Blood Is Thicker : Matt Maclear Carries On a Brotherly Tradition, Leads El Dorado Into South Coast Tournament

Is success in water polo related to genetics?

El Dorado High Coach John Bowman might think so. In the seven years he spent as assistant coach to Tom Milich, he saw two sets of brothers pass through the program. Now, in his first year as head coach of the Golden Hawks, he is coaching Matt Maclear, the second half of a third pair.

Maclear, a senior, is following in his brother Michael’s path on the water polo team. And loving it.

“I’m kind of a protege,” said the younger Maclear, who will lead El Dorado against Santa Monica in the South Coast tournament. “Mike and I played together my freshman year, in 1986. It was the best feeling--like a dream I’d always had--playing with my brother, and then to win.”

The Golden Hawks won the Empire League and Southern Section titles. Mike is currently starting for the UC Santa Barbara polo team.

Matt Maclear, who is 6-1 and sports a couple of days’ growth of beard, said he looks up to his brother in every way--except literally. “We look nothing alike,” he said. “He’s a 5-foot-10 1/2 blonde guy, a bit thicker than I am. When we hang out, you’d think we were just friends.”

Although Maclear has been a starting two-meter man for three years, he began as a goalie in 1986. “Maybe if we had played the same position there would have been rivalry,” he said, “but everything Mike did complemented me, and everything I did as goalie complemented him. Now we’re best of friends. He comes home and we spend all our time together.”

Maclear is a rarity in the El Dorado program, a four-year starter. The only others Bowman has had in his seven years with the program also were half of a brother duo. Tony Bell, now at UC Irvine, graduated in 1984 and was a two-meter man while his brother John (who graduated in ‘85) played goalie. The other was Mike Tillman, now at California, who graduated in 1987 and teamed with his brother Craig (‘86).

“We’ve been real fortunate to have brothers that get along exceptionally well with each other, and got along with the team real well,” Bowman said.

All three pairs--the Bells, Tillmans and Maclears--participated in at least one Southern Section water polo final. Under Milich, the Golden Hawks reached the Southern Section 3-A final from 1984-87, winning three consecutive championships (1985-87).

Having watched Mike play, the coaches were primed for Matt’s arrival in 1986. Bowman, who had coached Maclear since 1985 on a summer club team, moved him to the two-meter spot after a year in goal.

“Because of the makeup and player compatibility of the 1987 team,” Bowman said, “we needed more offense, generated around someone who would give us consistency at two meters. We made the move to Matt.”

Maclear also swam for the Golden Hawks’ swim team last season. He won the 200-yard freestyle at the Empire League championships, where he also finished third in the 100 butterfly.

But Maclear says he prefers the team aspect of water polo over the individual concentration of swimming.

“I like polo better,” he said without a moment’s hesitation. “I’d rather have someone to account for me. It’s easier for me to adapt to a team atmosphere. I like swimming as a sport during the season, but it’s not what I’d continue doing. It’s basically just to stay in shape for polo.”

During the water polo season, Maclear said his life revolves around the pool and school, where he has a 3.5 grade-point average. “It’s time management more than anything,” he said.

And for the time being, he’ll concentrate on the business at hand--the South Coast tournament, with a field of 32 teams. El Dorado opens against Santa Monica at 3:50 p.m. today at El Dorado.

“This year’s team is a unique blend of talent and personality,” Bowman said. “They’ve got their own character. They just need to learn each others’ styles. If the kids work hard--and I know they want it--we’ll be OK.”