DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:Berry shining in leadership role for CdM

Mike Berry’s year has finally arrived.

The three-year varsity starter on the Corona del Mar High boys’ water polo team has been waiting for his senior year more than the average fourth-year high schooler.

Berry has spent the past two years as a sort of utility player on the Sea Kings. His duties were integral to the team’s success, but limited nonetheless. He helped set people up for glory, while waiting for this year.

But thoughts of his senior year were not focused solely on goal scoring, even though Berry scored 21 goals in six games last week alone to earn Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week honors. It isn’t even about being thrust into the role of leader on the team — something he relishes and thrives under.

It’s about friendship, not being his team, but their team. Berry has played water polo with fellow seniors Greg Sanford, Ryan Hultman and Nick Jones since the foursome competed in junior polo.

This year, those three are in the starting lineup with him for the first time.

“I’ve always looked forward to playing with my guys,” Berry said. “I’ve seen so many guys graduate and have that opportunity. Finally, this year I have friends playing with me.”

Berry is close with all of the players on the water polo team though. They all compete for the swim team in the spring under water polo coach Barry O’Dea, who was with the boys’ swim team for the first time last year.

“I’m best friends with all of the guys on the team,” Berry said. “I love being with these guys. Swimming is fun, it’s a nice bonding experience.”

With first-team All-CIF players Tom Money and Jacob Murphy, who combined to score nearly 200 goals, along with second-team selection Kyle Hersh, gone to graduation, Mike Berry’s role has changed drastically.

It is a role Berry knew he would have to take on one day.

“After the seniors left, I was the only starter so I had to take on the role of leader on the team,” he said. “Barry and I, since right at the end of last year, we sat down and talked. We planned a strategy, what we expect from people.”

O’Dea said it’s a role the admittedly vocal Berry has excelled at.

“I think he’s starting to come into his own,” O’Dea said. “Last year he was a role player. We hoped it would be a position he would naturally evolve into. It kind of fell into his lap.”

No instance is more indicative of how Berry has tackled his leadership role than the Sea Kings’ semifinal game against defending Southern Section Division II champion Servite in the S&R; Sport Southern California Invitational Saturday.

Berry watched as a 6-2 lead dissipated for the Sea Kings and a 7-6 lead appeared for Servite.

“He came into the huddle and called the guys out,” O’Dea said. “He said, ‘We can take this.’ ”

Berry finished the game with five goals, including the game-winniner with the contest tied to give the Sea Kings a 9-8 victory.

“I couldn’t let them roll over us,” Berry said. “We are a better team. I told them to just ‘Play smart. Slow it down. Don’t rush shots. Don’t feed their counterattack.’ ”

Berry makes a point to talk to his teammates throughout games, making sure everyone is calm. And the left-handed Berry directs the offense which inevitably goes through him.

“Since I’m a lefty, we can run a lot of drives off me,” Berry said.

While Berry can score from any point in the set offense, his strength is reading the counterattack. When the opposition attempts a shot, Berry makes his move. He uses his opponent as leverage, then, with a push, gives himself enough room to receive a pass and have a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie.

“He sees things other players can’t see,” O’Dea said. “He’s good at finding the open water to get the pass.”

Being an elite water polo player doesn’t come easy. Berry put in added work this summer for his expanded role. One drill he credits to his success by strengthening his legs is a monstrosity brought upon him by O’Dea.

The coach has his players, while they are treading from the waist up out of the water, hold a five-gallon bottle of water until all of it drains. It takes usually about 45 seconds.

“And, Barry is yelling at you, screaming ‘Higher,’ ” Berry said. “The first week it’s pretty hard. I swallowed a lot of water. My legs were sore. Now I can do sets of 10. At first I was skeptical if I could do it. It took quite a few times. Time seems like it goes slowly.”

But part of Berry’s success is his dedication to the sport and his team.

“Everyone here wants the same goal,” Berry said. “Everyone wants to put in the work. It’s not like I have to police everyone. Everyone is pushing everybody else.”