Boys water polo: Pantuliano headed for Stanford

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High boys water polo standout

Marcello Pantuliano has been accepted to Stanford and will play water

polo for the Cardinal next season, future Stanford Coach John Vargas said

Tuesday.

Pantuliano, a second-team All-Pacific Coast League performer and

defensive specialist, is the first CdM player to follow Vargas to

Stanford. Vargas guided CdM this season to its seventh CIF Southern

Section title in his 19th and final year as the Sea Kings’ coach. He will

take over at Stanford on Jan. 1.

“Marcello will be playing on the water polo team next year and he will

make that team, there’s no question about it,” said Vargas, whose

third-straight CIF Division II title team this year included seven

juniors, Artie Dorr and John Mann among them.

Pantuliano, 6-foot, 170 pounds, sparked CdM in its 16-4 win over

Esperanza in the CIF title game Nov. 17 at Belmont Plaza, scoring two

goals and providing the Sea Kings with team highs in steals (six) and

assists (four).

Pantuliano, also a second-team All-CIF Division II pick, was CdM’s

team leader this season in steals (72) and was second in assists with 29

behind Dorr’s 32. Pantuliano also scored 29 goals as the Sea Kings

finished 24-3 and outscored four playoff opponents, 67-14.

Pantuliano found out early Monday morning that he’d been accepted to

Stanford, calling his mother, Sue, during second period to track down the

day’s mail.

“I just couldn’t wait,” Pantuliano. “It had been haunting me all

weekend ... I’m really happy. It’s a big thing.”