Colton Shines at Right Time With 2 Goals

Jeff Colton of Garden Grove knew a good performance at Sunday’s Southern Pacific all-star water polo game could be valuable to his future.

With several college coaches in attendance, it was a good chance to display his relatively unseen skills. Colton took advantage, providing two goals and an assist as the Orange County North team defeated Orange County South, 8-4, in the second annual game at Villa Park High.

“Hopefully somebody will think I’m halfway decent, maybe I fooled a few guys,” Colton said.

Coaches from USC, California, Santa Barbara, Long Beach State and Pepperdine also took advantage of the nine-game schedule that featured the best high school players from across Southern California.

“Most of the college coaches don’t have an opportunity to see all these players during the season because our games and their games are usually at the same time,” USC Coach Jovan Vavic said.

The North team, coached by Katella’s Grafton Weiss and Servite’s Jim Sprague, reached the final by defeating South Bay, 13-7, and San Gabriel Valley, 14-4.

The South, led by Santa Margarita Coach Rick Rowland, defeated Tri Counties, 10-4, and Inland Empire, 8-5.