Still the Mann for NYAC
IRVINE — As a two-time Olympian in men’s water polo, you could say John Mann knows a thing or two about liquid assets.
That term means something different in Mann’s new field, though.
Mann, 31, has not been playing water polo much lately. The former Corona del Mar High and Cal star has been working as a financial advisor near Fashion Island. So to lace up his Speedo for this weekend’s USA Water Polo National League finals was an interesting proposition for him, specifically since he plays center.
“Center’s the most painful position,” Mann said. “Every day before a game, the biggest part of the morning is preparing mentally for pain ... For me right now, it’s a lot. It’s good to be in the water again. It’s been a while.”
What also felt good for Mann was helping to deliver a second straight National League title for New York Athletic Club.
The longtime NYAC member scored two goals as the team upended top-seeded Olympic Club, 11-9, in the National League title game Sunday afternoon at Woollett Aquatics Center.
There was also more local flavor on the winning New York Athletic Club team. Huntington Beach High senior defender Ryan Hurst, who is bound for Mann’s alma mater of Cal, scored a key six-on-five goal in the third quarter to push the team’s lead to four goals. And Mater Dei High junior Jackson Seybold, a Newport Beach resident, added a power-play strike early in the fourth quarter.
Newport Harbor boys’ water polo coach Ross Sinclair was an assistant coach for NYAC, which handed Olympic Club its first loss of the three-week National League. Former UC Irvine star and four-time Olympian Ryan Bailey had a goal for Olympic Club.
Mann was happy to help bring back-to-back National League titles to NYAC.
“I’m used to winning,” said Mann, who drew at least three exclusions in the final. “I don’t know if it sounds arrogant, but I’m used to winning with the New York Athletic Club, used to winning in general. For me, you come in with the expectation to do that. We had a rough weekend a few weekends ago [when New York Athletic Club lost twice in week two of the National League on March 11-12, including a 10-6 setback against Olympic Club]. But we can turn it around and change everything. We had the support of the club behind us big-time, and that makes all the difference.”
Mann’s first goal of the final was a highlight, as he was submerged under water when he beat charging Olympic Club goalie Lazar Andric for a score in the first quarter. And his second goal was a backbreaker for Olympic, as Mann scored on a backhand with 2:11 remaining to put NYAC up two goals, 11-9.
Bailey had just scored on his own backhand with 3:45 remaining in the game, bringing Olympic Club within a goal.
Hurst, one of four Oilers playing in the tournament along with Quinten Osborne, Ethan Wojciechowski and Jacob Cavano, said he really enjoyed the action. At one point late in the first quarter, he was matched up on Bailey in a particularly physical encounter. Bailey, who at 41 is more than double Hurst’s age, was eventually charged with an offensive foul.
“I knew I just had to try to out-muscle him, as ridiculous as that sounds,” Hurst said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to try to out-muscle him,’ and see how long he could go. I knew I could definitely go longer, just based off the shape I’m in right now, so I just went at him as hard as I could.
“[NYAC] is a good team; I feel like I fit in well with them. There’s a lot of high-level defenders. We’ve got like three high-level [set] guards [including Jeff Tyrell and four-time Olympian Jesse Smith]. With three guards, it’s hard to get playing time, but when you go in it’s time to prove yourself. You’ve got to go all out, and when you’re playing all out at a higher level, you develop, you know? You’re forced into situations that you’re not usually in.”
Chancellor Ramirez, who finished his senior year for UCLA last fall, led all players in the final with four goals for NYAC. Mann and Josh Samuels had two each, and three-time Olympic goalie Merrill Moses made 11 saves. Samuels was named tournament MVP, while Olympic Club keeper Andric earned top goalie honors. Paul Reynolds, who scored two goals in the final for Olympic Club, was awarded as the tournament’s top scorer.
Mann said he is undecided if he will try to gear up for another Olympics run. He will be 35 when the 2020 Summer Olympics come to Tokyo. For now, he works for Oppenheimer.
“I love playing for the United States, obviously it’s been my life for a long time,” Mann said. “I love my teammates, I love being a part of a team and I love playing for Coach Dejan [Udovicic]. I think he’s the best coach in the world. If there was another opportunity to play for Coach Dejan, I’d want to pursue it as much as I could. We’ll see what happens; it’s a long quad.”
USA University beat Alumni, 8-6, in the National League third-place game. Newport Harbor High alumnus and Olympian Luca Cupido had an assist for University, while CdM graduate Kyle Trush had a steal. UC Irvine alumnus Griffin Lerman put in a game-high three goals for the Alumni squad.
Twitter: @mjszabo
