HIGH SCHOOLS:Ramsey, CEO of USA Water Polo, now a local

An important figure to water polo, not just locally but nationally, has moved to Newport Coast.

Chris Ramsey, who was named the first-ever CEO of USA Water Polo in October, recently completed his move from Greenwich, Conn.

The CEO position, which oversees the USA Olympic water polo program as well as sport development nationwide, was created as part of a new governmental structure adapted last May.

USA Water Polo is based in Los Alamitos, but Ramsey, who has three sons, said he chose Newport Coast for his family for a couple of reasons.

“We moved there because we wanted to be near the ocean, and Corona del Mar High has an outstanding academic reputation,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey grew up in Southern California, playing water polo in high school at Temple City High and in college at the University of Redlands.

“That was when there were feathers in the ball,” he said with a laugh.

Ramsey also served as director of external affairs at the New York City Ballet for 11 years before joining USA Water Polo.

He said his son, James, a sophomore at CdM who also plays water polo, will be on the Sea Kings’ swim team this year. His youngest son, Evan, is an eighth-grader at CdM.

Ramsey’s oldest son, Colin, is finishing up his senior year of high school in Connecticut.

“She’s had outstanding games in our last two CIF games,” Coach Bill Barnett said. “She was definitely ready to play a hard game.”

Roberts, headed to the University of Michigan, is perhaps more proud of the Sailors’ defense. In Tuesday’s 5-4 quarterfinal win over Santa Margarita, Newport Harbor gave up two long goals on outside shots, one on a six-on-five and another as an Eagles’ six-on-five just ended.

Senior Allyssa Peterson had five steals in the game, following Jillian Chiapuzio’s six steals in a 10-2 first-round win over Huntington Beach.

But Newport Harbor’s offense has also been impressive. The Sailors scored four goals in a 10-minute span Tuesday, turning a 2-0 deficit to Santa Margarita just before halftime into a 4-2 lead with 5:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Chiapuzio said she never felt fatigued. She lost the first two quarter-starting sprints to Santa Margarita’s Kacey Anderson, but then won the next five.

“I think they were getting tired out,” she said. “From our hard training, I was able to keep my endurance up the whole game. I didn’t get tired, and I think that’s maybe why I won the rest of the sprints.”

But, more than that, it was a great opportunity to give experience to some freshmen and sophomores who will need it. CdM will graduate nine seniors, and Allison Peotter is the only junior for the Sea Kings.

The underclassmen did well against Poly, holding the visitors scoreless in the second half.

The 16-team women’s water polo tournament features the top 12 teams in the country, including No. 1 UCLA, which features CdM alumna Brittany Fullen and Tars alumni Anne Belden and Jenna Murphy, and the No. 9 Anteaters.

Games will be played throughout the day Saturday and Sunday at the CdM and UCI pools, with the championship game scheduled for Sunday at 5:15 p.m. at UCI.

MATT SZABO covers high school girls’ water polo for the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at (714) 966-4614 or via e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.