Sea Kings aiming for perfection

Steve Virgen

Mike Evans, the first-year coach of the Corona del Mar high boys

water polo team, got the first look at his squad in action during a

scrimmage with Newport Harbor Saturday.

Now, he has an idea of what to expect from his players and the Sea

Kings should also have an idea of what’s ahead with Evans in charge.

“I expect perfection,” said Evans, who was hired Aug. 25.

“Everything we do, I expect them to do it perfectly and that’s why we

practice. I guess I am a demanding coach. In practice, if they are

not doing it right, they will do it again. We are practicing to be a

championship team. We practice and play with intensity.”

Evans, a former UC Irvine All-American who played for three United

States Olympic teams, has used an upbeat approach to blend in with

the intense moments. He has also stressed winning and how that will

bring about fun.

After watching the Sea Kings play Saturday, he said they are

capable of having a lot of fun this season.

Evans is confident because he realizes there is talent on his

team, much of which comes from junior Thomas Pearson, who figures to

be the Sea Kings’ leading scorer as the main two-meter player.

“He’s very aware for a big guy,” Evans said. “He’s a good

playmaker.”

In addition, sophomore Tom Money will contribute his versatility

and also be one of CdM’s main scorers, and senior Daniel Niehenke, a

left-hander, provides balance with his defense.

“We should finish in the top four in CIF [Southern Section

Division I],” Evans said. “We will have our work cut out for us.

After seeing a really good team like Newport, I know what we have to

do and we have the manpower to do that. Our No. 1 priority is defense

and our offense will feed off that.”

Evans, who coached the men’s and women’s water polo teams at

Saddleback College before coming to CdM, said he does not know much

about Orange County prep teams, but that hardly matters. Ever since

he replaced Tim Salvino, who resigned Aug. 11 after one season as

coach, Evans has been totally focusing on his squad. He will come to

know about the other teams during the upcoming season.

“I’ll be able to see most of them in the tournaments,” Evans said.

“For the most part, we will just concentrate on ourselves. We’ll play

our game and see if they can beat it.”

While Evans expects a top-four CIF finish for his team this

season, the bar will most likely be higher next year because of all

the talent among this year’s junior and sophomore classes. In

addition to Money, sophomores Kyle Hersh and Jacob Murphy should see

playing time this season and they are providing plenty of hope for

the future of the program.

“There are some very good sophomores on this team,” Evans said.

“They are going to be scary good in the future. They are ballplayers

already.”

Juniors Gaston Sanford and Chandler Anthony will be the Sea Kings’

goalies this season.

CdM opens its season Tuesday at 3:15 p.m., when the Sea Kings host

Capistrano Valley.