Boys’ Water Polo: Watson shares honor
Corona del Mar High senior center Chase Watson was named Pacific Coast League Co-MVP, in voting by league coaches.
Seniors Hayden Leach, Evan Ramsey, Bruce Bearer and Emery Molnar earned first-team status for the league champion Sea Kings (23-8, 10-0 in league), who went on to win the CIF Southern Section Division II title.
The 6-foot-7 Watson had a team-high 85 goals, 10 assists and 18 steals. He scored a season-high six goals to lead CdM to a 13-10 Battle of the Bay victory over Newport Harbor, and five goals in the Division II title match, an 11-10 victory over top-seeded Murrieta Valley.
This is Watson’s second straight year as a first-team selection. He shared the league MVP award with Irvine junior Travis Pham.
Leach, the Sea Kings’ shutdown defender, had 53 goals, 25 assists and 35 steals.
Ramsey, a driver, had 30 goals to go along with team-highs of 54 assists and 79 steals. He also won every quarter-starting sprint all year long for CdM.
Bearer, a repeat first-team selection, had 258 saves. He had a season-high 16 in the team’s second league win over Irvine, helping CdM all but clinch the league title.
Molnar, a center, had 41 goals.
CdM seniors Will Havercroft and Nick Treadaway earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.
— From staff reports
Whitelegge named top player in Sunset
Newport Harbor High senior goalie Chris Whitelegge has been named the Sunset League Player of the Year for boys’ water polo.
Whitelegge made 288 saves, nearly 10 per match, to help the Sailors win the outright league title and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.
He was a second-team selection a year ago.
Junior Farrel South and seniors Andrew Duhoux and Davy Jorth also made the first team for Newport Harbor (24-5).
South, a utility player, led the team with 113 goals scored and added 53 steals. His season-high was eight goals and he scored six goals in nine separate games. He was a second-team selection as a sophomore.
Duhoux, also a utility player, had 38 goals, 35 steals and a team-high 55 steals.
Jorth, a driver, tallied 39 goals, a team-high 50 assists and 49 steals.
Newport junior driver Ryan Fowler, sophomore center Dan Stevens and sophomore driver Preston Lee made the second team. Stevens was second on the team with 55 goals scored.
Sailors Coach Jason Lynch was named Co-Coach of the Year, along with Brian Anderson of Huntington Beach.
— From staff reports