At the top of their game

waterpolofeatureWith Newport Harbor’s Bill Barnett and Corona del Mar’s Aaron Chaney, girls’ water polo in Newport Beach is in good hands.When it comes to girls’ varsity high school water polo, it doesn’t get any better than what Newport Beach has to offer.

Two perennial powerhouses -- Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor -- reside in Newport Beach and dominate the CIF Southern Section.

The Sea Kings have won four consecutive CIF championships. The Sailors have two CIF titles and reached the Division I final last year.

This year, CdM is ranked No. 1 in Division II. Newport Beach is ranked No. 2 in Division I. One reason for both teams’ success is the coaching.

CdM boasts a coach in Aaron Chaney who doesn’t know what it’s like to not win a CIF title. Four years -- four titles. Chaney also knows the sport from a different angle -- he was a referee at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Newport Harbor counters with legendary Coach Bill Barnett, who has guided Sailors teams to 12 CIF championships -- 10 boys’ titles -- since 1966. He led the girls’ team to CIF titles in 1999 and 2004.

Barnett was the U.S. men’s national team coach from 1985 to 1992, and nearly became the U.S. women’s national team coach last March.

Chaney began refereeing at the international level in 1997, and was nominated to referee in the 2000 Olympics, but didn’t make the cut.

The Hawaii native moved to Southern California in the summer of 2000. Not only did he land a coaching job at Corona del Mar High, he was picked to referee in the 2004 Olympics.

Chaney also works as a math tutor and referees Mountain Pacific Sports Federation college water polo games.

Barnett is a math teacher at Newport Harbor. He led the U.S. men’s water polo team to a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

So what is it about the combination of math and water polo?

“I have no idea,” Barnett said. “Maybe it’s the Xs and Os.”

When these two coaches face each other, there is a boatload of water polo knowledge on the pool deck, and more Xs and Os thrown around than anybody but them know what to do with.

“It’s tough to beat Barnett,” Chaney said. “His girls are always well prepared because he’s so well prepared as a coach.”

Barnett’s Sailors squads are not slow out of the gate, either.

“A lot of teams work their way into the season. It takes them a while to come together,” Chaney said. “When you play Newport, they are always ready from the beginning.”

Although Chaney’s credentials get more impressive by the year -- he had 19 successful years coaching in Hawaii before coming to Corona del Mar -- he doesn’t put himself in the same boat as Barnett.

“I can’t compare myself to Barnett -- he’s a legend,” Chaney said.

Barnett refutes the charge.

“I’m not a legend,” Barnett said.

If he’s not a legend, he’s certainly revered in water polo circles.

“I don’t come close to what he’s accomplished,” Chaney said.

Still, Barnett recognizes Chaney’s success.

“He’s a good coach, he’s had great success in Hawaii and here,” Barnett said.

And what is the key to being a successful water polo coach? It’s very simple to Barnett.

“Hard work,” he said.

While Barnett is a legendary figure, Chaney is no water polo slouch, and his players appreciate him as a coach and player.

“He’s a very caring person. He’s passionate about what he does,” said Camille Hewko, Corona del Mar’s star two-meter player. “He treats each player with respect. He wants them to do their best.”

The Sea Kings are 16-0 in playoff games under Chaney, who values attitude and mental strength and doesn’t spend time talking about winning.

“He’s a good motivator,” Hewko said. “He helps us achieve our goals.”

Both teams appear to have a good shot at reaching CIF championship games again this season. And as usual, it looks like the names Barnett and Chaney will be synonymous with water polo excellence.

CORONA DEL MAR SEA KINGS

Coach: Aaron Chaney (fifth year)

2004-05 record: 24-7, 5-0 in Pacific Coast League.

Returning starters: Camille Hewko (Sr.); Ashley Chandler (Sr.); Katie Indvik (Jr.); Cari Levine (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Tumua Anae (Sr.); Sarah Hutchison (Jr.); Chelsea Lyman (Sr.); Taylor Harkins (Jr.); Katherine Bilder (Sr.).

Key dates: at Holiday Cup Tournament, Dec. 29-30; at home vs. Foothill, Jan. 6; at Northwood, Jan. 11; at home vs. Laguna Beach, Feb. 1; at Southern California Invitational, Feb. 2-4.

Outlook: The Sea Kings boast four returning starters, including Camille Hewko -- who has already signed with Cal. A four-year starter, she is a powerhouse at two-meters and is probably the team’s most talented player.

Chaney said Katie Indvik -- the youngest player at USA Water Polo’s Women’s Speedo Top 40 Festival -- is probably the team’s best shooter.

Ashley Chandler brings exceptional speed and two-meter defense and Cari Levine is one of the team’s top shooters and plays strong defense.

CdM figures to battle it out with Laguna Beach for the Pacific Coast league title and possibly the CIF Division II title.

COSTA MESA MUSTANGS

Coach: Tim Postiff (fourth year)

2004-05 record: 20-10, 4-2 in Golden West League

Returning starters: Annie Le (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Brittney Mucha (Jr.); Abbie Dyvig (Jr.); Patricia Marty (So.); Talhia Munez (So.); Thalia De La Torre (Sr.); Sabina Wee (Sr.).

Key dates: at Western Tournament, Jan. 5-7; at Saddleback, Jan. 18; at home vs. Sage Hill, Feb. 6; at home vs. Orange, Feb. 8.

Outlook: Le, the lone returning senior starter, leads the way for the Mustangs. Le was an All-CIF Division VI selection last year who led the Mustangs to the CIF quarterfinals. She’s an intelligent player who can play any position.

Costa Mesa, which took second place behind Orange in the Golden West League last year and is No. 9 in the preseason Division VI rankings, hopes to get a boost from a group of promising newcomers that includes goalkeeper Brittney Mucha, Abbie Dyvig and sophomores Patricia Marty and Talhia Munez.

Coach Tim Postiff likes his team speed but the lack of varsity experience is a concern. Postiff said he believes Saddleback is the favorite to win the league title. Costa Mesa and Estancia could also contend for the Golden West League title.

ESTANCIA EAGLES

Coach: Bob Bandaruk (fifth year)

2004-05 record: 13-12, 1-5 in Golden West League

Returning starters: Katie Mahan (Sr.); Carolina Barnes (Sr.); Chelsea Kaplan (Sr.); Melissa Buchmann (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Chelsea Leon (Jr.).

Key dates: at home vs. Orange, Jan. 4; at home vs. Ocean View, Jan. 18; at Saddleback, Feb. 1; at Sage Hill, Feb. 3.

Outlook: The Eagles look to return to the CIF playoffs after last year’s 1-5 league record.

Katie Mahan, Carolina Barnes and Chelsea Kaplan are all starting on varsity for the fourth consecutive season and give the Eagles the experience they need. Melissa Buchmann returns for her third season on varsity.

Buchmann and Barnes should provide the bulk of the scoring for the Eagles, who are 5-4 in early-season action. Mahan and Chelsea Leon have been splitting time in goal.

The Eagles have the misfortune of having to practice at night in Costa Mesa High’s pool because their pool is down. Coach Bob Bandaruk is holding out hope Estancia’s pool will be repaired in time for his team’s last few league games. Bandaruk said he thinks the Eagles are good enough for those last few games to have playoff implications.

NEWPORT HARBOR SAILORS

Coach: Bill Barnett (ninth year)

2004-05 record: 27-4, 5-0 in Sea View League.

Returning starters: Kally Lucas (Sr.); Leah Robertson (Sr.); Elizabeth Layton (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Sarah Roberts (Jr.); Katie Kepner (Sr.); Calli Manderino (Sr.)

Key dates: at Holiday Cup Tournament, Dec. 29-30; at home vs. Foothill, Jan. 18; vs. Long Beach Wilson at Belmont Plaza Pool, Jan. 20; at Laguna Hills, Feb. 8.

Outlook: The Sailors boast experience and speed this season, as they attempt to return to the CIF Southern Section Division I title game.

Kally Lucas, Leah Robertson and Elizabeth Layton return to lead the team, which should get a boost from first-year starters Calli Manderino, Katie Kepner and Sarah Roberts.

Robertson is among the best two-meter defenders in the CIF Southern Section. Lucas and Manderino give the Sailors a lot of scoring punch.

Newport Harbor’s biggest competition, both in the Sea View League and Division I, is Foothill. The Knights beat the Sailors, 8-4, in the Division I championship game last year.

Foothill is loaded again this year. Ninth-year Coach Bill Barnett says his team can at least give Foothill a good game.

SAGE HILL LIGHTNING

Coach: Aleah Amr (first year)

2004-05 record: 5-8

Returning starters: Stephanie Roeser (Sr.); Elle White (Sr.); Karly Bennett (Sr.); Sarah Wesley (So.).

Key newcomers: Jordan Smith-Newman (Fr.); Cameron Cline (Fr.); Dylan Conroy (Fr.).

Key dates: at Western Tournament, Jan. 5-7; at home vs. La Quinta, Jan. 19; at home vs. Estancia, Feb. 3; at Costa Mesa, Feb. 6.

Outlook: Former UC Irvine women’s water polo player Aleah Amr, who assisted Jeff Andrews with the Sage Hill boys’ program last season, takes over as coach. Amr inherits a team with four returning starters, including high-scoring senior Stephanie Roeser. Elle White, Karly Bennett, Nathalie Ramirez and Roeser all are starting their fourth season on varsity.

In early-season action, the Lightning have displayed a strong defense, but at times have had trouble putting the ball in the cage.

The Lightning (4-3) are technically in the Academy League, but since there are no other teams in the league, they are basically a freelance team, which means they will need a record well above .500 in order to earn a postseason berth. Sage Hill has never made the playoffs before.20051224htzmvtn1MARK C. DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT20051224icnuihkfDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett, left, and Corona del Mar Coach Aaron Chaney, right, are both used to winning CIF Southern Section titles.