Sea Kings’ Cottrell named Pacific Coast League MVP

Corona del Mar High senior boys’ water polo player Chris Cottrell has been named Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League.

Cottrell is joined by teammates Evan Zepfel, Lucas Reynolds and Max Bergeson on the first team. Sea Kings players Brian Schiefer and Carter Taylor made the second team for CdM, the league champion.

Cottrell, a driver, had 70 goals and 30 steals for CdM, helping the Sea Kings advance to the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Bergeson, a gifted sophomore lefty who transferred from Carlsbad, led the team with his totals of 82 goals, 48 assists and 47 steals. He was a primary part of CdM’s offense with his ability to either shoot from the right side, or pass to cutting drivers like Cottrell.

Zepfel, a utility player and CdM’s other starting senior, had 14 goals, 21 assists and 19 steals on the season. Reynolds, a junior two-meter player, showed improvement as the season went on and totaled 40 goals and 23 steals.

Schiefer, a junior driver who also had a strong shot, had 24 goals and was second on the team with 44 assists. He was joined on the second team by Taylor, who excelled in two-meter defense and finished with 46 steals. Taylor added 32 goals.

— From staff reports