Beau Stockstill

Steve Virgen

During the summer, Beau Stockstill became a captain of the Corona

del Mar High boys water polo team, which had won the past three CIF

Division II titles and turned its focus to win a Division I

championship this season. That’s a pretty powerful statement,

becoming a leader of a team of talented seniors.

So, it’s hardly a wonder that as the CdM senior goalie has

elevated his game in the playoffs, so too have the Sea Kings.

Stockstill, in accordance with the CdM squad, has been consistently

solid throughout the season, and when the playoffs arrived last week,

he stepped it up.

After the Sea Kings ran through Long Beach Poly, 18-2, Nov. 14,

Stockstill came through as the difference-maker in CdM’s 6-5 win over

Foothill in the CIF Division I quarterfinals Nov. 16. He recorded 12

saves, winning a classic battle of great goalkeepers, which included

Foothill’s Sandy Hohener (10 saves).

“He did a great job (Wednesday) and the other day against

Foothill,” CdM Coach Tim Salvino said of Stockstill, the Daily Pilot

Athlete of the Week. “In all honesty, I think he’s the best. I’m

probably going to be looked at being biased, but I still think he’s

the best in high school that I’ve seen this year. He has natural

ability. He’s not like some players I’ve seen with natural talent who

don’t have work ethic. He has both. And, with that combination it’s

an unstoppable deal.”

Stockstill was the one doing the stopping in the Sea Kings’

victory over Foothill. His passion to excel in his position led

Stockstill to one of his better performances of the season. Like a

hot shooter who finds the zone in basketball, Stockstill was also

able to find that comfort location in regard to defense and setting

up teammates on the counterattack.

“As a goalie, you are at your best when you are just watching the

ball,” Stockstill said. “You get in the zone if it’s just you and the

ball. You’re just watching it and it’s as if nothing else is there.

Just you and the ball. It’s easier to pick up on the ball and stop

it. In the CIF playoffs, I felt I’ve been in a zone and prepared for

the game.”

Stockstill said part of the reason he has come to become so

successful is because of his relationship with teammate and fellow

senior goalie Tyler Brundage, as well as Sherwin Kim, who graduated

after last season and is now the starting goalie for UC Santa

Barbara.

Stockstill has known Brundage since they were 5 years old, and he

met Kim when Stockstill started playing water polo at age 9. The

productive competitive relationship the trio shared last season and

the continued competition has been a plus in every direction.