High School Boys’ Water Polo: Coronado Upsets Corona del Mar

IRVINE, CA., Oct. 8. CORONA del Mar's Sea Kings may well defend their CIF Southern Section water polo championship later this season. However, in Coach John Vargas' final year at the CDM helm before taking over the No. 1-ranked Stanford University men's team next year, he won't go out unbeaten.

San Diego Coronado put paid to No. 1-ranked CDM's chances for an unblemished year, defeating the Orange County powerhouse, 8-6, at Heritage Park Pool
Saturday afternoon in the finals of the Southern California Invitational tournament.

Coronado, now 11-zip, scored the game's initial four goals and then held off a determined Sea King charge that fell just short.

The Sea Kings, 11-1 and ranked No. 1 nationally, cut the deficit to 4-2 late in the second quarter and 6-3 late in the third.

However, Coronado answered with a pair of goals of its own to increse the lead to 8-3, and the Sea Kings' unbeaten streak was history.

CDM senior All-America Mike March and teammates Artie Dorr and John Mann scored consecutive goals during a two-minute span late in the final quarter before time ran out.

Dougie Mann scored a trio of goals for the winners, defending San Diego Section CIF Division II champs.

North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, coached by former UCLA and U.S. National team head man Rich Corso, defeated No. 2-ranked Servite, 10-7, for third-place. Harvard-Westlake had been ranked third.

Because California does not hold a statewide water polo championship Corona and Coronado will not meet again this season.

— Bill Bell

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