BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 9 : ORANGE COUNTY OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK : Evans Learns to Keep Water Polo Victories in Perspective

Mike Evans knows the hazards of getting too excited over an Olympic water polo victory, so don’t expect him to gush about the U.S. team’s 9-3 rout of Czechoslovakia Sunday.

“The team is playing well,” Evans said by telephone from Barcelona. “But we’re trying to keep our composure on an even keel for the rest of the games and make sure we stay away from the roller-coaster routine.”

Evans, a UC Irvine graduate who lives in Corona and owns a business in Anaheim Hills, was introduced to the ups and downs of Olympic water polo in 1988 in Seoul when the Americans upset Yugoslavia, the 1984 gold-medal winner, in their first match but lost to Spain in their second.

The Americans rebounded to win their next four matches before losing the gold-medal match to Yugoslavia, 9-7, in overtime.

Because of United Nations’ sanctions, the United States doesn’t have to worry about Yugoslavia this time but there is still plenty of competition.

But Czechoslovakia, the late replacement for Yugoslavia, didn’t provide much.

“The Czechs have been on an emotional roller coaster for the past several months, not knowing whether they were going to be in the Olympics,” U.S. goalie Craig Wilson said. “They basically have a starting team that can play with anyone, but their weakness is on the bench.”

Czechoslovakia stayed close early in the match, playing the Americans to a 2-2 tie in the first quarter and trailing, 4-2, at the half. But the U.S. team’s superior depth proved decisive as the Americans outscored the Czechs, 5-1, in the second half.

Especially strong was the U.S. defense, anchored by Wilson and two-meter defenders Doug Kimbell, a Villa Park High graduate, and Jeff Campbell, a graduate of University High and UC Irvine.

Evans scored two goals and Kimbell added one.

“I think our team is emotionally a little more stable this time,” Evans said. “We’ve learned not to get worked up over anything.”

The U.S. team, which is now 2-0 in the tournament, will play France today and then take a day off Tuesday before what will probably be its two toughest matches of preliminary-round play--against the Unified Team and Germany.

Add water polo: Because the water polo competition began at the end of the first week, Evans said the U.S. players have been forced into a waiting game.

“It’s more boring than anything else because you can’t afford to go out and run around the town and get exhausted,” Evans said.

Evans did get to see a baseball game, but spent most of his time between two-a-day workouts watching other events on television in air-conditioned viewing rooms.

But he did get the quintessential Barcelona experience--snapshots with Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, during a visit to the Olympic Village by the Dream Team players.

“They kind of get mobbed so I can understand why they stay out of the village for the most part,” Evans said. “When they need attention, they show up and get it.”

HOW THE OTHERS FARED

--Lanee Butler, San Juan Capistrano, won the final race of the Lechner sail boarding competition, moving into fifth place overall. Butler, who attends UC Irvine, won two of the final three races of the 10-race event.

--Chip McKibben, Newport Beach, helped his team finish second in the top heat of the consolation finals in the quadruple sculls. McKibben and teammates Kier Pearson of Portland, Ore., John Riley of Coventry, R.I., and Bob Kaehler of Huntington, N.Y., were beaten by less than a second by a scull from the Unified Team.

--Phil Nevin, Placentia, went 0 for 3 in the U.S. baseball team’s 7-1 loss to Japan.

--Kim and Elaina Oden, Irvine, each had 10 kills and four blocks in the U.S. women’s volleyball team’s 15-4, 15-5, 15-10 victory over Spain. The United States advanced to play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

--Tony Okada, Stanton, lost in the first round in extra lightweight judo. Okada, a former Savanna High wrestler, lost to Philippe Pradayrol of France on a judges’ decision.

WHO’S COMPETING TODAY

Nick Becker, Newport Beach; Carlos Briceno, Fountain Valley; Scott Fortune, Laguna Beach; Brent Hilliard, Dana Point and Steve Timmons, Newport Beach, with U.S. men’s volleyball team against Italy.

Brian Blutreich, Mission Viejo, in men’s discus qualifying.

Jeff Campbell, UC Irvine; Mike Evans, UC Irvine; Chris Duplanty, UC Irvine; Doug Kimbell, Orange and John Vargas, UC Irvine, with the U.S. water polo team against France.

Sheila Conover, Newport Beach, in women’s 500-meter flatwater kayak heats.

Cathy Marino, Huntington Beach, in women’s doubles 500-meter flatwater kayak heats.

Fred Spaulding, Costa Mesa, in men’s 500-meter flatwater canoe heats.

Jim Terrell, Newport Beach, in men’s doubles 500-meter flatwater canoe heats.