Boys water polo: Starting over

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Four CIF Southern Section championship banners hang at

Costa Mesa High’s aquatic center commemorating the titles won by the

school’s boys water polo program in a 10-year span from 1986 to ’95.

Five years later, those banners are a memento from ancient history.

After losing all but two players from last year’s 12-13 squad, the Mustangs almost put the varsity program on hiatus before enough athletes

showed up in the summer to keep it going. So Costa Mesa boys water polo

is still alive and kicking.

“I let them know about the decade of dominance and what the program is

at Mesa,� Coach Chris Avitia, entering his first season at the helm,

said. “But you’ve got to build to get into that position and hopefully

we’ll reach that someday.�

The majority of Costa Mesa’s players don’t have water polo experience

and it’s up to Avitia, who was the goalie on Mesa’s 1992 CIF title team

and ’93 runner-up, to mold this group.

“We have a lot to learn and not a lot of experience,� Avitia said.

“Hopefully, we’ll build on this year and turn the program around.�

Avitia does have two varsity returners from last year including Mike

Whitman. A senior entering his fourth year with the team, Whitman was one

of the Mustangs’ top players last year, and he is the undisputed leader

of this year’s group. Avitia found out how invaluable Whitman is to his

young team this summer.

“He’s so much help,� Avitia said. “He’s giving the other players a lot

of help. He’s an experienced guide. I can’t get in the water and teach

them everything, so he’s the go-to-guy who demonstrates everything I try

to teach them.�

Junior Chasen Marshall is the other returner.

“He’s a really good, quick player, and he’s got a good shot,� Avitia

said. “He’s entering his third year, and I think he’ll improve from last

year.�

Behind those two, freshman Brian Tipton is the only familiar face for

Avitia. The younger brother of former Mesa poloist Matt Tipton, Brian

played under Avitia three years ago when he coached an 11-and-under team.

Avitia will try to mold him into Mesa’s future goalie.

“He’s learning fast,� Avitia said. “He’s young, so I can work with him

for four years. We need a good defense with a young team.�

Junior Steven Thomas played on Mesa’s frosh/soph team last year, and

that makes him valuable. Freshman Dennis Atkins and sophomores Matt

Grubisich, John Santos, Steven Reyes, Kevin Neppl and Robert Rodriguez,

are new to the high school water polo experience.

With so many green players, Avitia acknowledge the team will take some

lumps this year. But he hopes those losses will be a learning item.

“They’ll get beat a lot,� Avitia said, “but hopefully, they’ll learn

something from those losses and use that to build on.�

Costa Mesa’s boys water polo

Coach: Chris Avitia

Dennis Atkins Fr.

Matt Grubisich So.

Chasen Marshall Jr.

Kevin Neppl So.

Steven Reyes So.

Robert Rodriguez So.

John Santos So.

Steven Thomas Jr.

Brian Tipton Fr.

Mike Whitman Sr.