Tournament a Major Test for County Elite

Five of the county’s top 10 water polo teams will start competition today in the John Felix Memorial Invitational in San Jose.

The two-day tournament, hosted by defending Central Coast Section Division I champion San Jose Bellarmine, is the last major tournament before the Southern Section playoffs begin Nov. 11.

Newport Harbor, the county’s top-ranked team, will be joined by No. 2 Foothill, No. 4 San Clemente, No. 6 Villa Park and No. 7 Corona del Mar in the 16-team field, which also includes Long Beach Wilson, the tournament’s defending champion.

Newport Harbor Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said the tournament is important because it can affect the Southern Section playoff seedings.

“It’s really the last chance for teams to move up in the rankings, so everybody is jockeying for a position,” Kreutzkamp said. “Teams like San Clemente, Villa Park and Foothill will be coming hard. And games will be tough with all the teams up there. We have a big target on our back, as does Long Beach Wilson.”

Newport Harbor, whose only loss this season was to Long Beach Wilson two weeks ago at the Southern California tournament, could play Wilson again Saturday in the final, a rematch of their meeting in last year’s title game, won by Wilson. But there are obstacles.

If the Sailors win their first-round game against Atherton Menlo, Kreutzkamp said they’ll face North Hollywood Harvard Westlake, which is ranked fifth in the Southern Section Division I poll.

“I know they want to move up in the rankings. And I know they’ll be tough,” Kreutzkamp said.

This weekend’s brackets may create some interesting matchups, such as Century League rivals Villa Park and Foothill, who could meet in the second round.

“If we both win, it could offer a preview of what will happen when we play them in league [Nov. 5],” Villa Park assistant coach John Kulisich said.

However, Villa Park’s first game is against host Bellarmine.

Other teams competing this weekend are Davis, Moraga Campolindo, Carmichael Jesuit, Fresno Clovis West, San Diego Coronado, Mountain View St. Francis, Orinda Miramonte and Corona.

“The tournament started in 1984, and is the equivalent of the Southern California tournament that runs down there in early October,” said Bellarmine Coach Larry Rogers, the tournament director. “We try to get the best teams in the state to play and there’s always some great games up here. And with the college scouts in attendance, the guys play that much harder.”

SUCCESS STORY

Saddleback has accomplished something no other Roadrunner water polo team could. With its 11-4 victory over Westminster in a Golden West League game Tuesday, Saddleback won its first league title.

Jorge Ordaz scored three goals and Daniel Noon and Julian Gonzalez had two each in the victory.

“We walked through the gym to make sure there weren’t any banners hanging somewhere, hiding,” Saddleback Coach Monte McCord said. “This school doesn’t exactly have a water polo tradition. Sure it would have been great to beat a powerhouse like Servite [which was moved from the Golden West to the Serra League this summer]. But it’s still very exciting.”

McCord, who has coached at Saddleback along with his brother, Derek, for nine years, said he doesn’t expect the Roadrunners to become a county power.

“Unfortunately, I think this is a one-season wonder,” he said. “We don’t have that many kids going out for polo. We had 22 go out this year, and 10 of them are seniors. So whether this will continue . . . I doubt it.’

But it really doesn’t matter to McCord if Saddleback becomes a water polo power or not.

“I graduated from Saddleback. It’s my home,” he said. “And if I get some good players, or if I don’t, I have no plans of leaving.”

HOT SHOOTER

Burbank Burroughs senior Jason Falitz scored a state-record 26 goals last week in a 38-1 Almont League victory over Burbank.

Falitz, who has 170 goals this season, scored 195 last year, the third-highest total in state history. His 26 goals broke the record of 24 set by Kevin Parks of Colton High in 1979.

Ranked third in Southern Section Division III polls, Burroughs is 19-3 and 3-0 in league.

If you have an item or idea for the prep water polo report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at erik.hamilton@latimes.com

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Southern Section Polls

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Division I--1. Long Beach Wilson, 2. Newport Harbor, 3. Foothill, 4. El Toro, 5. North Hollywood Harvard Westlake, 6. San Clemente, 7. Villa Park, 8. Irvine, 9. Aliso Niguel, 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. University, 10. Edison.

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.