Water Polo | OC Catholic

EPISODE #117
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE BRETT ORMSBY AND ROB WIGOD

Each week, Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County.

We focus this week on the CIF water polo playoffs as we talk with the head coach of the top team in Southern California, JSerra’s Brett Ormsby. Then we visit with the commissioner of the CIF Southern Section, Rob Wigod. The issue at hand is the shortage of game officials in high school sports. How are the powers-that-be trying to alleviate the issue?

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COMEBACK KIDS

One of the latest beneficiaries of the new playoff model is the JSerra boys’ water polo team.

Based on a formula that accounts for a team’s past playoff performances, its number of wins, margin of victories, and strength of schedule, the Lions were classified as CIF-SS Division 4 team before the season.

They took advantage of the more even playing field and won the program’s first section championship in school history on Nov. 16.

A year ago, Servite did the same in Division 3, going all the way for the program’s first section title since 2005.

What both teams also had in common is they each finished fourth in the Trinity League before making their lower-division championship runs.

Under the previous playoff format, JSerra and Servite likely wouldn’t have qualified for the postseason.

That’s because if teams didn’t finish in the top three and automatically qualify for the playoffs, they could only hope for wild-card berth. Even then, they would compete in Division I or 2 with the automatic qualifiers, and then be matched against one of the best teams in those divisions in the first round.

That proved extremely difficult for teams that weren’t at the same level as others in their league. 

The Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran boys’ water polo teams, for example, combined to win five section titles in Divisions 1 and 2 between 2015-17, while JSerra, Servite and St. John Bosco felt lucky just to experience a playoff game.

The new playoff model not only gives teams a chance to chase a section title, but against teams deemed closer to their competitive level.

After the Lions were tagged as a Division 4 team back in the spring, JSerra entered the season ranked sixth in the division before moving to No. 1 in late September.

The Lions continued to hold the top spot, earning the top-seed for the Division 4 playoffs.

JSerra went on the road in the first round and beat Beaumont, 12-3, then won back-to-back home games against Yucaipa (10-3) and El Segundo (14-19). The Lions headed back on the road for the semifinals and beat Pacifica 13-8.

Up against San Juan Hills in the championship game, JSerra allowed the first four goals.

“We were kind of flustered,” JSerra junior Lachlan Treister told reporters afterward. “I didn’t know how it was going to turn out.”

The Lions pulled within a goal at the half, and then surged ahead with a strong third period before holding on for a 13-10 victory.

Treister said the recipe for success was simple.

“Just commitment, training,” he said. “If you believe in it, you’ll do it. And we all believed in it.”

The Lions had no seniors on this season’s team, leaving them in great shape for another long playoff run next season.

JSerra’s success this season could lift them into a higher division next season, but Treister already has a goal in mind.

“Another championship, hopefully,” he said.

Mater Dei, Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran might be feeling envious of the Lions. All three lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two seasons. 

EPISODE #102
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE STEVE FRYER AND ANDY COFFMAN

Host Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County. His Twitter handle is: @catholicsv

Today’s guests are:

Steve Fryer (Orange County Register);
Andy Coffman (head water polo coach at Servite High School)

Originally broadcast on 10/19/19

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MAKING WAVES

They seem like they’ve experienced everything together, even though they’ve spent most of their water polo careers on opposite sides.

Brianna Daboub and Haley Wan were Trinity League co-players of the year four years ago. They played for rival schools, but also won gold medals as teammates on U.S. youth national teams.

They’ve been back on different teams on opposite coasts the past four seasons, but continue to lead in many of the same ways.

Daboub, who starred for Mater Dei, is a three-year captain for the USC women’s team.

Wan, a Santa Margarita graduate, occupies the same role for Princeton.

They earned those titles not just from stellar play, but by displaying leadership abilities that stand out from their teammates.

Daboub and Wan are scheduled to play one more game against each other. Princeton will take a road trip to Southern California in early spring, one that includes a stop at USC on March 22.

Princeton made a similar visit to USC last year and Daboub scored two goals and Wan scored all three in the 12-3 victory by the Trojans.

Wan still has bragging rights dating back to their high school days, however. She led Santa Margarita to back-to-back CIF-SS and Trinity League titles her junior and senior years.

Wan immediately became a starter at Princeton her freshman season, scoring 34 goals on just 70 shots while leading the team in assists, steals and blocks. She led the team with 58 goals as a sophomore, then notched another team-high 67 goals last season.

Wan scored five goals through the first four games this season, giving her 164 in her Princeton career through that point.

This season has been especially challenging for Wan, as longtime Princeton coach Luis Nicolao left in January to take the head coaching position at the Naval Academy.

Daboub scored her 100th goal at USC in a 6-4 win Feb. 11 against cross-town rival UCLA, helping the Trojans take first in the Triton Invitational at UC San Diego. USC came into the event ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Stanford, and UCLA was No. 4.

USC coach Jovan Vavic said Daboub has been the perfect role model.

“What is the most impressive about this team so far is their unity,” Vavic told the Daily Trojan student newspaper after the win against UCLA. “Leadership is the key and our captains are leading in and out of the water.”

Katie Tijerina, who graduated from Rosary a year after Daboub and Wan, is the leading scorer at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Tijerina also overcame a difficult coaching change.

She was recruited out of high school by then-Marist head coach Natalie Benson, a former standout athlete at Rosary who went on to star at UCLA and play in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Tijerina scored 47 goals as a freshman and was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year.

Her experience with Benson only lasted a year, however. Benson was hired by Fresno State in June of 2016 as the school’s first coach in program history. The Bulldogs began their inaugural season last month.

Tijerina’s goals dipped to 20 last season, but she came back with seven goals through the first six games this season.

The Red Foxes will also take a trip to Southern California in early spring, and are scheduled to play Princeton at the Loyola Marymount Invitational on March 16. 

TRINITY LEAGUE ATHLETE PROFILE: JON LIEN

After spending his younger years playing baseball and basketball, Jon Lien traded the court and the diamond for the pool once he entered Servite High School, where water polo became his sport of choice.

“As I came to high school, I thought that water polo sounded interesting,” says Lien. “Once I started playing water polo, I took a great liking to it.”

The senior and two-year varsity player mans the cage for the Friars, with a full understanding that the role of the goalkeeper is a unique one.

“You’re the backbone of the team,” says Lien, “and you can be the difference between a win and a loss.”

Challenging both physically and mentally, the athleticism required to play water polo is what draws the 18-year-old to the sport. Managing the intensity has been Lien’s toughest obstacle.

“There’s a lot of intense conditioning physically and mentally,” says Lien. “Being able to overcome them has been through support from coaches and teammates, having a positive attitude and a lot of confidence in yourself.”

Servite head water polo coach, Andy Coffman, has seen impressive improvement in his goalie over the last two seasons and relies on Lien’s leadership skills to guide the younger players.

“Jon plays a big role in every aspect of our team,” says Coffman. “He is a sponge for information on bettering his craft and understands that hard work will always put him in a position to be successful. He is very driven and self-motivated to reach his goals and be a leader to his teammates. As a coach, I feel that I couldn’t have a better person anchoring our defense and setting the example in and out of the pool.”

With a desire to serve others, Lien serves his campus through National Honor Society (NHS) and California Scholarship Federation (CSF) tutoring opportunities. The Irvine resident also reaches his community through Loaves and Fishes ministry outreach.

Much of what Lien has learned from the game has been through his parents and his coaches, who want the best for him and have instilled in him that “no matter how hard something may be, you should always go for it.” 

Lien is working towards continuing his water polo career in college and plans to study either business or political science. Anchored by his faith, Lien keeps that “no quit” outlook in all aspects of his life.

“My faith has always been a big impact to me because it allowed me to get back up, through good times and bad,” says Lien. “And it’s always taught me to stay positive and has given me guidance to do well in those. Most importantly, it’s taught me to keep Christ at the center, giving me the strength and guidance to do well in what it is that I want to do.” 

ATHLETE PROFILE: RYAN-MARIE ICKES

As a hardcore softball player, water polo was a sport Ryan-Marie Ickes played in the offseason. But by the time she got to high school, she decided to leave the softball diamond for the pool.

“I took the turn to say, you know what? I really enjoy water polo, and it stuck with me,” says Ickes. “I made the change not only because of the sport, but the team.”

The Rosary Academy senior credits her teammates for helping her make the decision to fully commit to water polo. The bond that she and her close-knit team have created during her years as a Royal has left an indelible mark for Ickes.

“Water polo has taught me to be a better person and has taught me to really think about others,” says Ickes. “It’s not just about how can I better myself, but also better my team. I feel like that helps me in the real world with my friends and my family. And I feel that water polo has really changed my perspective of life.”

As one of the senior leaders on the team, Ickes feels a strong sense of responsibility toward making sure the younger Royals are provided with the same family-like atmosphere that she’s experienced. Rosary water polo head coach, Rory Bevins, knows Ickes’ leadership has been crucial for the younger players.

“Ryan is one of the most tenacious players I have ever coached,” says Bevins. “She has a fire in her that makes her intense style of playing water polo really fun to watch. She has stepped up this year as a shooter and a passer for us, and we really rely on her to facilitate our offense. Ryan really has become a great leader for us and is almost like a mom to some of the younger girls. She is always helping people get to practice and making sure our new girls understand the game.”

Outside of water polo, the 18-year-old is a Pilates instructor, working alongside her mother, her biggest role model, whom Ickes considers to be her “rock and best friend.”

After graduation, Ickes has committed to play water polo for Loyola Marymount University where she plans to study management with the goal of becoming an architectural manager.

Her faith plays a large role in her life as a student athlete, so much so that the Yorba Linda resident took an additional year before completing her confirmation so she could thoughtfully consider God’s plan for her life.

“I had to know that he was calling me to be confirmed, to finish my initiation into this church,” says Ickes. “And I feel that was the right path to go, waiting a year, because I was more mature and more knowledgeable, to know that God has chosen the right path for me. That helps me so much in the pool, and I know that he’s always with me.”

EYES ON THE PRIZE

The schedule says the boys’ water polo season begins in September, but Mater Dei knows it really gets rolling in November.

That’s when the CIF-SS playoffs are on the docket, and the Monarchs have become very proficient at peaking at the right time. They’ve advanced to the section finals in each of the last nine years, winning Division 2 titles in 2008 and 2009, and Division 1 championships in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Mater Dei won the Trinity League each of those nine years as well, but those banners don’t fly as high as the ones they’ve earned in the postseason.

“Our focus is not the Trinity League, our focus is CIF,” said Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman.

That mentality helped dull the sting of Mater Dei’s overtime loss Oct. 12 to visiting Orange Lutheran, ending a 41-game league winning streak that dated back to 2006. Though that loss will likely cause the Monarchs to miss out on their first league title in a decade, November is still on the horizon and Segesman believes his team will be ready for the most important stretch of the season.

“This year, we have a good crop of kids, we’re just missing a little bit of the big game experience,” he said. “But, really, our focus this year is on the big picture, which is preparing for November. So, we know in November we’re going to have to see some good teams.”

Most of the current Monarchs are short on big-game experience because last season’s team was senior-dominated. Six of the seven starters for the Monarchs were seniors, led by Thomas Dunstan, who went on to play for the U.S. Olympic team last summer in Rio de Janeiro, and his current USC teammate Luke Wyatt.

Segesman, who has been at Mater Dei since 2005, prefers a layer of starters and key backups from each class, just to ensure there’s some experience coming into each season. Last season was unique, however.

“We really went for it last year,” Segesman said. “It’s not like what we traditionally do here at Mater Dei.”

The lone returning starter for the Monarchs this season is sophomore Ian Minsterman, who scored the tying goal with 4:15 remaining in last season’s section final against Harvard-Westlake before Wyatt notched the game-winner in the 9-8 victory.

Jack Seybold has emerged as the top player for the Monarchs. He demonstrated his all-around game at the most prestigious tournament of the regular season, totaling 15 goals, six assists and seven steals over five games at last month’s S & R Sport Elite 8 at Harvard-Westlake.

“With all the seniors we lost last year, it’s kind of Jack’s moment to shine,” Segesman said. “He had a great tournament at Elite 8, not only as a goal scorer, but just his entire game.”

Christian Hockenbury is another player who’s come a long way in water polo, though he’s already well-decorated in another sport. He won a CIF-SS Division 1 swimming title last May in the 50 freestyle and posted a meet record of 20.69 seconds in the same event nine days earlier at the Trinity League finals.

“Christian exploded on the scene last year with swimming, and he’s someone we had an eye on for water polo to come in and help the varsity his senior year,” Segesman said. “He’s done a great job.”

TWENTY MONARCHS SIGN OR COMMIT TO COLLEGES

On the heels of their CIF Southern Section Division1 boys water polo championship, Mater Dei High standout left-handers Luke Wyatt and Thomas Dunstan will continue to be teammates in college, as both are headed to USC.

A senior attacker, Wyatt – who scored the go-ahead goal in the CIF Division 1 title game against Harvard-Westlake – signed with the Trojans on National Signing Day Feb. 3.

Dunstan, a transfer from Connecticut for the 2015 season and a U.S. national team player, did not announce his intention on National Signing Day at Meruelo Athletic Center with 19 other Mater Dei student-athletes, but committed to USC a week later.

Mater Dei water polo standouts Bennie Seybold (Harvard) and Sean Duncan (Pepperdine) joined Wyatt at the signing table on National Signing Day, which celebrates the signings and commitments of student-athletes at the collegiate level.

“Dunstan was the best player in the country at his position,” Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman says. Dunstan, a stalwart defender and talented attacker, was considered one of the top two water polo recruits in the nation in the class of 2016.

A first-team All-Orange County selection and Trinity League Most Valuable Player, Dunstan chose USC over UCLA, and did not sign on Feb. 3 reportedly because he needed extra time to consider his decision based on great respect for both programs. Dunstan led Mater Dei in goals (79) and assists (58) and was second in steals (47). Wyatt, a first-team All-Trinity League pick, was third in goals (66) and second in assists (56).

In football, Mater Dei’s Andre Collins, Jr. (Nevada-Las Vegas), Grant Crum (University of Chicago), Elias Deeb (Chapman), Frank Martin II (USC) and Curtis Robinson (Stanford) signed with their respective schools or celebrated a college commitment.

Martin, a 6-foot-6, 285-pounder, is a four-star offensive tackle and Robinson (6-3, 205) is an outside linebacker. Both played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game and were selected to the Los Angeles Times’ All-Area football team. They led Mater Dei to a 10-3 record and rankings of No. 5 in the state and No. 17 in the nation, as head coach Bruce Rollinson’s Monarchs advanced to the CIF Pac-5 Division semifinals, losing to Corona Centennial, 42-36, at Santa Ana Stadium.

Mater Dei had a magical comeback victory over Gardena Serra in the second round of the CIF finals the previous week. In what was perhaps the defining moment in the Monarchs’ season, freshman quarterback J.T. Daniels completed a 2-point conversion pass to Robinson and Mater Dei rallied with less than five minutes left in the game to win, 28-27, on the road.

In Mater Dei’s CIF first-round victory over visiting Lakewood, 66-14, Robinson intercepted a pass early in the game to set up a touchdown as the Monarchs jumped to a quick 21-0 lead.

Mater Dei’s Trinity League highlights included wins over Orange Lutheran, 49-35, Servite, 42-10, and Santa Margarita, 45-14.

Ben Martin (Princeton) in boys soccer and Jed Smith (West Point) in wrestling also signed for the Monarchs, while the Mater Dei girls soccer team featured nine seniors either signing or celebrating commitments: Mikaela Doe (University of San Diego), McKenna Doe (USD), Amber Hadfield (Our Lady of the Lake University), Jessica Harloe (Cal State San Marcos), Lauren Markwith (Miami), Taraware Morris (Pepperdine), Madison Puliafico (UC Irvine), Hailey Stenberg (Pepperdine) and Olivia Ware (Northeastern).

Ivy League and Division III colleges do not offer athletic scholarships, but student-athletes often commit to a college because of other types of academic- or school-based scholarships or support.

Mater Dei’s girls soccer team, ranked No. 1 in Orange County by the Orange County Register at regular season’s end, won the CIF Division 1 championship in 2015 with a slew of juniors. This season, the Monarchs hope to win the school’s third CIF championship in the sport. Under coach Matty West, the Monarchs have advanced to three CIF title-game appearances and captured two banners – 2007 and last season, when they defeated Laguna Hills in the CIF Division 1 final in an overtime shootout, 3-2.

In a dramatic final, Mater Dei goalie Puliafico blocked Laguna Hills’ final two shots in penalty kicks as the Monarchs secured the title. Her last save against the Hawks’ fifth and final kicker resulted in great jubilation for the Monarchs, who battled the Hawks for 80 minutes in regulation and two 10-minute periods of overtime before the decisive shootout.

Mater Dei finished 15-4-7 last season and dominated the Trinity League this season with a 6-1-1 record. The Monarchs (16-3-4 overall at press time) are hoping to repeat as CIF champions.

MATER DEI REIGNS SUPREME IN WATER POLO

In back-to-back years, the Mater Dei High Monarchs came up short in their CIF Southern Section Division 1 boys’ water polo championship quest, losing to Harvard-Westlake both times in the final.

But the Monarchs made a splash in 2015 while scaling the proverbial wall as they edged their nemesis, 9-8, for the CIF Division 1 championship, the Monarchs’ sixth section title and fourth in Division 1.

“We just couldn’t go this season without winning (CIF). That was the goal. As a team, we’re ecstatic to win,” Mater Dei senior center Sean Duncan told reporters after his team’s victory, in which the top-seeded Monarchs (29-2) held the second-seeded Wolverines (23-3) scoreless over the final 8 minutes in a thrilling CIF title game at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.

Duncan scored three goals in the CIF final to lead the Monarchs, while Mater Dei senior attacker Luke Wyatt tallied the go-ahead goal on a counterattack with 3:10 remaining in the game as the Monarchs dethroned two-time defending CIF Division 1 champion Harvard-Westlake of Studio City.

But it wasn’t a huge surprise, because Mater Dei defeated Harvard-Westlake in two other games this season, finishing 3-1 against the Wolverines this year.

Mater Dei goalie Nolan Strout recorded nine saves in the championship game as the Monarchs rallied from an 8-7 deficit after three quarters.

“The emotions are special because I’m so proud of these guys,” said Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman, whose team was sparked by senior Thomas Dunstan, the Trinity League Most Valuable Player. “Dunstan was the best player in the country at his position.”

Dunstan, a left-hander, led Mater Dei in goals (79) and assists (58) and was second in steals (47). He’s a transfer from Connecticut and a U.S. National Team member. Wyatt, also a southpaw and a first-team All-Trinity League selection, was third in goals (66) and second in assists (56) for Mater Dei.

Santa Margarita also left its footprint on the 2015 fall season.

In girls’ volleyball, the Eagles won the Trinity League championship, their second straight league title behind senior Jane Horner, junior Meghan McClure and sophomore Devon Chang. McClure earned Trinity League MVP honors as she earned 439 kills, 342 digs and nine aces. The Virginia-bound Horner, whose ball control and court knowledge helped the Eagles thrive, registered 461 digs and nine aces.

The Eagles locked up the league title by sweeping Orange Lutheran, 25-15, 25-15, 25-16, and finished 30-3 overall and 7-1 in Trinity action.

In girls’ tennis, JSerra junior Jadie Acidera won her second straight Trinity League singles title, compiling a 58-2 record and advancing to the Round of 16 at the CIF Individuals. JSerra won its first league title.

JSerra, which finished 19-2 overall and 7-1 in the Trinity, was led in doubles by senior twin sisters Mary Kaffen and Zoe Kaffen, who captured their second consecutive league doubles championship.

In boys’ cross country, Servite won the league title by packing five runners in the top 20: Sophomore Vincent Sarino (5th in 15:57.9), sophomore Mauro Rosales (9th in 16:08.3), junior Michael Holbrook (12th in 16:18.5), senior Michael Cazarez (17th in 16:30.4) and senior Erick Garcia (19th in 16:33.6).

JSerra junior Andrew Burkhardt (14:45.7) was the individual Trinity champion for the second straight year. Burkhardt was also unbeatable in the postseason as he captured CIF and state Division 4 titles.

In girls’ cross country, JSerra freshman Nadia Tabrizi won the individual championship in 18:35.3 as the Lions won the Trinity team title, placing five runners in the top 16, including three in the top 10. In addition to Tabrizi, freshman Isabella Abusaid (6th in 19:15.6) and junior McKayla Giacobetti (8th in 19:18.4) cracked the top 10 in the league finals.

Mater Dei finished as runner-up as junior Kelly Wacker (4th in 19:10.7), sophomore Camille McDonnell (5th in 19:13.1) and sophomore Claudia Stiglitz (9th in 19:32.3) ran top-10 times.

As a team, Santa Margarita was third and Rosary fourth. Individually, sophomore McKenzie Shulman placed second for the Eagles, while sophomore Leslie Gonzalez finished third for Rosary.

In girls’ golf, Santa Margarita claimed a Trinity League title, led by second-team All-Orange County selections Rylie Edwards, a sophomore, and Kiara Boggs, a freshman.

Individually, Rosary junior Caroline Cantlay tied for first in the league championship, but finished second after a three-hole playoff. Cantlay, who qualified for the WSCGA Southern State Regional, medaled four times and recorded a 37.8 nine-hole stroke average. She was the only first-team all-county choice from the Trinity League.

Rosary freshman Chayse Gomez, Mater Dei freshman Khameryn Utu and Mater Dei senior Kristy Harada also enjoyed banner seasons.

JACOB ROBERTS

With a background in water sports that includes surfing and wakeboarding, it was a logical path for Jacob Roberts’ athletic career to lead him to the pool.

“I started playing water polo in the eighth grade, and what really got me into it was all my friends,” says Roberts. “They all started to play, so I decided to give it a try. I went out the first day and absolutely loved it.”

Despite spending plenty of time in the ocean, the Servite High School senior and third-year varsity player did not have a background in competitive swimming. He also got a later start in the sport.

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“I was pretty inexperienced coming in, and my knowledge of the game wasn’t exactly where I wanted it to be,” says Roberts. “To overcome those obstacles, I decided to just play as much water polo as I possibly could.”

In the role of attacker, or “commander of the offense” in the pool, the 17-year-old Roberts enjoys the leadership required of the position.

And his leadership role doesn’t stop there, as Roberts serves as captain for the Friars, a role that Servite’s water polo head coach, Andy Coffman, believes that Roberts finds success at because of his balanced approach to his captaincy.

“Jacob leads by example in how he trains and competes at practice, but he is also a vocal leader,” says Coffman. “I believe he is able to be such a tremendous leader because he is so well balanced spiritually and academically, in addition to his commitment to water polo.”

Roberts also represents the Friars’ swim team each spring, specializing in the 100-yard breaststroke. Out of the water, the Anaheim Hills resident participates in several clubs on campus, including the Red Cross Club and National Honor Society. Additionally, he serves as a confirmation sponsor at his church, and cites his faith as a major factor in how he approaches life as a student-athlete.

“Faith plays an immense role in my life as a student and as a water polo player,” says Roberts. “Without our faith, without God, none of us would even be here. That’s something I keep in the back of my mind.”

Roberts hopes to continue to play water polo at the collegiate level, along with studies in either biology or business. Whether it’s athletics or academics, Roberts relies on the guidance of several role models in his life, including his parents, Servite’s water polo assistant coach and USA Water Polo Hall of Fame member Jody Campbell, and his terminally ill grandmother, who holds a special place in Roberts’ heart.

“Her life has really shown me to be happy in anything,” says Roberts. “No matter what, she lives every day as if it will be her last. I’m really inspired to live how she does.”

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