Mesa star gets MVP honors

Costa Mesa water polo star led county in scoring with 157 goals. Six other locals get league awards.Costa Mesa High’s Kyle Thorsness was named the Golden West League’s most valuable player in boys’ water polo, as the league released its postseason awards.

In all, seven players from Costa Mesa and Estancia were honored with all-league selections.

Thorsness was the leading goal scorer in Orange County, with 157 in 27 games, as he led Costa Mesa to a second-place finish in the league. The Mustangs lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

The senior had a pair of 11-goal performances this season -- against Orange and Hoover of Fresno.

The first team selections included three of Thorsness’ teammates -- sophomore Sam Edman, junior John Roche, and junior goalie Scott Neslage. The Mustangs also had senior Christian Medina on the second team.

Estancia, which finished fourth in league and lost in the Division II wild-card round, was represented on the first team by senior Chad Kunert. The Eagles had two second-team picks in senior Scott Hulett and junior Trevor McDonald.

Only league champion Saddleback had more all-league selections -- four first-team and four second-team -- than Costa Mesa’s five overall.