’t like to dwell on the “what if” possibilities, his players hardly hide their emotions.

“We’re a 4-A school in a 2-A division,” junior Mike Kennedy said. “Our league is a joke.”

Said Tony Litwak: “It helps us in the rankings but hurts our image. We definitely get up more for our nonleague games.”

The emotional turmoil has led to results that read like stock market returns. Costa Mesa (13-7) defeated El Dorado (ranked No. 2 in 3-A), 11-6, on Sept. 26, but less than two weeks later was routed, 16-4, by the Golden Hawks. Costa Mesa came within a goal (8-7) of upsetting Corona del Mar on Sept. 23, but has split matches with Fullerton and Long Beach Wilson.

“The question for us has been what team will show up,” Conroy said. “The one that beat El Dorado or the one that lost to them.”

The team’s play has been as varied as the personalities of its players. Before a recent match, Kennedy showed up in a dress shirt and tie; Litwak wore a tank top and shorts.

Yet in the pool, the pair provide a cohesive, steady foundation on defense. Against University High of San Diego in the Sunny Hills tournament, Kennedy and Litwak each scored a goal and helped stop several University scoring attempts in a 4-0 victory.

Despite the undaunted confidence among its players that Costa Mesa can compete in any division, the Mustangs may not have even been a 2-A contender without a little luck. Conroy’s starting goalie dropped out of school last year, and the coach held open tryouts for a replacement.

Conroy eventually found sophomore Scott Taylor, a converted soccer goalie who had never played water polo before last April. Taylor took to the sport so fast that he started in the Junior Olympics and earned first-team All-American honors.

About the same time Taylor tapped his unknown talents, Costa Mesa began drawing attention this summer when it won the Junior Olympics 15-and-under boys championship in St. Louis. What made the tournament interesting was that Conroy essentially took his varsity team intact to St. Louis, despite the age requirements. The Mustangs field one of the county’s youngest teams, with only one senior on the squad. Four juniors have more than two years of varsity experience.

“We look like a freshmen/sophomore team, but this is our (varsity) team,” Litwak said. “Most people thought we were going to be strong next year, not this year.”

Being shifted to 2-A may turn out to benefit Costa Mesa, particularly if the Mustangs can remain No. 1.

Said Conroy: “We don’t have the strong junior aquatic base like some of the more established programs, but since winning the Junior Olympics and being highly rated, we’ve had 15 to 20 freshmen come to our school who said they want to play water polo. We’re on our way to building our program.”