Briefs: CdM’s Wyatt commits to Brown

Corona del Mar High senior Jake Wyatt has committed to play water polo at Brown University, he announced in an email Wednesday.

Wyatt was a third team All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 performer for CdM in 2012. He also earned Newport-Mesa Dream Team laurels. The team’s lone lefty led the Sea Kings in assists (56), ranked second in steals (37) and third in goals (38). He helped CdM win league and advance to the Division 1 semifinals.

Wyatt, a two-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American who has a 4.3 grade-point average at CdM, will play for Coach Felix Mercado at Brown. Brown finished 2012 ranked No. 16 in Division 1 by the Collegiate Water Polo Assn., one of two Ivy League schools in the top 20 (Princeton was No. 15).

“The polo will be highly competitive and I could feel during my recruiting trip to Brown, the school and team would be a great fit,” Wyatt said in the email.

Wyatt thanked CdM Coach Barry O’Dea and other coaches like Ryan Bailey, Genai Kerr, Peter Asic and Milos Skaljac. He also thank longtime Harbor View swimming coach and CdM youth coach Ted Bandaruk.

“Coach Ted has likely had the greatest influence on my water polo experience,” Wyatt said in the email. “He taught me the importance of working hard, playing as part of a team, and enjoying the game. Coach Ted is the one that introduced me to this sport. I doubt I would have found it without him.”

— Matt Szabo

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Ex-Tar Kinney lauded

Peter Kinney, a Newport Harbor High graduate and a senior offensive lineman at the University of Redlands, was selected to play in the 17th annual All-American Bowl football game that took place Dec. 22.

Kinney anchored the line for a Redlands team that gave up just eight sacks and put up an average of 40 points a game this year. The Bulldogs rushing attack flourished, averaging 244.6 rushing yards a game and running for 24 touchdowns on the year.

Kinney, who earned All-American honors after serving as team captain in 2012, competed in the All-American Bowl alongside some of the best NCAA Division II and III talent.

The Bulldogs finished the season 6-3, 6-1 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after winning its final five games.

— From staff reports

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Munce recognized

Megan Munce, a Newport Harbor High product who recently completed a women’s volleyball career at TCU, was named Academic All-Big 12 Conference as a senior.

Munce, a 5-foot-8 setter who played 130 matches for the Horned Frogs, finished as the program’s all-time leader in aces (177). She ranks third in school annals in assists (3,376) and is 10th in digs (987).

Munce was Mountain West Conference Setter of the Year in 2009, when she helped the squad coached by former Corona del Mar High standout Prentice Lewis reach its first NCAA Tournament.

Also in 2009, Munce was named All-West Region by the American Volleyball Coaches’ Assn. and received honorable mention in All-American voting.

TCU was 15-14 in 2012, 4-12 in the Big 12.

— Barry Faulkner