CdM makes a splash

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - You knew Corona del Mar High’s frosh/soph boys

water polo team was serious about its quest in the Gray Lunde Tournament

at Newport Harbor when head coach Tom Norton showed up wearing swimming

trunks.

After defeating Villa Park, 7-3, to capture the championship, the Sea

Kings (24-1) threw their coach in the pool to celebrate.

“They got me after the Charger Cup too,” Norton said. “I told them ‘no,’

but they got me anyway. I took out my wallet and everything though. This

time, I was prepared.”

CdM came prepared on Saturday, trouncing Capistrano Valley, 11-2, in the

semis.

Norton did express his disappointment in his team’s inability to

consistently score. Even though CdM’s defense completely neutralized the

Spartans’ offense, CdM only had a 3-1 halftime lead.

Villa Park scored first in the second half, but CdM answered, and the two

teams alternated goals. Michael March was the offensive star for CdM,

scoring five of CdM’s goals.

For most of the game, it seemed as if March was the only one who got good

shots. Villa Park kept CdM two-meter man Artie Dorr from getting easy

shots until the end, when he scored one. Besides the five from March and

one from Dorr, Bobby Messenger scored in the third.

CdM’s goalie Beau Stockstill came up big in the fourth quarter. He made

two big saves in succession, including one penalty shot. Stockstill had

seven of his 12 saves in the fourth quarter.

Villa Park had its chances at the end, but Stockstill and CdM turned the

Spartans away, and the trophy went to the Sea Kings.

“I was disappointment with our offensive performance,” Norton said. “But

we’re definitely happy about our season. Our season has gone very good.”

After losing to El Toro, 7-5, Newport Harbor (11-8) finished second with

a 6-3 win over Dana Hills.

“We had a talk before the (Dana Hills) game,” Newport Harbor Coach Les

Cutler said. “This is the Gray Lunde Tournament, and we’re pride. We

can’t get first, second, or third, but we do have this thing called

Sailor pride, and that’s worthy for us to go out and play hard.”

After a sloppy start by both teams and a 1-0 Dolphins’ lead, Newport

Harbor swarmed all over Dana Hills.

The Sailors finally broke through the Dolphins’ defense when Ryan Bean

muscled in a rebound in the second quarter. That triggered a 5-0 run over

the next two periods. Bean scored another one in the third, and Triton

Metodieu, Brent Armstrong and Nathan Weiner added goals.

Newport Harbor’s defense was formidable in the third, coming up with two

steals. Weiner stripped Dana Hills of its first position in that quarter

and scored on a give-and-go.

Dana Hills staged a mini-rally with two goals in the fourth, but Weiner

scored late to close the game out.

GRAY LUNDE TOURNAMENT

Championship

Corona del Mar 7, Villa Park 3

Corona del Mar 1 2 2 2 - 7

Villa Park 0 1 2 0 - 3

CdM: March 5, Messenger 1, Dorr 1. Saves: Stockstill 12.

Seventh Place

Newport Harbor 6, Dana Hills 3

Dana Hills 1 0 0 2 - 3

Newport Harbor 0 3 2 1 - 6

Newport: Bean 2, Weiner 2, Armstrong 1, Metodieu 1. Saves: Winthrop 3.