HIGH SCHOOL : BOYS’ WATER POLO : San Clemente’s Success No Mystery

Coach Marc Parker laughs at the notion that his San Clemente boys’ water polo team is such a mystery for many of the county’s coaches.

It’s true his team did not play against the county’s top programs in summer league games. But Parker insists that was out of necessity, not design.

“We did a lot of scrimmaging in the summer,” said Parker, starting his fourth year at San Clemente. “I like to work a lot on the fundamentals and scrimmaging allows this. So we really didn’t go up against that many teams . . . except Long Beach Wilson, who we scrimmaged the most.”

Yes, that Long Beach Wilson, the defending Southern Section Division I champion.

“Sure, it’s beneficial,” Parker said. “They’re a very good team and when we scrimmage, we’re in the water for a long time. That gives us a chance to let everyone get some playing time.”

Another reason the Tritons received little exposure last summer was because they were without a majority of their starters.

“A lot of them work as beach lifeguards during the summer,” Parker said. “They’re full-time, so this doesn’t make for a lot of free time where we can get involved in a summer league.”

Led by a group that includes Josh Hewko, a junior national team member, juniors Pat McMann and Robert Yielding, senior Cameron Bassett and team captain Andy Janis, a senior, Parker said this is the closest collection of players he has ever coached.

“I’d rather have a group like this, which knows the game, works hard and they all get along,” he said. “There’s no egos.”

San Clemente is ranked sixth in the county and seventh in the Southern Section Division I poll. The Tritons lost to Wilson, 10-7, Tuesday at Long Beach Belmont Plaza Pool.

The Tritons began competition Thursday with victories over Rancho Buena Vista and Ioloni in the South Coast tournament, a 32-team, three-day event. They play Newport Harbor today in the quarterfinals.

“They’re in our bracket,” Newport Harbor co-Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said, “and we haven’t played them yet this year, so I don’t know what we’re in for. But I know they have a good team, and I’m not looking forward to playing them.”

Said El Toro Coach Don Stoll: “We didn’t see them at all during the summer. I know they have a lot of talent, and I expect them to do well this season.”

John Carcich, coach at Villa Park, was also in the dark about San Clemente: “They’re one of those teams you know will be strong, but you don’t know much about them. But they continue to have strong programs every year.”

AZEVEDO, AGAIN

It seems everybody expects standout Tony Azevedo to rejoin Long Beach Wilson’s team by mid-October after playing with the U.S. national team. At least, that’s what his coach, Tony Martinho, is saying, and hoping.

But Azevedo’s father, Rick Azevedo, who left Wilson last season to become coach at Long Beach State, says it’s not a given that his son will return to the Bruins.

“When [Tony] gets back from Australia in early October, he’ll take a few days to rest. Then he’ll focus all his energy on academics,” Rick said.

So will he play his senior season for Wilson?

“I can’t say for sure,” Rick said.

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