There’s sinister talent in Newport Harbor’s pool

Rick Devereux

The Latin word for the left hand is “sinister.”

Maybe they were thinking of water polo players when they conjured

up that word because Newport Harbor High senior lefty Anne Belden

certainly seems sinister to opponents in the pool.

“Being left-handed is a huge advantage [in water polo],” Belden

said. “When a person goes to defend you, they automatically go to the

right shoulder because that’s what they always do. It’s just awkward

trying to defend someone who is left-handed. Even I get confused if

I’m defending someone who is left-handed.”

Belden used her “sinister” left hand to make defenders look

awkward for four years as a standout for the Sailors. She was named

first-team All-CIF last year after registering 71 goals, 42 assists

and 62 steals.

She has continued her stellar performance this year and turned up

the talent in the last week, scoring six goals in two games to keep

Newport Harbor (10-0) undefeated and earn Belden Daily Pilot Athlete

of the Week honors.

She had a hat trick against Montebello Dec. 30 and another against

El Toro on New Year’s Eve. Belden also registered a game-high five

steals on Dec. 31.

“She’s our captain, she leads the counterattack and she’s a

left-hander,” Coach Bill Barnett said.

Belden also has speed.

She finished second in the Sea View League as a junior in the

100-meter freestyle, finishing in 54.13 seconds.

“I think we have a lot of team speed,” Belden said. “That really

helps set up our offense.”

As if Belden wasn’t gifted enough, she has extra coaches that give

her advice throughout the season.

Her older brothers Peter and Andrew, as well as sister Katherine,

all played water polo at Newport Harbor. Peter was a member of the

UCLA water polo team that won the 2004 NCAA men’s water polo

championship. Katherine scored nine goals for the Bruins as a member

of the UCLA women’s water polo team last year. Andrew, also a

left-hander, played briefly at Loyola Marymount.

Her siblings, especially Peter, give her advice after games.

“[Peter] comes to a lot of my games and has little critics on

driving ideas,” Belden said. “It definitely helps.”

Belden, who has already signed a letter of intent to join

Katherine at UCLA, returns the favor by going to colligate games and

picking up on her own ideas.

“I love going to games and watching,” Belden said. “I pick up on

little moves they try and then I try them in practice.”

Barnett has coached all four Beldens in some respect over the

years and said they all have one common trait.

“They are all very talented,” he said. “She and Andrew are

left-handed, but all of them are extremely talented water polo

players.”

The Sailors are 10-0 and have already faced stiff competition

knocking off perennial CIF contender Foothill in the championship

round of the Holiday Cup. The Tars also defeated CIF Division III

champion Santa Barbara and Division II champion Corona del Mar

earlier this year.

The success has Belden dreaming of a perfect season.

“I think we all feel confident, but being the top-ranked team

always means more pressure,” she said. “I think about [finishing the

season undefeated] all the time but I don’t say it out loud because I

don’t want to jinx it.”