DAILY PILOT BOYS’ WATER POLO DREAM TEAM:

Max Bergeson’s last name is a familiar one in Newport Beach, especially at Corona del Mar High.

The aquatics center at the school is named after his grandmother, Marian.

His father, Garth, was a star water polo player at CdM. His uncle, James, made a name for himself at Newport Harbor.

It makes sense that Max would play water polo, too.

Before Bergeson’s sophomore year, when he moved with his family from Carlsbad to Newport Beach, there was a small part of him that wanted to go to Newport Harbor.

But playing water polo at Corona del Mar seemed like a better fit. For Bergeson, it was just more meaningful to be a Sea King instead of a Sailor.

The past two years, he’s worked to be the best all-around player he could be, while receiving a special feeling for competing at the school where his father excelled.

The past season did not end as he would’ve liked with the Sea Kings losing in the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals, but Bergeson surely left his mark in his junior year with the CdM program. Most coaches who have seen Bergeson are impressed with his versatility and wicked left-handed shot. Most know the sky’s the limit for him.

He showed that during the fall for the Sea Kings.

He led CdM with 81 goals and 53 assists. He was named the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Sea Kings to their 10th straight PCL title. He became a first-team All-CIF Division I selection for the second consecutive year.

Also, Bergeson has been named the Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year.

“He’s just really smart,” CdM Coach Barry O’Dea said of Bergeson, who was a Dream Team honoree last year. “He’s deadly with his shot. He has one of the best shots in the county. He’s really crafty and knows how to play the game real well. It’s in his blood. He’s been around it his whole life.”

Bergeson’s older brother, Alex also plays. He’s at Pepperdine, where he just redshirted his sophomore season.

Garth Bergeson played at UCLA, where he helped lead the Bruins to NCAA titles in 1971 and 1972. James Bergeson was a four-time All-American at Stanford from 1979 to 1982 and led the Cardinal to two NCAA championships. He was also a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team that won the silver medal in Seoul, Korea.

While at CdM, Max knows to listen to what his father says about the game.

“I try to play an all-around game,” Max Bergeson said. “It’s more than a one-dimensional game. My dad has told me that an assist is as good as a goal. It’s better if you can help make the players around you better instead of being the only one who can do anything on the team.”

Bergeson also knows that he needs to improve. He’s not content, especially with a year that ended in the CIF quarterfinals after a 10-6 loss to Los Alamitos.

Last year, he was named first-team All-CIF Division I. But he knew not to rest on that. He worked on his defense and passing.

Still when the season ended, he also realized there was more work to be done.

“I think I could have improved more,” said Bergeson, who recorded 48 steals, third on the team. “I think I improved more from last year. But I still think I need to work on improving. There’s always room for improvement.”

While he works on his own game, he believes his team will improve as well.

“I’m pretty confident we can come back and do better next year,” he said. “Next year is going to be exciting.”

Here is the rest of this year’s Dream Team:

DAVID LINDEN

Newport Harbor, Sr.

Linden, a first-team All-CIF Division I honoree, helped lead the Sailors to the CIF Division I quarterfinals. A first-team All-Sunset League selection, he was named the team’s MVP after finishing with 59 goals, 22 assists and 64 steals.

The Sailors’ two-meter player seemed to give Newport Harbor the offensive punch when it needed most.

LUCAS REYNOLDS

Corona del Mar, Sr.

Reynolds was second on the team in scoring with 51 goals. He earned second-team All-CIF Division I honors, as well as first-team All-Pacific Coast League recognition.

The Sea Kings’ two-meter player has been weighing his options on where to play in college, gaining interest from UC Irvine, UCLA and UC Berkeley, Coach O’Dea said.

ZACH LUCAS

Newport Harbor, Jr.

After a slow start, Lucas stepped up his game and elevated the Sailors into a CIF title contender. He was Newport Harbor’s quickest player and used his speed to record 94 steals. He also finished with 49 goals and 51 assists. The driver also earned second-team All-CIF Division I honors and was a first-team All-Sunset League selection.

His stellar play in November helped lead the Sailors to a tournament title at the Memorial Cup Invitational in San Jose.

JACK YEAGER

Newport Harbor, Jr.

Yeager scored the game-winning goal with one second left in the second overtime period, lifting the Sailors to a 13-12 win over previously unbeaten Miramonte in the title match of the Memorial Cup Invitational. He finished with 57 goals, 47 assists and 51 steals. He was named second-team All-CIF Division I, as well as first-team All-Sunset League.

CODY SERRANO

Costa Mesa, Sr.

Serrano, who earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors, led the Mustangs with 111 goals. He helped lead Costa Mesa to a second-place finish in the Orange Coast League, its highest finish in the league. He scored four goals to lead the Mustangs to a 10-8 win over Sage Hill, the first time Costa Mesa beat the Lightning in league play. He was recently selected to play for the south team in the North-South All-Star Challenge.

DUSTIN SERRANO

Costa Mesa, Sr.

The Mustangs’ top defensive player led Costa Mesa with 110 steals. He was also second on the team in goals behind his twin brother with 100 goals. A first-team All-Orange Coast League selection, he was also recently selected to play for the south team in the North-South All-Star Challenge.

“There’s not enough good things you can say about those kids,” Mesa Coach Justin Taylor said of his standout twins. “In the three years I had the opportunity to coach them, they just excelled each year. They’re the type of kids who carry the team on their shoulders. They’re standouts. I’m confident that wherever they end up playing they will do well and make Mesa proud.”

TUCKER PETTIS

Sage Hill, Sr.

Pettis, the Lightning’s team MVP, earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors leading the Lightning to a third-place finish in the OCL.

Sage Hill’s two-meter player led Lightning with 92 goals in 22 games, averaging around four goals per game. He also had 40 assists and 56 steals. He led the team in ejections drawn and field blocks.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.