Water Polo at a Glance
Other top players: Chris Ansevin, Santa Margarita, Jr.; Bjorn Barre, El Modena, Sr.; Robin Beauregard, Marina, Sr.; Kendall Benson, El Dorado, Sr.; Luke Byward, El Dorado, Sr.; Pat Cheeseman, Pacific, Sr.; Jeff Colton, Garden Grove, Jr.; Jace Crispin, Western, Jr.; Brett Davis, Valencia, Sr.; Xander Dean, Capistrano Valley, Sr., Matt Flesher, Brea Olinda, Jr.; Mike Foley, Tustin, Sr.; Jeff Garand, Sunny Hills, Sr.; Sergio Gonzalez, Saddleback, Sr.; Chris Hamme, Servite, Sr.; Ivan Hernandez, Santa Ana, Jr.; Brandon Joffe, Santa Margarita, Sr.; Danny Johnson, Westminster, Jr.; Jared Jones, Buena Park, Sr.; Gavin Keeler, El Modena, Sr.; Jim Kennedy, Troy, Sr.; Grant McGann, Laguna Beach, Sr.; Kevin Marsh, Magnolia, Jr.; Eric Meadows, Capistrano Valley, goalkeeper, Jr.; Brandon Osborne, Garden Grove, Jr.; John Pearce, Los Alamitos, Sr.; Jon Pharris, Newport Harbor, Jr.; David Ploog, La Habra, Sr.; Brian Quilan, La Quinta, goalkeeper, Sr.; Brent Reimer, Brea Olinda, Sr., Erik Sandvig, Cypress, Sr.; Brad Schaefer, Canyon, Sr.; Robert Sellek, El Dorado, Sr.; Tom Simmons, Woodbridge, Sr.; Michael Timanus, Loara, Sr.; John Ucciferi, Newport Harbor, Sr.; Todd Valentine, Trabuco Hills, Sr.; Ryan Wall, Capistrano Valley, Sr.; Tyler Wawrzynski, Los Alamitos, Jr.; Carter Weir, Corona del Mar, Sr.; Phil Wirthgen, Katella, Sr.
League favorites: Century: Foothill. Empire: El Dorado. Freeway: La Habra. Garden Grove: Garden Grove. Golden West: Servite. Orange: Brea Olinda. Pacific Coast: Costa Mesa. Sea View: El Toro. South Coast: San Clemente. Sunset: Esperanza.
1995 final poll: 1. Foothill, 2. El Toro, 3. Villa Park, 4. Newport Harbor, 5. San Clemente, 6. Costa Mesa, 7. Servite, 8. Marina, 9. Esperanza, 10. Capistrano Valley.
1996 preseason poll: 1. Foothill, 2. San Clemente, 3. Villa Park, 4. Costa Mesa, 5. El Toro, 6. Capistrano Valley, 7. Servite, 8. Los Alamitos, 9. Newport Harbor, 10. Esperanza.
Key dates: Sept. 26-28, South Coast tournament; Oct. 4-5, Southern California Invitational, Heritage Park; Oct. 10, 18-19, North Orange County tournament; Nov. 1-2, California State Invitational, Stanford; Nov. 14, Section playoffs begin; Nov. 27, Section finals, Belmont Plaza.
Notes: Capistrano Valley, a perennially strong program, struggled in 1994, Coach Jason Lynch’s first season, but reached the playoffs last season. Capistrano Valley could challenge San Clemente in the South Coast League. “I told the kids they put us back on the map,” Lynch said, “and this year we should be doing something.” . . . With Coach John Vargas away most of the summer with the U.S. Olympic team, Corona del Mar again is getting a late start and the Sea Kings aren’t ranked in the preseason county coaches poll for the second year in a row.