Daily Pilot Boys’ Water Polo Dream Team

All that’s really left for Max Bergeson to do at Corona del Mar High is to decide what college he’ll play water polo at next year.

The next two weeks are important for Bergeson, who will take trips to UCLA and UC Berkeley. Then, as quick as one of his powerful left-handed shots, he’ll be done at CdM.

His last name is quite familiar at the school, what with his grandmother, Marian, having her name on the aquatics center and his father, Garth, performing so well in his day with the Sea Kings.

Yet, other than that, Bergeson says he doesn’t feel too attached to CdM, as he moved around during his childhood. It wasn’t until this season that he actually felt a sense of family with his teammates. He transferred into CdM from Carlsbad in his sophomore year.

However, Bergeson has left his mark at the school, and certainly in the Newport-Mesa area.

For the second straight year, the CdM senior is the Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year.

He led the Newport-Mesa area with 93 goals. He also had 47 steals and 24 assists, helping the Sea Kings break through this season.

During the summer, the CdM boys weren’t sure what to expect as they experienced some adversity with team chemistry, Bergeson said. But the Sea Kings, much like their star player, emerged during the season. They reached the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. Prior to the feat, CdM had exited in the quarterfinals for three straight seasons.

“He’s got nothing but the sky ahead of him,” CdM Coach Barry O’Dea said of Bergeson. “He can be one of the big-time players. He’s been playing the game so long, he’s able to create his own opportunities and he just knows how to do it. Also, his work ethic is phenomenal.”

A versatile player, Bergeson has become known for his shooting. He can be just as effective with his passing.

“I’ve tried to improve every aspect,” Bergeson said of his game. “It’s not good to be a one-dimensional player. It helps that I’m left-handed. But to be a lefty, that’s more luck than skill. I just kind of lucked out there.”

Bergeson said he was also fortunate to have talented teammates, which prevented opposing teams from applying more defensive pressure on him.

He was named the Pacific Coast League MVP for the second straight year, but this time he shared it with fellow Sea King Michael Liao. Junior Chase Watson was also a threat for CdM, which won its 11th straight PCL title and finished 24-6, 5-0 in league.

“You need a full team to be successful,” said Bergeson, a three-time first-team All-CIF Division I selection. “It definitely helps a lot when you have more than one person who can do things in the pool. If we didn’t have those two we would have a much tougher time this season.”

Even though he is headed to a NCAA Division I program, he knows he cannot rest on what he has accomplished.

There’s actually more to do other than deciding between the Bruins and the Bears.

There is the swim season in the spring, but Bergeson, just as several water polo players, has a love-hate relationship with swimming. However he knows the training will only help him for college competition. Whenever he feels indifferent about the swim season, he’ll think of that. He’ll also think of how much he needs to improve, all that potential that’s there for him to reach.

“I could always improve something, by no means am I satisfied with anything,” Bergeson said. “I want to work on conditioning. As much as I hate it, I need [the swim season]. It will help me so much.”

Bergeson invites the help because he knows it will give him an edge on the next level.

The rest of the Daily Pilot Dream Team includes:

Blake Kelly

Newport Harbor

The senior was the Sunset League Player of the Year after leading the Sailors to an undefeated league championship season.

With his team-high 84 goals, Kelly was highly instrumental in Newport Harbor’s run to the CIF Southern Section Division I title match.

Kelly, who has committed to UC Berkeley, also had 28 steals and 23 assists, helping the Sailors to a 26-5 record.

He also earned first-team All-CIF Division I status.

Zach Lucas

Newport Harbor

The senior returns to the Dream Team for the second straight year.

With his speed and his ability to recover quickly, Lucas was the top defender for the Sailors, leading the team with 77 steals. He was also productive as a passer leading Newport Harbor with 56 assists. He also scored 55 goals.

For two straight years, he was named to the All-Sunset League first team. He also came away with first-team All-CIF Division I honors, after being named to the second team as a junior.

Chase Watson

Corona del Mar

The junior two-meter player has big-time potential and just might follow in Bergeson’s footsteps as being the Sea Kings’ go-to guy and the best in the area. He came into his own in 2009, Coach O’Dea said, and will be a top returner for CdM in the fall.

At 6-foot-7, Watson used his size and strength to score 68 goals. He also had 16 steals.

He was named to the All-CIF Division I first team as well as the Pacific Coast League first team.

Jack Yeager

Newport Harbor

For the second straight year the Sailors senior has been named to the Dream Team.

Yeager is no stranger to honors. The loss to El Toro in the CIF Division I final stung, but Yeager and Coach Jason Lynch’s Sailors still found success in 2009.

Yeager was one of the talented seniors for Newport Harbor and represented the school with his season-ending awards, being named to the first team in the Sunset League and second team in CIF Division I.

He scored 43 goals for the Sailors and also had 41 steals and 27 assists.

Michael Liao

Corona del Mar

The senior was named Co-MVP of the Pacific Coast League and also earned second-team All-CIF Division I honors.

Liao, who had 44 goals, 36 steals and 20 assists, is known as the best swimmer on the Dream Team. He might just compete in both water polo and swimming in college, O’Dea said.

Last spring, Liao finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke at the CIF Division I Championships. He has the school record in the 100 breaststroke, which is 56.60 seconds.

Jake Blitzer

Sage Hill

The senior goalie helped the Lightning win its first playoff game, recording 14 saves in an 11-7 victory over Schurr of Montebello in CIF Division III. Sage Hill had lost in the opening round for four straight years.

Blitzer recorded 142 saves in 19 games, averaging a little over seven per game, as Sage Hill finished 11-8. He was also a field player at times and scored 21 goals. He earned first-team All-Orange Coast League laurels and helped the Lightning to a second-place finish in league.

“He’s a very aggressive player,” Sage Hill Coach Tom Norton said. “He has a tenacious attitude. He’s put in his mind that he is going to block the ball and protect the cage. He definitely gets fired up.”

Charlie Umansky

Estancia

The junior finished the season as the Eagles’ top scorer. He was also named to the All-CIF Division III second team and earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors.

Umansky helped the Eagles reach the CIF playoffs and finish with an 18-9 record.

“He really stepped up this season,” Estancia Coach John Carpenter said. “As a sophomore he played really well, but he played behind seniors. He was really our top player. When Preston [Schow] got here, they really took off. [Umansky] got really aggressive. He really took charge.”