Costa Mesa hopes for big season

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Despite last year’s 11-14 record, Costa Mesa High’s

boys water polo team had a lot of positives to look at. The team reached

the CIF Southern Section Division II wild card game. And the Mustangs

placed a solid third in the Paific Coast League.

Despite the encouragements, the Mustangs have to work even harder to

build on last year’s results for a better season. “We’re developing,”

Costa Mesa Coach Eric Berg said. “Each time we get in the water, we

improve.

Costa Mesa must deal with the graduation of Hunter Taylor, who was an

All-CIF Division II second teamer last year. Another problematic

graduation is first-team PCL player Matt Tipton.

But the huge voids might have a solution in senior Matt Vaillancourt.

Vaillancourt will be counted on to pick up the slack, and he will be more

than able to. The big two-meter man is a physical force in the middle,

and he will provide Costa Mesa with plenty of scoring chances, while

providing opponents with match-ups concerns.

“He’s very strong,” Berg said. “He has the ability and strength to hold

the two-meter position down very effectively. He’s a strong force on

which other teams wil focus on.”

The Mustangs need other players to step up and pick up some offense. For

all of Vaillancourt’s brute strength, his scoring ability is limited, and

he needs somebody else to keep opponents from crashing down on him.

Berg is counting on versatile and speedy junior Mike Whitmore to provide

that offensive counterpunch. Whitmore will be the Mustangs’ “sixth man,”

coming off the bench whenever Costa Mesa needs scoring help. “He’s a

playmaker,” Berg said. “He’s able to create a lot of scoring

opportunities.”

On defense, Costa Mesa doesn’t have one standout, but what it lacks in

quality it makes up for with quantity. A deep and solid corps of senior

defensemen will help goalie Chris Dolloff. “Defensively, we’re very

sound,” Berg said. “We have to be more and more aggressive on defense.”

And that brings up the biggest key to Costa Mesa’s success. For a team

that will depend on strength and defense, the Mustangs needs to get

tougher. And they have to play as a tight, physical unit against more

talented foes like Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach and University. “We need

to get stronger physically and mentally,” Berg said. “We have to work on

our mental toughness and focus.”

Roster

2M Mike Vaillancourt Sr.

2M-DE Alex Sarris Sr.

UT Mike Whitmore Jr.

G Chris Dolloff Sr.

DE Jason Kabico Sr.

DE Joey Comfort Sr.

DE Josh Feldman Jr.

DE Chason Marshall So.

DR Chris Biron Sr.

DR John Volt Sr.

DR Brian Dunn Sr.

Coach: Eric Berg