Coaches accept Masters tourney

With the CIF playoffs looming, local high school boys’ water polo programs will be making their final pushes over the next several weeks.

But this year, there’s a twist.

A Southern Section Masters tournament in water polo was approved at a CIF meeting on Oct. 12. The double-elimination tournament will go into effect this year, and take place at a site to be determined on Nov. 24-25.

The tournament, which was also voted in for girls’ water polo, will include the 12 division finalists from next month’s CIF Southern Section championships, along with four at-large teams.

Thus, teams will compete for the title of best in the Southern Section, regardless of division.

Corona del Mar High, ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division I, and Newport Harbor, ranked No. 5, can reasonably expect to be in contention for two of the 16 spots.

“I think it’s going to be a really good tournament,” Sea Kings Coach Barry O’Dea said. “It’s kind of a fun thing, and it’ll be a lot of fun to watch. I just hope it doesn’t become more important than a CIF title, because those are really hard to come by.”

If the tournament would have been in effect in 2005, Newport Harbor — a Division I finalist a year ago — would have clinched a spot. Sailors Coach Jason Lynch said the idea of determining a Southern California champion sounded exciting.

“It’s another opportunity for the kids to play, and it’s fun to play teams from different divisions,” Lynch said. “I hope we get to be involved.”