PLAYER PROFILE : Kunkel’s Game: Follow Leader

Kris Kunkel has a distinct role on the Royal High water polo team.

“My job is to stick to the other team’s best player and shut him down,” he said.

His is not a job to be envied in a sport in which goal scorers get the recognition. Still, Kunkel doesn’t seem to mind.

“I love it,” he said. “I’d like to score more, but we have a lot of guns. It’s fun to face the other team’s best guy. If I do my job, it helps us win.”

Apparently, he has been doing his job.

Top-ranked Royal (25-4) will meet San Marcos at 3:15 this afternoon in the Southern Section Division IV final at the UC Santa Barbara old pool.

Royal defeated San Marcos, 9-8, in a nonleague match earlier this season.

Kunkel has set a school season record with 126 steals, and he routinely holds top scorers far below their season average.

But defense isn’t Kunkel’s only role. He also is a playmaker, leading the team with 83 assists. Statistics don’t motivate him, though.

“I don’t care about stats,” he said. “No one on our team cares about stats. I’m just looking for a better shot. I want to find the guy who has a 100% chance of scoring rather than taking a chance on a 70% shot.”

College coaches have been attracted by his talent and unselfishness. Kunkel, whose family is rich with military tradition, has the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy at the top of his list of college preferences.

“I love to fly and I like fast action,” Kunkel said.

In the water and in the air.