Locals named to youth national water polo team (updated)

Farrel South, Dan Stevens and Curtis Fink of Newport Harbor High, along with alumnus Chris Whitelegge and Corona del Mar’s Ben Zepfel, Reid Chase and Kyle Trush have been named to the USA Water Polo Men’s Junior/Youth National Team, Newport Harbor and CdM aquatic programs announced.

The seven were placed on the team at the conclusion of the four-day national team selection camp held at UC Irvine over the Memorial Day weekend.

This is the third time South, Whitelegge and Stevens have been named to a national team and the first time for Fink.

The junior/youth national team will participate in another training camp June 29 through July 3, when travel teams will be selected for tournaments in Hungary, Italy and Canada.

South, a senior bound for Cal, finished as the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Player of the Year and also garnered the top player award for the Sunset League. He had 85 goals (team-high), 22 steals and 12 assists.

Stevens and Fink, both juniors, earned first-team all-league honors and were named to the Daily Pilot Dream Team. Stevens had 35 goals and 25 steals. Fink had 54 goals, 35 steals (team-high) and 23 assists.

The trio led Newport Harbor to a Sunset League title with a 5-0 record, an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals and a 25-2 record.

Whitelegge, who stood out as a goalie for the Sailors, now plays for UC Santa Barbara.

Zepfel, a senior bound for Harvard, scored 81 goals and was named the Pacific Coast League MVP. He also a Daily Pilot Dream Team member along with Chase, a junior who had a team-best 49 steals to go along with his 37 goals and 23 assists.

Trush earned honorable mention all-league recognition as a junior in the fall. The CdM trio led the Sea Kings to the CIF Division 2 title game.

— From staff reports