O.C. Water Polo Players, Coaches Honored

After the Orange County sweep of the Southern Section water polo championships, it was no surprise that county players and coaches received most of the top Southern Section honors that were announced this week.

Three county players were named player of the year in their divisions and five coaches received coach of the year honors.

Esperanza goalkeeper Craig Thomas was named Division II player of the year, Costa Mesa driver J.R. Porter was named Division III player of the year and Los Amigos goalkeeper Jeff Martell was the co-player of the year in Division IV with Alex Rodriguez of La Verne Bonita. Jim Toring of North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake was the Division I player of the year.

Don Stoll, who led El Toro to its fourth sectional title in five years, was the Division I coach of the year. Esperanza’s Doug Kimberly won for Division II, Costa Mesa’s Jason Lynch for Division III and Eric Fischbeck and John Price, Los Amigos co-coaches, for Division IV.