Senior Nationals feature the elite, starting today at CdM

Steve Virgen

There are two reasons why the Newport Harbor Water Polo Foundation

‘A’ team will have a viable chance to win the Senior National

Tournament, which starts today and ends Sunday at Corona del Mar and

Newport Harbor High Schools.

Reason No. 1: Ryan Bailey. Reason No. 2: Jeff Powers.

Legendary UC Irvine men’s water polo coach Ted Newland, who also

heads the Newport A squad, has tabbed Bailey and Powers as the

nation’s best two-meter men. The duo, will no doubt, be among the

elite at the Senior Nationals, which features 16 of the nation’s top

club teams, including New York Athletic Club, the tourney’s defending

champion.

Newport’s first game is today at 9 a.m. against Paradise Water

Polo Club. Newport, which possesses six U.S. National team members

including Bailey and Powers, will also face Lion Club at 2 p.m. Both

games are among the 12 of the day that will be at CdM. The

championship game will be Sunday at 3:15 p.m. at CdM.

“We have the best two two-meter men in the nation,” said Newland,

who will also coach Newport’s B team, which is made up of mostly

current UCI players. “With Bailey, it’s like having (Shaquille)

O’Neal on your team. Basketball is like water polo in that if you

have a dominant center, like a two-meter man, you’re not going to be

stopped. This is why the Lakers have won three in a row. We should be

very strong in the Nationals. Powers will be ready, too.”

Powers, a prolific 6-foot-6, 225-pound two-meter man who will be a

senior at UCI in the fall, aptly complements Bailey, who is 6-6, 245.

Bailey, just as all but one player of the Newport A team, has played

for Irvine under Newland. Newport’s sense of brotherhood will be yet

another formidable weapon.

“They really enjoy playing as a team,” Newland said. “They have a

real close bond. That’s the biggest reason our team is better than

other teams.”

Newport’s defense is led by goalie Genai Kerr, a UCI product who

also coaches the water polo teams at Sage Hill. Kerr is also a member

of the U.S. National team.

Newland’s Newport Harbor WPF B team could have included Powers,

but Newland moved him up, “with the big boys.” The Newport B squad

features 6-8 two-meter man Dreason Barry, who will be a sophomore for

the Anteaters in the fall. Another UCI heavyweight is Corona del Mar

High product Garrett Gentry.

The Senior Nationals will also include Stanford Water Polo Club,

which will be coached by former CdM Coach John Vargas.

Additionally, the Bruin Water Polo Club includes Corona del Mar

High products Garrett Bowlus and Michael March, Newport Harbor High

product Peter Belden and a very familiar face in Newport waters,

University High’s Teddy Peck.

From Sunset of San Diego is Newport Harbor product Steven

Jendrusina and from Paradise Water Polo Club is Corona del Mar High

product Sherwin Kim.