Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week:

One early morning this past December, Michael Liao received a phone-text message that confirmed, once again, his hard work had paid off. So naturally it was a text that made the Corona del Mar High senior excited.

Adam Foley, the men’s water polo coach from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, messaged Liao that he was accepted into the school and he would be able to compete at the NCAA Division III university.

“I was really excited,” said Liao, also a standout swimmer who will compete in the two sports at MIT. “I got the text during zero period and for the rest of the day I couldn’t really think about anything else. I did terrible on my tests, but I guess it didn’t matter.”

What mattered most was that it was another example of Liao’s labor. For the past four years, Liao has been putting in the work and the time to excel in water polo and swimming at Corona del Mar. In his senior year, he wanted to make sure he pushed it to a higher level.

So far it’s shown.

In the fall, he was named Co-MVP of the Pacific Coast League after helping the Sea Kings’ water polo team to the league championship. He had 44 goals, 36 steals and 20 assists, earning second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I honors.

This swim season, he’s also accomplished big-time feats, as CdM seeks the CIF Division I title.

“That kid works harder than anyone I know,” said Barry O’Dea, who coaches boys’ water polo and the swim team. “To me, he epitomizes what I look for in all my athletes. He just does it all, athletics, academics and he has a great work ethic. I don’t have anyone who works harder in swimming. Whether it be freestyle or breast, he’s just all around ... He has a special skill and a talent when it comes to the water.”

That could be seen March 20 at the CIF Southern Section relays. The Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week swam the breaststroke leg in CdM’s record-breaking 200-yard medley relay win. Ari Marks (backstroke), John Kim (butterfly) and Matt Berry (freestyle) were also part of the 1 minute, 36.49 swim that broke the meet record.

Liao, a team captain, has a strong passion for the team concept in the individual sport. That’s why he showed great excitement after the Sea Kings pulled off a big win at Capistrano Valley March 25.

The CdM boys believed they could beat the CIF Division I defending champion, and after earning the 86-84 win they received a huge confidence boost in their quest to take the Division I championship.

“It felt a lot like a CIF-type meet,” Liao said. “With us, Capo and Loyola [in a double dual meet] it was the top teams [in CIF Division I]. Everyone was pumped up and we really wanted to do well in that meet.

“It’s definitely given the team confidence.”

Liao won the 100 breaststroke and he also contributed to victories in the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay. The day before, he said he held back in a meet against Laguna Hills, but still won the 100 breaststroke and was on three winning relay teams.

Last year, Liao was second in the 100 breaststroke in CIF Division I. That’s provided motivation to also earn a CIF individual title.

“I have pretty high expectations for myself,” said Liao, who has the school record in the 100 breaststroke (56.60). “I think I can do pretty well this year.”

Liao, who carries a grade-point average above a 4.0, says he’s also been inspired by his sister, Vivian, a former standout in aquatics at CdM. She went on to Harvard and is now in USC’s medical school. She’s an assistant for the CdM girls’ water polo team.

Liao considered Harvard because of Vivian, but thought MIT was a better fit for him.

“She’s been a role model for me,” said Liao, who will spend a portion of next week in Boston for MIT’s preview week for incoming students. “I definitely look up to her.”