Hewko was Sea Kings’ leader

Camille Hewko has plenty of physical talents in the pool as the two-meter star for the Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team.

She’s strong and quick and boasts a blistering shot. Hewko often draws double teams from opponents’ defenses, but still managed to tally 60 goals, 30 assists and 22 steals this season. Hewko, the team’s top scorer, was named the Pacific Coast League MVP and the CIF Southern Section Division II Co-Player of the Year.

Hewko netted a game-high three goals last Monday in Corona del Mar’s 11-4 victory over Villa Park in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship game at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. It marked Corona del Mar’s fifth CIF title in five years under Coach Aaron Chaney. The Sea Kings are 20-0 in the playoffs over the last five seasons under Chaney.

It marked the fourth CIF championship in four years for Hewko, who doesn’t know what it’s like not to win a CIF title ? not that it’s gotten mundane.

“Each year is unique,” Hewko said. “Each time, it felt like winning it for the first time.”

As impressed as Chaney is with Hewko’s physical abilities, he’s even more awed by her leadership skills.

“I’d rank her as one of the top three leaders I’ve ever had,” Chaney said. “In 10 years coaching girls, she’s my top girl captain, and she rivals the two top guy leaders I’ve had during my coaching career.”

Chaney says she’s not only fearless and plays with confidence, but sets an example of hard work for the rest of the team.

“She has high expectations of herself and other people,” Chaney said. “But she’s always positive and encouraging. She’s not afraid to tell teammates what they don’t want to hear. She has the ability to tell them what they need to hear without upsetting them.”

Hewko led Corona del Mar to a 28-3 season, and every loss was to a team the Sea Kings either previously or eventually defeated. Despite being in Division II, Corona del Mar played a Division I nonleague schedule and beat everyone it faced, including Division I finalists Newport Harbor and Montebello.

“We had great camaraderie,” Hewko said. “Each person was driven. There was lots of positive energy.”

Hewko was at the forefront of fostering all the positive energy.

Chaney had teammates anonymously write down things about each other. Among the things the girls wrote about Hewko were: “Always motivated me to do my best. Truly one of a kind. She’s passionate, and in turn makes me passionate.” “Encouraging, optimistic and consistently positive.” “Dedicated, hard worker, never quits, motivates.” “Passionate, motivating.”

Chaney had similar praises to sing about Hewko.

“She’s really motivating, uplifting, always positive and always smiling,” he said.

Hewko and all of her attributes will soon be headed to Cal, where she will continue her water polo career.

“I’m so excited to be part of Cal’s water polo team,” Hewko said. “I can’t wait.”

The Camille Hewko File

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 155

Sport: Water polo

Position: Two meters

Coach: Aaron Chaney

Favorite food: Mangos

Favorite movie: “The Doors”

Favorite athletic moment: “Going on a team retreat to Sunset Beach in Hawaii.”

Week in review: Hewko scored three goals and drew a lot of attention at two meters to help the Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team capture its fifth consecutive CIF Southern Section championship with an 11-4 win over Villa Park.dpt-athlete11.IMGGraphicInfo2T1OREJA200603112T1OREJANo Captiondpt.11-aow-C.1PhotoInfo201ORCUH20060311ivxroxknDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)