Early bird gets the polo fill

It turns out being an hour early to a water polo match can have

its advantages.

If I didn’t arrive at Corona del Mar High at 3 p.m., 15 minutes

before the Sea Kings’ frosh-soph boys water polo team was to face

University in both teams’ first Pacific Coast League game, and about

an hour before the varsity match, I wouldn’t have had the chance to

watch an offensive explosion put on by the Sea Kings.

Truth be known, I was there for the varsity match, but watching

the frosh-soph and junior varsity teams battle the Trojans turned out

just as entertaining and gave a sneak peak at the future of CdM’s

boys water polo program.

Goals abounded, fans clapped their hands almost continually and

the Corona del Mar High boys frosh-soph water polo team beat

University, 13-1, Wednesday at CdM High, for the team’s first Pacific

Coast League win.

The Sea Kings scored six goals in the first period and had an 11-0

halftime lead, showing University, and the crowd gathered that

included myself, a preview of the Sea King successors in a few years

to the likes of John Mann, Artie Dorr and Beau Stockstill, all of

whom are scheduled to graduate in June.

The Sea Kings improved to 10-3 on the season. They won the Newport

Harbor Tournament and captured second in the Charger Cup in the two

tournaments in which they have competed and also trounced Coronado

earlier this season, 13-0.

An example of CdM’s balanced scoring against University includes

10 different goal scorers with no one scoring more than two goals.

Blake Schoenberg, James Blackford and Tom Pearson each scored two

goals, while Walker Russell, Scott Sanford, Tom Money (younger

brother of CdM varsity starter John Money), Eric Seagondollar,

Spencer Pirdy, Greg Meyer and Jacob Murphy all scored solo goals for

the Sea Kings. Pirdy led the team with three assists and Money, Bryan

Buhagiar and Kyle Hersh added one assist each for CdM.

The Sea Kings stole the ball 17 times from the Trojans, with four

players making three steals apiece (Russell, Buhagiar, Pirdy and

Hogan Meyer) and five players tallying one steal apiece (Justin Hupp,

Pearson, Chris Crawford, Blackford and Money).

Even with a 10-3 record, CdM’s frosh-soph and junior varsity Coach

Jason Hokanson said his team shows flashes of brilliance at times,

but makes costly mistakes at other times.

“Our frosh-soph unit is up and down,” Hokanson said as he observed

his team during their match against University. “At times we look

like a varsity team and at others can look like an elementary team.

But we’re looking ahead to hopefully winning a lot of games in

league.”

Hokanson plays seven sophomores and one freshman on frosh-soph.

Gaston Sanford made four saves in goal for CdM.

“He’s probably the best frosh-soph goalie in Orange County,”

Hokanson said. “He could play varsity at some schools.”

Phillip Di Giacomo made two saves in goal for the Sea Kings

against University as Hokanson sent in the second team after CdM took

a 12-0 lead in the third quarter.

CdM’s JV team is young, Hokanson said, made up mostly freshmen but

also includes juniors Darisuh Rafiean, Hunter Sheetz and Tyler

Schoenberg. The JV team has gone 2-2 this season. They have not

played in the two tournaments the frosh-soph team has played in,

explaining the less games played.

“It gives them experience playing at the JV level,” Hokanson said.

*

I guess Wednesday’s match leaned more toward the level of a

“varsity team,” rather than an “elementary team,” which is a scary

sight to opposing teams.

The Sea Kings seemed to click on all cylinders, making the sharp

pass when needed but holding back if a defender clogged the passing

lane.

CdM made it look easy against University and the sky’s the limit

if these young men continue to improve with each pass they make and

match they play.

Who knows? In two years we could be witnessing another installment

of Sea King water polo success.