1993 PREP PREVIEW / WATER POLO : Corona del Mar

Coach: John Vargas (11th year).

1992: 19-9, 7-0 in Sea View League; reached the Division I semifinals, losing to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake.

Key returners: Crosby Grant, 6-3, two-meter man, Sr.; Neil Hueston, 5-10, Jr.; Adam McFarland, 6-3, Jr.; James Palda, 6-1, Jr.; Greg Sawyer, 5-11, goalkeeper, Sr.

Key newcomers: Scott Gellman, 5-9, Sr.; Doug Jetton, 6-2, goalkeeper, Jr.; Will Schultz, 6-1, Sr.; Kevin Tucker, 5-9, Jr.

Outlook: By Vargas’ standards, the Sea Kings had a sub-par season last year--it was his first team to win fewer than 21 games or lose more than six--but they still managed to win the league title and advance to the semifinals of the playoffs. Rival coaches expect Corona del Mar to return to more dominating form--Vargas has coached the Sea Kings to four section titles. Grant is one of the more powerful swimmers in the section, but the team’s nucleus of juniors--led by Hueston, Palda and McFarland--won’t be overshadowed, and Vargas says even Grant will feel pressure to make the starting lineup. Vargas promises a quick, active offense and the usual stingy defense.

*

Costa Mesa

Coach: Jason Lynch (fifth year).

1992: 23-8, 5-0 in Pacific Coast League; won the Division III title, beating Trabuco Hills, 14-9, in the final.

Key returners: Chris Avitia, 6-1, goalkeeper, Sr.; Mike Curtis, 5-11, Sr.; Sam Grayeli, 5-11, Sr.; John Naigle, 5-10, Sr.; Bob Paulhus, 5-10, Sr.

Key newcomers: Adam Fitch, 5-10, Sr.; Chris Fowler, 5-7, Jr.; Robert Grayeli, 6-0, So.; Ryan Kelly, 6-2, So.; Bernard Perone, 5-9, Sr.; Steve Popov, 5-10, Jr.; Russ Stewart, 5-10, Sr.

Outlook: J.R. Porter, the Division III player of the year, is a notable loss from the team that won the divisional title last year, but Lynch believes this team will be more balanced and therefore even stronger. Sam Grayeli, the league player of the year, should again be a dominant force, but Naigle, who was primarily a defensive specialist last year, will be counted upon to boost his production on offense. The three other returning players--Avitia, a first-team all-league pick, Paulhus and Curtis--give the Mustangs an experienced nucleus. Lynch hopes the team can crack the top five in the county.

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El Toro

Coach: Don Stoll (13th year).

1992: 30-1, 5-0 in the South Coast League; won the Division I title defeating Harvard-Westlake in the final, 10-9, in overtime.

Key returners: Jay Reaves, 5-9, Sr.; Brent Stoll, 5-10, Sr.; Brandon Stout, 5-10, Sr.; Matt Tilton, 6-0, Sr.

Key newcomers: Allen Basso, 5-11, Jr.; Brian Frame, 6-2, goalkeeper, Sr.; Kevin McIntyre, 6-0, Sr.; Brian Pearce, 5-11, Sr.; Bill Pinciroli, 6-2, 2-meter man, Sr.; Ian Pyka, 6-3, Sr.; Greg Stoll, 5-11, goalkeeper, So.

Outlook: El Toro faltered only once last year on the way to the Division I title, losing to Capistrano Valley in the title game of the North Orange County tournament. This time it won’t likely be as smooth after the graduation of six key players, including Daniel Mathot who scored a school single-season record 132 goals. Coach Stoll’s main concern is inexperience in the goal and an overall lack of size. But El Toro is still deep in talent. Four starters return, including second-leading scorer Stout (92) and fourth-leading scorer Brent Stoll (33). Pinciroli, who practiced with the team all last year, has played for the Brazilian junior national team and will help solidify things.

*

Foothill

Coach: Jim Brumm (sixth year).

1992: 18-10, 5-0 in Century League; reached Division I quarterfinals, losing to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake.

Key returners: Brian Brown, 5-11, So.; Matt Hartloff, 6-0, Sr.; David Hay, 6-3, 2-meter man, Sr.; Morgan Lang, 6-0, goalkeeper, Sr.; Matt Schuler, 6-2, Sr.; Cabot Weaver, 6-1, Sr.

Key newcomers: Ryan Brown, 6-0, goalkeeper, So.; Dan Hartloff, 6-1, Jr.; Scott Hay, 6-2, So.; Paul Maul, 6-1, goalkeeper, So.; Scott Nicholson, 6-1, Jr.; Jeff Pflueger, 6-0, Fr.

Outlook: Three seasons ago Hay started as a freshman and Foothill took a beating, winning only nine games. Now Hay, considered the best player in the section by many rival coaches, leads a team with a good shot at the Division I title. Hay, who had 96 goals and 30 assists, and Weaver, who had 25 goals and 30 assists, are the only returning starters, but four others saw significant playing time. That four sophomores and a freshman will get a lot of action doesn’t diminish Brumm’s enthusiasm. “We should be among the teams competing with every one and actually I’m pretty excited about it,” he said.

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Newport Harbor

Coach: Bill Barnett (28th year).

1992: 16-9, 6-1 and second in the Sea View League; lost to El Toro in the second round of the Division I playoffs.

Key returners: Jason Marsh, 6-0, goalkeeper, Sr.; Gabe Wyatt, 6-3, two-meter man, Jr.

Key newcomers: Adam Cleary, 5-9, Sr.; Mike DiGruccio, 6-1, Sr.; Brad Pence, 5-8, Sr.; Chris Seib, 5-10, So.; Jeremy Yoches, 5-10, Sr.

Outlook: After eight years of divided duties, Barnett, former coach of the U.S. national team, is concentrating on high school water polo, and the experience is rejuvenating. It remains to be seen whether the Sailors will challenge for Barnett’s 11th Southern Section title, but the potential is there. Even without Nathan Andersen, a third-team All-Division I player last year who isn’t playing this year for disciplinary reasons, Newport Harbor has talent. Wyatt is strong in the hole and Barnett says Pence and Cleary are two of the best drivers he has ever coached in high school. But Barnett frets that no one has stepped forward to take the leadership role he believes is necessary for a championship contender.

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San Clemente

Coach: Steve Yancey (13th year).

1992: 20-8, 3-2 in South Coast League; reached the Division I semifinals before losing to El Toro.

Key returners: Gabe Gardner, 6-8, goalie, Jr.; Phinney Gardner, 6-7, Sr.; Marc Staudenbaur, 6-1, Sr.; Sam Bailey, 6-0, Jr.

Key newcomers: Andy Bailey, 5-9, So.; Jim Farley, 5-8, So.; Adam Gerhard, 5-9, Sr.; Jon Hewko, 5-8, Jr.; Colin Shaughnessy, 6-1, Fr.

Outlook: Judging from the success of its young players--the frosh/soph team was undefeated in league play last year and the 15-and-under club team was the runner-up at the Junior Olympic championships--this is a team with potential. With the Gardner brothers who each started last year, the Tritons also have a fair amount of experience. Gabe, a third-team All-Division I keeper last year, was selected to the U.S. youth national teams in water polo and volleyball this summer. But Yancey, who is cautiously optimistic, said: “It’s going to take us meshing and playing with a lot of patience and a lot of control. Defensively, we’re real strong. I had a parent say, ‘We could see a lot of 4-3 games,’ and I think that’s true.”