Attack of honesty

Rick Devereux

It can be hard to hear the truth, especially for high school

athletes.

The truth often runs against a person’s own self image.

But Corona del Mar High senior water polo tri-captain Jordan Anae

insists on honest appraisal from her coach.

“She told me, ‘Tell me straight up what you think. Don’t be nice

and pad your words,’ ” Coach Aaron Chaney said. “Some players, you

have to dance around with what you say. Jordan doesn’t care. She

wants to know how it is.”

That brutal honesty can lead to shocking moments, but Anae thinks

it also leads to improvement.

“I think my teammates are always there to be positive,” she said.

“From my coach, I want them to be honest with me because that’s the

only way to be a better player. I feel like I need that criticism in

order to know my weaknesses in order to strengthen them. It’s helped

me improve and reach my potential.”

Her potential is amazing.

The utility player scored 11 goals in three games for CdM to help

lead the Sea Kings to a ninth-place finish in the 32-team Irvine

Southern California championship. Anae has been named the Daily Pilot

Athlete of the Week for her efforts.

Anae has been a scoring presence for CdM all year, leading the

team with 57 goals.

“I think we have balanced attack,” Chaney said. “We have a lot of

good players. Jordan is one of best shooters on the team with Katie

[Indvik, who is third with 37 goals].”

The fact that the Sea Kings have three players with 35 or more

goals shows how balanced the team is. But if Anae played on a

different team, she could have close to 80 or 90 goals.

“I think that the way things turned out works perfectly,” she

said. “Being on a more diverse team makes us tougher to play against

and tougher to defend. We have six legitimate scoring threats. I’m

really proud of how we play.”

Chaney shifts his players into different positions in order to

make use of the situation or what an opposing team’s strategy is.

“We put her in the most prolific scoring spots because she is such

a good shooter,” Chaney said.

The responsibility of knowing different positions might prove

difficult with some players, but not with Anae.

“She is very easy to coach,” Chaney said. “She always listens and

always gives 100%.”

Katlin Kubas and Brittany Fullen join Anae with the responsibility

of representing the team as captains, a serious honor with a program

as decorated as CdM’s.

“I’m always talking to our captains to be half way between a

player and half way between a coach,” Chaney said. “She is the eyes

and ears of the coach for the team and she is the eyes and ears of

the team for the coach. We want her to take charge inside and outside

of the pool.”

Anae was a member of the squads that won CIF Southern Section

Division II championships her sophomore and junior years. Corona del

Mar is currently ranked No. 1 in the division with a 19-6 record and

poised to make an other run at the divisional title.

“Our defense is a huge strength of our team,” Anae said. “Coaches

always tell you how defense wins championships. Kubas is a great

defender and we have all the faith in the world in Brittany at

goalie.”