Championship on Sailors’ agenda

Like many teams, the Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team has two distinct goals this season: win league and then win a CIF title.

Many teams also don’t seem to have the talent to actually accomplish both of those goals. But Coach Jason Lynch, in his seventh season at Newport Harbor, believes his Sailors can be that team.

“They’re capable of doing it,” Lynch said. “If things come together, it should be a great year.”

As someone who has national experience with coaching the USA Water Polo Youth and Cadet teams, Lynch is used to evaluating young water polo talent. Even the casual observer, however, would notice the talent of Sailors senior Clinton Jorth, who returns at driver.

Jorth, who has participated in tournaments with the USA Men’s Youth Team, was first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I last season. He scored 61 goals in helping Newport into the Division I semifinals, where the Tars lost to eventual champion El Toro, 6-5.

“He’s definitely going to be the guy who we match up with the other team’s best player,” Lynch said. “He just reads the game very well, so he’s a great playmaker. He’s by far our best player. We’re looking for him to really step it up this year and get it going.”

Fellow senior Brandon Parole, who plays two-meter defense, also returns. Parole scored 34 goals last season and was second-team All-Division I.

Lynch said that Colin McKibbin, another returning starter, is the Tars’ best perimeter shooter. Collin Sherman, another senior, was a sort of a “seventh man” for Newport Harbor last season. He scored three game-winning goals, including two in crucial Sunset League games against Esperanza and Los Alamitos.

Starting goalie Myles Christian didn’t get a lot of the attention last year, as graduated Bryce McLain was league co-MVP as the Tars’ primary goalie. But Christian, another senior, should have a smooth transition this year; last season he saw plenty of action and started plenty of games himself.

Other returning contributors include junior two-meter player David Linden and junior driver Andy Hayes.

“Linden is pretty good at posting up, and he’s a good defender and good shooter,” Lynch said. “Hayes can also post up. He’s strong and has gotten a lot faster.”

Senior driver Spencer Richley and junior two-meter player Zach Osadche should also contribute, as will sophomore two-meter player Matt Russell and sophomore driver Zach Lucas.

“Russell is strong,” Lynch said. “He’s definitely going to contribute. We have a decent amount of depth this year.”

Seniors Jimmy Burger, Rush Stevens, Austin Fleming and Blake Fredericks add to the very talented and experienced squad. So does junior Nick Holbrook, who will back up Christian in goal.

Providing depth and rounding out the roster are junior defender Dustin Hayes and sophomores Ikaika Sarme (goalie), Dane Sequeira, Blake Kelly, Kris Craib and Tim Tauber.

The team is close, too, having gone to Hungary this summer for a two-week trip of games and scrimmages, including one against the Hungarian under-16 boys’ national team.

The Tars and El Toro are among the favorites in Division I again this year, said Lynch, who is trying to win his first CIF championship at Newport Harbor. The Tars last won the title in 2000 under former coach Brian Kreutzkamp, who now coaches at Northern California powerhouse Sacred Heart Prep.

“We should be pretty good,” Lynch said. “We have many returners.”

Newport Harbor opens this season with a home game against another solid team, Foothill, on Saturday at 1 p.m.

That game will also feature a pre-game ceremony to unveil the Newport Harbor pool’s new high-tech scoreboard. Several standout Sailors water polo alumni should also be present.