NEWPORT-MESA SPORTS STORIES TO LOOK FOR IN 2009:

It’s safe to say the stories in 2009 won’t top the drama that came from 2008 in the Newport-Mesa area.

That’s not to say 2009 won’t be filled with its intrigue. It’s just that 2008 had to be one of the best years ever in the area, with so many locals thriving at the Beijing Olympics.

Yet, 2009 is sure to provide its peaks.

There probably won’t be any gold medals, but there might be some championship plaques.

The headlines could very well come from Corona del Mar High, where a few programs have the opportunity to attain great success.

The first could be the girls’ water polo team, which will try to capture its first CIF Southern Section Division I title next month. The Sea Kings, who just won the Holiday Cup and improved to 10-0, have five CIF section titles, but none in Division I, which they entered two years ago.

The majority of high school sports stories could be slated for the fall, when the CdM girls’ cross country team will try to win its sixth straight CIF state title, which would be a state record.

In football, Coach Jason Hitchens will try to form the Sea Kings into a consistent powerhouse. They reached the CIF Southern Section Southern Division semifinals this past fall. The year before they didn’t even make the playoffs.

Here are more stories to watch for in 2009:

 No CIF association rule: Will athletes and teams truly benefit from the club sport factor? This is the first high school year that allows club coaches to train with athletes year round. The results of the benefits won’t really be known until the end of the year.

 Newport Harbor football: Can the Sailors continue the uphill climb in the Sunset League and Pac-5 Division? The Newport Harbor returners figure to be plenty motivated after missing the playoffs because they weren’t picked from a random draw when they were involved in a four-way tie for the Sunset League title.

 Matt Barkley: Will the Newport Beach resident continue his rise at USC? The quarterback out of Mater Dei will be challenged to move up the depth chart and start as a freshman, especially if Matt Sanchez returns.

 Pat Douglass: Will UC Irvine’s longest tenured men’s basketball coach return for his 13th season? With a 2-10 nonconference record, the Anteaters will be hard-pressed to make any noise in the Big West Conference. Most would understand if Douglass continues to coach. He’s the program’s all-time leader in wins and has compiled a record 171-154 in the past 11 years with the Anteaters.

 April Ross: Can she become a regular AVP title contender with Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh sidelined? This could be the changing of the guard, so to speak, as Ross, another Newport Harbor High product, takes over with partner Jen Boss as the team to beat in beach volleyball.

 Kobe Bryant: Can the part-time Newport Coast resident lead the Lakers to the NBA championship? His supporting cast should give L.A. another shot for an NBA title.

 UCI baseball: Can UCI baseball continue to be one of the nation’s elite programs? The Anteaters continue to recruit players with highly regarded credentials as they compete in the talent-rich Big West Conference.

 UC Irvine women’s volleyball: Can Paula Weishoff’s hiring have a similar impact on the UCI women’s program that John Speraw’s had on the men’s?