Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, Michael March: March Madness

Barry Faulkner

In the high school boys water polo equivalent of the World Series,

Michael March was Bucky Dent, Don Larsen and Mark Lemke all rolled into

one for victorious Corona del Mar High.

Toiling all season in the shallow end of recognition, the Sea King

junior two-meter defender had the kind of CIF Southern Section Division

II championship game he’ll never live down. Had March made any bigger

splash, authorities would have had to refill the Belmont Plaza pool for

that evening’s Division I final.

“It was nice to have some people finally notice me,” said March, who,

going into the Nov. 22 title showdown with Pacific Coast League rival

University, figured the closest he’d get to the spotlight was its

reflection off decorated Uni hole man Ted Peck.

March, however, changed all that with oppressive defense and

opportunistic offense to help the Sea Kings prevail, 15-7, and repeat as

Division II champions.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week held Peck, the PCL Most Valuable

Player and, at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, a powerful and prolific scoring

machine, to one goal.

What’s more, March scored five goals of his own, including three of

CdM’s seven straight tallies to turn a 2-2 deadlock into a comfortable

9-2 cushion by halftime.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with how he stepped up when we needed

him,” CdM Coach John Vargas said. “His role against Uni was to defend

Peck, then, if he got a mismatch on offense, to exploit it.”

March clearly exploited the chance to showcase himself on the prep

level’s biggest stage.

His performance helped him share CIF Division II Player of the Year

laurels with senior teammate Garrett Bowlus, an honor to be officially

announced soon.

“He was such a selfless player, it was great to see him get the

attention he deserves,” Vargas said. “He was consistent for us all year

and his teammates always appreciated him.”

March said his marquee performance also earned the appreciation of

several friends, who left him congratulatory phone messages over the

Thanksgiving break that followed the title triumph.

“I’ve gotten feedback from people at school before, but that was the

first time I got messages,” March said.

Though it was the second straight CIF crown for CdM, it was March’s

first, having spent his first two years in the program on the frosh-soph

team.

The 6-4, 225-pounder, however, was obviously a huge addition to this

year’s 22-5 unit, for which he started the entire year.

While imposing to opposing two-meter players, Vargas said finesse or,

perhaps more precisely, deception, were keys to March’s defensive

dominance.

“He has the ability to portray himself in the water as someone who

isn’t expending a lot of energy, though he is actually working very

hard,” explained Vargas, noting the behavior made officials less likely

to call fouls on him.

March said his understated style was developed with the help of

teammate Artie Dorr’s father, Don, a former official who counseled March

on the fine points of operating under a referee’s radar.

“You have to try to keep a straight face, even though you may be

making pretty good contact,” March said. “If you’re hitting a guy, you

can’t have the kind of face that a referee is going to notice.”

March never shies away from contact, but his long arms and

anticipation also give him the opportunity to pick opponents clean.

“You have to use whatever you can to get the job done,” he said. “But

I have to shut down set.”

March finished with 62 goals, second to Bowlus’ 88, and a team-high 41

steals and Vargas believes he has the kind of skills to become a bigger

offensive weapon next fall.

“He’s a great shooter,” Vargas said.

And, after his notable season finale, March is now a shooting star.