Dorr shines

In a loss, even an unexpected surprise can bring a smile to a coach’s

face.

Corona del Mar High senior Artie Dorr, who will play water polo

for UCLA next season, provided the silver lining in a meet dominated

by University (2-0, 1-0 in league) with a victory in the 500-yard

freestyle (5:19.55), outracing teammate Ryan Moore (5:34.27), who

finished second.

“For [Dorr] to step up and go for it, that’s what it’s all about,”

said CdM Coach Tim Salvino, who also coached Dorr on the water polo

team. “If you’re going to be out here, you might as well put your all

into it. He really shows a competitive attitude and that is why he is

a successful athlete. If I could get the rest of the guys to have

that same attitude, we would be golden.”

Dorr’s was CdM’s lone win in a 123-47 setback to Uni, which Coach

John Pendleton said is the best team he has had in his nine years at

the school. Dorr is a three-time All-CIF honoree and helped lead the

Sea Kings to three CIF Southern Section Division II titles in water

polo.

Salvino chose to take most of his varsity swimmers and put them in

the junior varsity races.

“The guys can build cohesion and camaraderie,” Salvino said of his

strategy.

“The focus is to get them to swim their best times at the [Pacific

Coast League] preliminaries.”

CdM (0-3, 0-1) swam to second in the 200 medley relay (1:53.45)

with Daniel Niehenke, Tyler Brundage, Kevin Amendt and James Strack

leading the charge.

Amendt would finish third in the 100 butterfly (1:01.26) and

Brundage placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.20).

John Money placed third in the 200 free (1:59.10) and Jason

DiRocco swam the 50 free in 24.26 to take the No. 3 spot.