Kunert benefited from on-the-job training

athleteofweek-kunertFour-year varsity starter is closing in on a 100-goal season for the Estancia High boys’ water polo team.Four years ago, Chad Kunert was put on Estancia High’s varsity water polo team because he was an exceptional swimmer with a couple years of club water polo under his belt, even though he wasn’t even a freshman yet.

It was a harrowing experience for the freshman at times, playing with and against bigger, older and more experienced players.

“Playing on the varsity team as a freshman that summer was brutal,” Kunert said.

Did he get roughed up?

“Not just from the other team, but our team too -- from guys wondering why a freshman was playing with them,” he said.

Kunert made it through his freshman year with the help of then-senior star Frank Gamboa, who went on to swim at Orange Coast College.

“I looked up to him. Everything I know about leadership I learned from him,” Kunert said. “When everyone else was down on me, he was uplifting. He helped me survive.”

Not only did Kunert survive his freshman season, he kept improving his game. This year, he’s become one of the top goal-scoring threats in Orange County.

“The main thing he brings is leadership. He’s a senior four-year starter and he knows what’s going on,” Estancia Coach John Carpenter said. “He’s by far and away our best scorer, and his skills have improved every year. He’s more adept at handling the ball in the hole and he’s a better passer.”

Kunert, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound two-meter man, has netted 85 goals this season entering Friday’s game against Los Amigos. He tallied eight goals in Estancia’s 9-7 victory over Bolsa Grande last Thursday.

“It was a pretty good day. I just really wanted to win,” Kunert said. “Going into the fourth quarter, it was close, and I told the guys, ‘We can beat this team. We can do it.’ I get really motivated in close games.”

The performance came two days after a 10-9 win over Westminster. Kunert scored a team-high four goals in the victory despite getting double- and triple-teamed consistently.

Prior to that, Kunert tallied 10 goals in three games as the Eagles (11-7 overall, 3-1 in Golden West League before Friday’s match) took fourth place in the Estancia tournament.

As an illustration of Kunert’s importance to the team, when he sat out a recent match against Saddleback with a rib injury, Estancia lost, 18-2.

“I got kicked in the ribs at two meters against Westminster and the doctor said I couldn’t play,” Kunert said. “It was the first game I missed in a long time. It was hard not being able to play.”

Kunert says he’s ready to play now, which is good because when he jumps in the pool, he rarely comes out.

“I’m in all fourth quarters. The only rest I’ve gotten this season is when I got kicked out of the Westminster game, which never happens,” Kunert said. “I hadn’t been kicked out of a game since my freshman year.”

In that match, Kunert was called for an exclusion shortly after the fourth quarter started. Kunert didn’t realize he’d been whistled and stayed in the middle of the action, so Westminster was awarded a 4-meter penalty shot and Kunert, receiving a double-exclusion, was bounced from the game. Then he cheered the team to victory from the deck.

“Whatever it takes,” Kunert said.20051029LO1KDF5MNo Caption20051029ip3pmxknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)