OCC ‘fresh’ for 2002

Steve Virgen

Youth. That’s the movement for the Orange Coast College men’s

water polo team, as the Pirates prepare for their upcoming season.

The Pirates return just three players and the rest of the team is

made up of 14 freshmen, who are not the only new additions to OCC

men’s water polo.

Mike Stachowski, who was planning to be an assistant coach for the

Pirates’ men’s and women’s water polo teams, will be the new coach of

the Coast men’s squad.

Greg Boyer, among the best water polo officials in the nation, was

slated to take over for former OCC Coach Jason Gall, who now coaches

both water polo programs at Pomona College. Boyer decide to focus

more on his career as an official and Stachowski came to the

forefront.

Stachowski, who coached at Santa Margarita High four years ago and

at Dana Hills in 1986, is one of the lead coaches for the TRAP Water

Polo Academy. He began work as the OCC men’s water polo team coach in

May. He has assembled a team that is destined to be better than last

year’s squad, which finished fifth in the Orange Empire Conference

with a 4-4 record. Coast went 15-18 overall and lost 11-4 to Cuesta

in the Southern California Regional playoffs.

Among Stachowski’s goals are for his Pirates to finish second in

the OEC. He also wants to establish his style, a blend of

international aggressive play and the American brand of speed and

finesse.

“I want to have the kids ready for the Division I level of play,”

Stachowski said. “Some of these guys have come here to move on to the

next level. They all want to go on to a four-year university and

play.”

OCC sophomores Greg Worthing, Matt DeMartino and Caine Littrell

are expected to provide leadership and experience. DeMartino, a

6-foot-4 utility player, is among six Pirates who are 6-4 or taller.

The tallest is Jake Herman, a 6-8 freshman from Dana Hills, who

will be the Pirates’ two-meter man. Three out-of-state players are

also expected to make key contributions. Les Johnson, a 6-5 freshman

from Maui, Billy Jolly, a 6-5 freshman driver from Florida, and Dylan

Cool from Washington have joined the Pirates with the intent to learn

the skills necessary to move on to the next level.

Johnson and fellow freshman teammate Abner Castorena are, “two

fantastic left-handers who are going to surprise some people,”

Stachowski said.

Freshman Omar Reynosa is recognized as the toughest player on the

Pirates’ squad. Goalies Shawn Andrews and Mike Nichols are competing

for the starting spot.

The Pirates have not won a state championship since 1972, and,

realistically, the drought will continue. OEC powerhouse Golden West,

the defending state champion, remains the team to beat.

Coast opens the season at the two-day Ventura College Tournament,

where the Pirates will take on Citrus College, Sept. 6. The next day,

OCC faces Los Angeles Valley.