Sailors feeling at home

Bryce Alderton

Newport Harbor High boys water polo coach Jason Lynch enters this

season with hopes that run high, but also deep.

Lynch enters his fourth season at the helm of one of the most

prestigious water polo programs in Southern California with a team he

said could be his most talented since taking the reins in 2001.

The Sailors return six from a team that reached the CIF Southern

Section Division I quarterfinals before bowing out to El Toro for a

second year in a row.

Newport has lost in the CIF quarterfinals the last three years,

but the pieces are in place for a deep run this year, Lynch said.

“Top to bottom, we weren’t as strong as we are now,” said Lynch,

who guided the Costa Mesa boys team to three CIF section title games

in five years (1989 to ‘94), including claiming one championship in

that span. “Overall, with depth and versatility, this is the

strongest team in the time I’ve been here.”

This is even after losing Michael Bury, a two-time first-team

All-CIF Division I selection and United States youth national team

member, to graduation. Bury led the Tars with 93 goals last season

and will continue his water polo career at Stanford.

The Tars, though, return productive scorer Clay Jorth, a

second-team All-CIF selection last season when he scored 56 goals,

along with two-meter strongholds Carson Hill and Brett Auer, both

juniors. Jorth is a three-year varsity starter joined on this year’s

team by freshman brother Clinton Jorth.

Lynch has also been impressed with 6-foot-2 freshman Nate

Castillo, a left-handed driver who he coached on the 15-member U.S.

national cadet 15-and-under team that placed fourth out of six teams

in an international tournament in Serbia. Castillo scored 13 goals in

five games. Clinton Jorth is also involved with the national cadet

team.

Senior Kenny Moad, along with junior returners Trevor Armstrong

and left-handed driver Telford Cottam, provide additional offensive

firepower, which Lynch hopes will lessen the blow of Bury’s

departure.

“Last year, it was always Michael going in and other teams knew

that and played zone to take him out of [his rhythm],” Lynch said.

“This season, it’s more diverse. At any one time, we can look to take

advantage of mismatches and give ourselves a lot more options.

“We can go to our left-handers, Telford and Nate, and have an

attack on both sides of the pool.”

The Tars’ defense will be anchored by senior goalkeeper Michael

Robinson, a three-year varsity starter who averaged nine saves a

contest (252 total) last season to earn second-team All-Sea View

League laurels.

“He is one of the top three goalies in [Division I],” Lynch said

of Robinson, who stands 6-2. “He has worked really hard, he’s got a

lot more confidence and gained a lot of strength.”

Senior Eric Carlson and junior Kyle Sherman will defend in front

of Robinson, while sophomore Bryce McLain, younger brother of Nathan

McLain, a former Newport goalkeeper, will be Robinson’s backup, Lynch

said.

With the talent assembled, Lynch hopes to claim Newport’s third

league title in four seasons, along with reaching at least the CIF

semifinals.

“Foothill [last year’s league champion] is our major competition.

I believe [the Knights] have four starters back,” Lynch said.

Newport’s nonleague schedule includes the Sept. 14 opener against

defending Division I champion Long Beach Wilson at Belmont Plaza,

along with contests against perennial powers Coronado, El Toro and

The Bishop’s.

Newport, which has won 11 CIF Southern Section titles, faced

Wilson three times last season, losing by one goal twice and four

goals in their last meeting.

“We are improved over last year. I think we’ll be a lot more

competitive,” Lynch said.

The Sailors will have the luxury of playing in their own pool

after nearly two years since hosting a boys water polo game. The

Tars’ home opener against Coronado Sept. 18 marks the first boys game

played on campus since Newport defeated Northwood on Nov. 14, 2002,

to advance to the CIF Division I quarterfinals.

Newport played all its home games at Corona del Mar last season

due to renovation of the Sailors’ pool.

With the new pool now in place, the Sailors can focus more

attention on their game strategy instead of driving to surrounding

venues.

“We can go from the weight room to the pool in five minutes,”

Lynch said. “It’s nice to be back.”