Community College men’s water polo: Pirates much improved

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Continuity breeds success, at least that’s what the

Orange Coast College men’s water polo team believes.

The Pirates men’s water polo coach Jason Gall feels as if his team’s

attitude and mentality has changed because he is in his second year. It

has all changed for the better, of course. And the talent has improved,

Gall said.

“We’re ahead of schedule from where we were at last year,” Gall said.

“Last year was my first year and I got off to a slow start. But, we’re in

better shape now. We have a better understanding of what we want to do.

We still have a lot of work to do, but the potential is there. And

talent-wise, we’re a little bit stronger than last year.”

The Pirates certainly began their season strong. They earned a 3-1

record at the Ventura Tournament, losing their only contest to Ventura,

12-10 in overtime.

Before the loss, in OCC’s first game of the season, the Pirates

stomped Ohlune, 21-4. Returning sophomore Matt McKinney, who sat out last

year on a medical redshirt year, led the team with 12 goals during the

tournament.

Sophomore Jeff Sample, a returner at utility, also contributed in

Coast’s victories in the tournament.

Gall said he also expects freshman driver Anthony Spezza and Santa Ana

transfer Sergio Gonzalez to provide OCC with more offensive weapons. And

returning goalie Graham Harvey, a Newport Harbor High product, is a key

defender.

Also from Newport Harbor, a quartet from last year’s CIF Southern

Section Division I championship team have joined forces at Coast. Mitch

Probert, Caine Littrell, Greg Worthing and Phil Birdsong are now playing

for the Pirates.

“The attitude is more positive this year and the guys are more

receptive,” Gall said. “We want to place in the top four in the Southern

California Regionals and make the state tournament. If we finish in the

top one or two spots in the (Orange Empire Conference) that would be a

great accomplishment by any team because of the competition.”

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE MEN’S WATER POLO

1 Kile Baker, goalie Fr.

1A Graham Harvey, goalie So.

2 Kyle Gorham, utility So.

3 Danny Ciecek, driver So.

4 Wes Warner, two-meters, defense So.

5 Mitch Probert, driver Fr.

6 Luis Gonzalez, driver So.

7 Matt McKinney, two-meters, offense So.

8 Sergio Gonzalez, two-meters, offense So.

9 Jeff Sample, utility So.

10 Caine Littrell, utility Fr.

11 Anthony Spezza, driver Fr.

12 Greg Worthing, utility Fr.

13 Kevin Cooney, utility Fr.

14 Matt DeMartino, utility Fr.

15 Billy Swanson, driver Fr.

16 James Montalvo, utility Fr.

17 Nathan Casey, driver Fr.

18 Ryan McGrath, utility Fr.

19 Phil Birdsong, driver Fr.

20 Kyle Hathaway, utility Fr.

Coach: Jason Gall