Mater Dei Water Polo Player Suspended for Punching

Mater Dei water polo player Danny Clecek has been suspended for two games for punching Western’s James VanRosmalen during the Pioneers’ 13-8 victory Saturday in a consolation-round gameat the Magnolia tournament.

Referees suspended Clecek, a freshman, for one game after they ejected him from Saturday’s game. Mater Dei Coach Guy Souza suspended Clecek for a second game, according to girls’ Athletic Director Geri Gainey, who said the school filed an incident report with the Southern Section office Monday.

Clecek will miss today’s game against Santa Ana Valley and Friday’s against Santa Ana.

VanRosmalen, a senior and Western’s second-leading scorer, received 15 stitches around his right eye. He said the pain has mostly subsided, but he still gets bad headaches “once in a while.”

VanRosmalen will miss Western’s next game, which is Monday against Valencia in an Orange League opener. He is expected to be ready to play against Savanna on Oct. 15.

“I wish the whole thing didn’t happen,” he said. “It put me out of practice for a about week and it’s no help for this kid either. It’s just made things more complicated.”

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Heather Cuthbertson, a multi-sport standout at Marina High, is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to repair torn cartilage in her right knee and will not play basketball this season.

A two-time All-Sunset League performer in girls’ cross-country and track, Cuthbertson, a 5-foot-10 junior, was also expected to be a key post player for basketball Coach Pete Bonny. But Cuthbertson developed pain in her knee while performing in an all-comers track meet in August and has not been able to compete for the cross-country team this fall.

She said she hopes to be fully healed in time for track season, where she is expected to compete in middle distance events.