Boys’ Water Polo: CdM is runner-up in tourney
IRVINE — Senior co-captain Will Rodosky had an eventful Saturday afternoon for the Corona del Mar High boys’ water polo team.
Rodosky played his usual all-around game in the Sea Kings’ 8-5 victory over Foothill in the semifinals of the 23rd annual S&R Sport Water Polo Tournament. The Sea Kings’ assist leader this season had an assist and a steal until, about midway through the fourth quarter, he said a Foothill player kicked in the face.
Rodosky might have a picture of football star Odell Beckham Jr. as his Twitter avatar, but even he knows that you’re not supposed to use your feet in water polo.
“I got kicked with like four minutes left,” Rodosky said. “It was kind of unfortunate he wanted to do that to me. I think they were frustrated, wanted to get at me.”
Blood gathering on his face, Rodosky had to leave the pool deck at Woollett Aquatics Center before the game ended. While the Sea Kings prepared for the tournament championship game against top-seeded Harvard-Westlake, Rodosky went to a medical center in Irvine and got four stitches under his right eye. But he was ready to go for the championship game Saturday evening, which certainly wasn’t surprising to CdM Coach Barry O’Dea.
“He’s a tough kid,” said O’Dea of Rodosky, the third Rodosky sibling to come through the CdM boys’ water polo program.
O’Dea could say that about all of his players, who managed to hang with Harvard-Westlake.
At least, for a half.
The Wolverines pulled away to claim their fourth straight S&R Sport tournament title, 10-4, and also win their third tournament of this regular season. Seniors Luke Henriksson (five goals) and Evan Rosenfeld (three) led the way for Harvard-Westlake (17-0), the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 1. Goalie Sam Krutonog made 17 saves for Harvard-Westlake, which continues to win, even still playing without senior standout Felix Brozyna-Vilim (knee).
CdM (11-4), ranked No. 5 in Division 1, played Harvard-Westlake to a scoreless first quarter and was down just 3-1 at halftime before the Wolverines began to pull away. But, while the Sea Kings fell short of the ultimate prize, they could reflect on a successful tournament.
It included a surprisingly lopsided win over Foothill, ranked No. 6 in Division 1. The Sea Kings led the game, 8-1, in the fourth quarter.
“It was a good weekend,” O’Dea said. “We proved a lot to ourselves. The guys are obviously a little disappointed that they lost that [championship] game like that, but they know that they showed up to play and had a great weekend. They’re happy about that.”
Senior center Tamir Avital scored twice in the championship game for CdM, and Rodosky (two field blocks and an assist) and Will Klein added one goal each. Will Ueberroth and Henry Wilde also had assists for the Sea Kings, who got 10 saves from senior goalie Matt Moran-Flores. Nine of those came in the first half to help CdM stay in the game.
“We stuck with them with a half,” Rodosky said. “We were patient in the first half, and we didn’t turn the ball over. In the second half, they just capitalized on our turnovers and our rushed offense.”
Rodosky said it was good for the Sea Kings to see Harvard-Westlake once this regular season. The teams don’t have a nonleague game scheduled, so the next time they could possibly meet would be the CIF playoffs.
“We lost to them by more goals in the offseason,” Rodosky said. “We’re all about progress. We lost by less goals tonight, and I think we’re going to keep getting better throughout the season.”
Ueberroth led the Sea Kings with three goals and two assists in the tournament semifinal win against Foothill. Avital, Wilde, Mitchell Cooper, Ryan Schildwachter and freshman Tanner Pulice also scored goals for CdM, which returns to Pacific Coast League play at Northwood on Tuesday.
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NEWPORT HARBOR PLACES FIFTH
The Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team was fifth in the S&R Sport tournament after a pair of wins Saturday. The Sailors got past Coronado, 11-6, before beating Miramonte, 8-7, in the fifth-place game.
“We have a goal of finishing top eight at all three tournaments,” said Newport Harbor Coach Ross Sinclair, whose team has accomplished the feat in its first two tournaments this season. “The boys did a good job of stepping up and responding.”
Junior center Jackson Westerman led the Sailors with three goals against Miramonte, and fellow junior Jason Grew scored twice. Senior co-captain Cole Brosnan, Ryan Brosnan and senior Connor Turnbow-Lindenstadt all had one goal, and junior goalie Max Sandberg recorded four saves and four steals.
The Sailors, ranked No. 7 in Division 1, went 3-1 in the tournament despite playing without their other senior co-captain, Nic Rimlinger (shoulder).
“I think in general, it was just a positive outcome,” Westerman said. “We lost Battle of the Bay last weekend, and that was pretty tough. [Finishing] 3-1 is pretty good. Overall, I’m satisfied with how we finished. Last tournament we finished sixth, this tournament we finished fifth. We have one more tournament this season, and hopefully we can crack the top four.
“I think every team in the top eight [of Division 1] is dangerous this year. We’re just as dangerous as some of the best teams up there. It definitely is exciting.”
Cole Brosnan led the Sailors with five goals in the win over Coronado. Turnbow-Lindenstadt scored twice and Ryan Brosnan, Makoto Kenney, Jack White and Westerman added single goals.
Newport Harbor (10-4) resumes Sunset League play Wednesday at home against Fountain Valley.
