Water Polo at a Glance

Top players: Chris Avitia, Costa Mesa, Sr.; Adam Bollenbach, Estancia, Sr.; Ian Chiang, Esperanza, Sr.; Andy Davis, Mission Viejo, Sr.; Will-Art Dee, Magnolia, goalie, Sr.; Tim Devries, Marina, Sr.; Drew Douglas, Los Amigos, Sr.; Gabe Gardner, San Clemente, Jr., goalie; Phinney Gardner, San Clemente, Sr.; Crosby Grant, Corona del Mar, Sr.; Sam Grayeli, Costa Mesa, Sr.; David Hay, Foothill, Sr.; Brian Heifferon, Servite, Jr.; Neil Hueston, Corona del Mar, Sr.; Dave Johnson, Magnolia, Sr.; Jason Lezak, Irvine, Sr.; Tucker Lowe, Brea-Olinda, Jr.; Bernard Ma, Valencia, Jr.; Brian Martz, Trabuco Hills, Sr.; Eric Matthews, Brea-Olinda, Jr.; Rob Mattivi, Servite, Jr.; Brian Myer, Capistrano Valley, Sr.; K.C. Nance, Trabuco Hills, Sr.; Paul Nguyen, Villa Park, Sr., goalie; Bill Pinciroli, El Toro, Sr.; Eric Ploessel, Los Alamitos, Jr.; Chris Rochon, Santa Margarita, Sr.; Seann Schiele, Sunny Hills, Sr.; Jerry Smith, Servite, So.; Brent Stoll, El Toro, Sr.; Brandon Stout, El Toro, Sr.; Bryan Vaden, La Habra, Sr.; David Vega, Santa Ana Valley, Sr.; Cabot Weaver, Foothill, Sr.; Jake Yokota, Capistrano Valley, Sr.

League favorites: Century: Foothill. Empire: Esperanza. Freeway: Sunny Hills. Garden Grove: Los Amigos. Orange: Brea-Olinda. Pacific Coast: Costa Mesa. Sea View: Corona del Mar. South Coast: El Toro. Sunset: Servite.

1992 final poll: 1. El Toro; 2. Capistrano Valley; 3. San Clemente; 4. Foothill; 5. Corona del Mar; 6. Newport Harbor; 7. Dana Hills; 8. Esperanza; 9. Costa Mesa; 10. Fountain Valley.

1993 preseason poll: 1. Corona del Mar, 2. El Toro, 3. Foothill, 4. Newport Harbor, 5. San Clemente, 6. Costa Mesa, 7. Capistrano Valley, 8. Esperanza, 9. Servite, 10. Sunny Hills. Others receiving votes: Villa Park, Irvine, Trabuco Hills.

Key dates: South Coast Tournament, Sept. 23-25; Villa Park Tournament, Sept. 30-Oct. 2; North Orange County Tournament, Oct. 11, 15-16; Northern California Tournament, Oct. 29-30; Southern Section playoffs start, Nov. 10; Southern Section finals, Belmont Plaza, Nov. 24.

Notes: Three local teams are working on remarkable streaks. Sunny Hills is favored to win its 25th consecutive Freeway League championship; Costa Mesa is going for its ninth consecutive Pacific Coast League title, and El Toro has won 18 consecutive playoff games, a streak that spans five seasons and Southern Section titles in 1988, ‘89, ’90 and ’92. The Chargers missed the playoffs in 1991. . . . Corona del Mar (Division I) and Costa Mesa (Division III) are each ranked No. 1 in the preseason Southern Section coaches’ polls. Four county teams are ranked second: El Toro (Div. I), Esperanza (II), Trabuco Hills (III) and Los Amigos (IV).