Boys water polo: Going the distance

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - The Tennessee Titans weren’t the only ones to see

their season end by inches. Newport Harbor High’s boys water polo team

saw its season end on an excruciating note when a sudden-death goal by El

Toro’s Trevor McMunn squeezed through to eliminate the Sailors, 9-8, in

the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals.

If you also consider that Newport had three shots go off the goal

post, including one in overtime, it’s not a game that the Sailors can

shake easily.

“That game weighs on all their minds,” Newport Coach Brian Kreutzkamp

said. “We put in a lot of work last year and came up just a little short.

The thing is, we didn’t play badly. We actually played a good game. I

think that game just made us hungrier.”

Well, Newport gets a rematch against El Toro on Halloween, in addition

to two possible matchups in tournaments. For now, the Sailors find

themselves in a familiar preseason position. The defending Sea View

League champ, Newport is considered one of the best, if not the best team

in Orange County.

“A lot of people are picking us No. 1,” Kreutzkamp said. “Last year,

we were No. 1 at the beginning and two years ago, we were No. 1 from

start to finish,” Kreutzkamp said. “And we still didn’t go to Belmont.”

It’s been 13 years since Newport last went to a CIF final at the

Belmont Plaza Pool complex in Long Beach. With 10 seniors on the team,

Newport again has the firepower, and a little desperation, to break that

streak

“I think there’s a small sense of urgency,” Kreutzkamp said. “We have

a lot of seniors, but they have to take it upon their shoulders to get

what they want.”

Shoulders Newport will lean on heavily belong to Peter Belden and Ryan

Cook. They were the top two scorers on last year’s team and both are

returning All-CIF first-teamers. They also showed a knack for finding

each other all over the pool and often provided the assist on the other’s

goal.

“Those two have been playing together since age group,” Kreutzkamp

said. “They can read each other very well. They barely speak to each

other in the pool but they know what the other will do.”

Seniors Steven Jendrusina and Joey Snelgrove also return to the

starting lineup. Jendrusina’s improvement has been rapid and he was

invited to play for a junior national team. He will play the two-meter

spot.

Snelgrove is a driver. With him, Jendrusina and Belden, Newport has

three of the four swimmers from the CIF Division I 200-yard freestyle

relay champions. With Newport’s team speed, Kreutzkamp hopes to

counterattack constantly.

Senior Kyle Bean, a strong player who will defend at two meters, moves

into the starting lineup. Caine Littrell, who easily led the junior

varsity team in goals last year, rounds out the starting lineup.

Seniors Greg Worthing and Brian Pentz are the first two off the bench

and will get regular playing time. Juniors Thomas Buttman, Brad Dillman

and Jonathan Hwang hope to contribute to a senior-laden team.

There are few questions about Newport’s offense, but there will be a

lot of focus on goaltending. Newport has been spoiled in goal the last

few years. Tim Birdsong, last season’s Sea View League MVP and a

first-team All-CIF goalie, started for two years. Before him, Newport

enjoyed the presence of perennial All-CIF first-teamer Jon Pharris.

Seniors Brandon McLain and Shawn Johnson are next in line. They have

been battling all summer for the starting job.

“I have a lot of confidence in both of them,” Kreutzkamp said. “I

haven’t even named a starter yet. That’s how close it is.”

Both of them will see equal time initially. Johnson is the bigger

goalie and his size gives him an advantage in blocking shots. But

McLain’s offensive skills are suited to start counterattacks, much like

Birdsong did last year. Kreutzkamp hopes to name a definite starter by

the time league play starts.

If Newport can settle its goaltending, another deep trip into the CIF

playoffs is likely. But the Sailors aren’t looking to go deep, they want

to go all the way and win the school’s first boys water polo title since

1984. With another strong team, Kreutzkamp realizes his players are

saddled with high expectations.

“They’re used to it because they faced it all last year,” he said.

“For every team, we’re essentially the game of the year. We have a big

target on our back, but I think it’ll push us even harder.”

Newport Harbor boys water polo

Coach: Brian Kreutzkamp

Kyle Bean Sr.

Peter Belden Sr.

Thomas Buttman Jr.

Ryan Cook Sr.

Brad Dillman Jr.

Jonathan Hwang Jr.

Steven Jendrusina Sr.

Shawn Johnson Sr.

Caine Littrell Sr.

Brandon McLain Sr.

Brian Pentz Sr.

Joey Snelgrove Sr.

Greg Worthing Sr.