RAISING THE BAR

Barry Faulkner

Proving the axiom that the more you give, the more you get in return,

recent Corona del Mar High graduate Christina Hewko parlayed

decreased offensive statistics into a stream of team and individual

achievements in her final season of prep aquatic competition.

After scoring 85 goals as a junior on the Sea Kings girls water

polo team, she sacrificed some scoring for the good of the team last

fall as a senior. The result was another CIF Southern Section team

championship, as well as recognition as CIF Player of the Year in her

division for the second year in a row.

Hewko, a strong and selfless two-meter standout, scored 54 goals

and added 31 assists and 54 steals in her fourth varsity campaign.

But despite posting fewer goals and steals than her two previous

seasons, and fewer assists than her junior campaign, she helped Coach

Aaron Chaney’s squad win the CIF Division II crown, as well as the

championship of the Pacific Coast League.

With Hewko among several senior leaders and veteran standouts, CdM

finished 26-5 and defeated Villa Park, 10-5, in the section title

game.

In addition to her CIF Player of the Year recognition, Hewko was

named Most Valuable Player in the PCL.

She was CIF Division IV Player of the Year and league MVP as a

junior, when she backed up her aforementioned 85 goals with 34

assists and 60 steals. The Sea Kings won the CIF Division IV crown in

2002, topping El Dorado, 11-6, in the final to finish 24-7.

As a sophomore, Hewko collected 58 goals, 27 assists and 97 steals

to help the Sea Kings win the PCL title and advance to the semifinals

of CIF Division IV. She was first-team All-CIF Division IV and

first-team All-PCL.

As a freshman, Hewko helped the Sea Kings to the Division IV title

game, a 7-4 setback to Santa Margarita. She was first-team All-CIF

Division IV and All-PCL that season as well.

CdM was 89-36 her four seasons, a winning percentage of better

than 71%.

She also contributed to the swim team in the spring.

As a senior, she posted CIF qualifying times in the 200-yard

freestyle and the 100 backstroke, as the Sea Kings went on to finish

second at the CIF Division II finals.

As a junior, she was a CIF consolation finalist in the 50 free,

after finishing third at league finals in the 100 backstroke.

As a sophomore, she qualified for CIF in the 50 and 100 free.

She was fourth at PCL finals in the 100 backstroke and the 200

free as a freshman.

A devoted student who accumulated a 3.8 GPA, she will continue her

athletic and academic career at Stanford.