McCleave’s Team Play Helps El Toro Reach for the Top

After working hard over the summer, Brett McCleave was disappointed with his performance in the early stages of El Toro High’s water polo season.

“I wasn’t playing team ball,” said McCleave, the Chargers’ only junior starter. “I had to think ‘smart shooting.’ It’s the team that’s important.”

Since he refocused on putting the team first, his scoring has taken care of itself.

McCleave, a 6-foot-4 hole-set player, has a team-high 61 goals and has led the Chargers into first place in the South Coast League and to a No. 3 ranking in Orange County.

“He has the potential to be the main force in the game,” El Toro Coach Don Stoll said. “He might be our most improved player.”

The biggest player on the team, McCleave looks like he could be a force on a basketball court or a football field. But he’s also built for the hole-set position, where he uses his size and strength to gain the best position.

“Nobody can front me,” he said.

Stoll said McCleave “single-handedly beat” San Clemente last week, by scoring three goals in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner.

San Clemente, a top defensive team, was playing as aggressively as ever, but McCleave still dominated. On one play, he was swarmed by Triton defenders and still managed to score.

On Saturday, McCleave was equally impressive, scoring four goals against Coronado, which is among the tougher teams in the San Diego Section.

Stoll likens McCleave to “a young, giant St. Bernard” in the water.

“He helps our offense in shooting,” Stoll said. “It gives Trevor McMunn relief. He never misses practice and he’ll do everything he can to make the team better. He wants the approval of his coaches and teammates.”

McCleave credits former El Toro standout J.P. Mathof with having a big influence in his performance.

“J.P. worked with me during the summer to help me,” McCleave said. “We spent hours in the pool.”

Said Stoll: “I paid J.P. to be Brett’s individual tutor in the summer. They worked one-on-one and his game improved dramatically.”

El Toro, which already has played several of the Southland’s top teams, faces another stiff test Tuesday when it plays host to top-ranked Newport Harbor, a former Sea View League rival.

“I can’t wait for that game,” McCleave said. “We have a chance to beat them if we play solid defense.”

PARITY ON THE TOP

Newport Harbor has been the county’s top-ranked team all season, but the No. 2 spot has been a revolving door, with Foothill, El Toro, San Clemente and Servite all occupying the spot.

“Parity is out there,” Foothill Coach Jim Brumm said. “These teams, El Toro, San Clemente, Servite, us, and even Newport Harbor, which is a very solid team, are all very close to each other. Any one these teams can beat each other on a given day.”

Added El Toro’s Stoll: “Well, there’s no parity with [Long Beach] Wilson,” Stoll said. “But as far as the top four teams in the county . . . anybody can win.”

PARITY ON THE OTHER END?

Laguna Hills broke into the top 10 this week based on how well the Hawks played in an 18-10 loss to top-ranked Newport Harbor on Oct. 13. That ranking may be short-lived. The Hawks fell hard to unranked Aliso Niguel, 16-8, on Wednesday.

“We also have a pretty good team,” said Aliso Niguel Coach Don Laster, whose team led Laguna Hills, 11-4, at the half. “I think we have the potential and our defense really held them.”

NATIONAL TEAM TRYOUTS

The U.S. Women’s Senior National team will hold tryouts for its B team Nov. 13-14 at the Los Alamitos Naval Base aquatics complex.

Players selected will be playing various international teams in conjunction with the U.S. Holiday Cup, Dec. 3-10 at the base.

Tryouts are open to past or present members of the U.S. National Youth, Junior National or Senior National teams. Tryouts are also open by invitation from the senior team’s coaching staff with the recommendation from the coach of a prospective B team player.

Players who intend to try out must notify Jamey Wright by Nov. 7, by e-mail (jrwright@ucdavis.edu), fax (530-752-6681) or mail (1129 Villaverde Lane, Davis, Calif. 95616).

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Southern Section Polls

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Division I--1. Long Beach Wilson, 2. Newport Harbor, 3. Foothill, 4. El Toro, 5. San Clemente 6. North Hollywood Harvard Westlake, 7. Villa Park, 8. Irvine, 9. Santa Ana Valley, 10. Laguna Hills.

Division II--1. Servite 2. Corona del Mar, 3. Los Alamitos, 4. Laguna Beach, 5. Saddleback, 6. La Habra, 7. Buena Park, 8. Esperanza, 9. Edison, 10. Marina.

Division VI--1. Rowland Heights Rowland, 2. La Verne Bonita, 3. Chino Hills Ayala; 4. Palos Verdes Chadwick, 5. Brea Olinda, 6. Los Altos, 7. La Verne Damien, 8. Western, 9. Cerritos, 10. Cerritos Gahr.