CdM, Newport ready for tourney of elite

The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions doesn’t simply have that name to draw attention to itself.

For the elite girls’ water polo programs in Southern California, the two-day tournament that begins today at Santa Barbara High and UC Santa Barbara is just as advertised.

It’s a true tournament of champions.

That might be the best way to explain a tournament that features the top six teams in CIF Southern Section Division I (Foothill, Montebello, Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Santa Margarita and El Toro), as well as the top five teams in Division II (Laguna Beach, Villa Park, Agoura, Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos).

Throw in Division III contenders Whittier, Ayala and Poly High of Riverside, along with Long Beach Wilson and San Diego Section powerhouse Coronado, and each of the 16 teams is very strong.

“Every school in there is a league champion or close to it,” said Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett, whose Sailors, in Group C, play Ayala in the first round today at 11:40 a.m. at Santa Barbara High. “There’s not an easy game in there.”

If Newport Harbor (10-5) should beat Ayala, the Tars would face either Whittier or Long Beach Wilson today at 5:30 p.m. in a championship quarterfinal.

Corona del Mar, the defending tournament champ playing in Group D, opens against El Toro today at 10 a.m., the first game of the tournament. A win would put the Sea Kings (10-3) into a 4:40 p.m. quarterfinal against either Coronado or Santa Margarita.

Sea Kings Coach Aaron Chaney said he agrees with Barnett that the tournament will be tough. The dynamic is a bit different than at the Holiday Cup, which CdM won on Dec. 30, because most teams are now well into their league schedule and playing at a bit higher level.

The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, featuring all of the top Southern Section teams, should also impact each team’s CIF seeding come February.

“All the best teams are there,” Barnett said. “The higher you finish, the better your seed in CIF is going to be.”

CdM topped Foothill, 5-2, in the TOC championship game last year behind three goals from Taylor Harkins. Newport Harbor finished fourth, losing its last two games to Foothill and Santa Margarita.

This year’s tournament championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Santa Barbara High. Consolation games will be played Friday night and all day Saturday at UC Santa Barbara.