Arroyo Left Knights Feeling Fine

SANTA ANA — If a team’s season can be gauged by a player’s health, then the Foothill boys’ water polo team is joined at the hip of Robby Arroyo.

Arroyo, this year’s Times Orange County boys’ water polo player of the year, had started the season with great expectations. Coming off a great summer that included a national water polo tournament in Canada and earning his Junior National swim times in the 50 and 100 freestyles, he was eager to end his final high school water polo season with a bang. Instead, it started with a dud.

Arroyo, 17, contracted mononucleosis, leaving him tired and helpless in the pool. As a result, the All-American was forced to miss the first part of the season. For Arroyo, who desperately tried to get back to his former self, little things, such as 500-yard warmup swims, would leave him feeling as if it had been 5,000 yards.

With Arroyo out of the lineup, Foothill was not the team many predicted would dominate Orange County water polo. In two early tournaments of the season--the Southern California Boys’ Water Polo Invitational and the South Coast tournament--Foothill finished a disappointing third and it was clear Arroyo’s absence and scant playing time was a key factor.

Jim Brumm has coached Arroyo since he transferred from Villa Park to Foothill at the beginning of his sophomore year. Arroyo’s older brother, Gavin, an Olympian who graduated from California and played on three NCAA championship water polo teams, was a former swimmer of the year and was on teams that won two Southern Section championships for Villa Park High.

“Of course we missed him, but until he was ready, there really wasn’t anything we could do. You just couldn’t rush him back into the water. It [the illness] had to run its course,” Brumm said.

It was painful for Arroyo watch his team struggle. “I wanted to get in so bad and help my team. But it was pointless. It was so frustrating to just sit and watch,” Arroyo said.

As the season progressed, Arroyo was starting to wonder if he would ever recover. It was at the Cal State Invitational at San Jose Bellarmine Prep in early November when the tide started to turn.

There, Arroyo scored three goals, including the winner, to beat Long Beach Wilson, 4-3, in overtime to win the tournament. Wilson was the top-ranked team in Southern Section Division I.

From then on--not counting one or two backslides--Arroyo regained his prominence as the county’s best two-meter man.

In the Southern Section Division I playoffs, Arroyo was the Knights’ leading scorer with 14 goals in four games. In the Division I championship final against Wilson, Arroyo scored three goals. Wilson won, 9-8, in overtime.

The senior is interested in UCLA, Stanford and Pacific.

Said Brumm: “It would have been easy for him to give up, but Robby is not that kind of guy. He’s an awesome kid who I’m sure will be even a better player in college.”

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ALL-COUNTY WATER POLO

ROBBY ARROYO

Two-meter man

Foothill, Sr.

Started the season slowly because of mononucleosis, but he gradually regained his All-American form and became an instrumental factor in helping the Knights reach the Southern Section Division I title game.

KYLE BAUMGARNER

Two-meter man

Villa Park, Sr.

The Century League’s co-most valuable player was an offensive and defensive juggernaut for Villa Park. Scored 97 goals for the season. Time of 21.15 seconds in the 50 freestyle was instrumental in sprinting.

SPENCER DORNIN

Two-meter man

Laguna Beach, Sr.

Two-time first-team Times all-county player and the Pacific Coast League’s MVP. Lanky 6-foot-5 left-hander was a big reason the Artists were able to advance to the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs.

NICK ELLIS

Goalkeeper

Foothill, Sr.

Goalkeeping and pinpoint passing accuracy was noteworthy during the playoffs. Recorded 33 saves in the four-game series. Made 13 saves against top-ranked Long Beach Wilson in the Division I finals.

MATT FLESHER

Two-meter man

Brea Olinda, Sr.

Although he wasn’t as well-known as players from Division I and II teams, the Orange League’s most valuable player did make his mark this season. He set a school career scoring record with 289 goals.

JORDAN HEWKO

Two-meter man

San Clemente, Sr.

An explosive competitor who’s one of the county’s stronger players, he proved that size (he’s 6 feet) doesn’t necessarily rule in the pool. He became the Tritons’ all-time leading scorer with 313 goals.

TODD HYLTON

Two-meter man

Costa Mesa, Sr.

He scored 89 goals this season and his defensive play helped make him one of the county’s most complete players. Was impressive during the section playoffs, when he scored nine goals in four games.

TONY MARTINHO

Coach of the Year

Los Alamitos

In his sixth season at Los Alamitos, he kept team focused and playing hard all season. Guided the Griffins to a 25-4 record and their first Division II title. They defeated Costa Mesa in the final, 13-6.

THE SECOND TEAM

David Kong

Los Alamitos

Sr.

Utility / An unselfish player, he could play every position.

*

Matt McPherson

Foothill

Sr.

Driver / One of the Knights’ top scorers.

*

Eric Meadows

Capistrano Valley

Sr.

Goalkeeper / The South Coast League’s MVP.

*

Nick Pacelli

Villa Park

Jr.

Two-meter man / Was a key to the Spartans’ offense.

*

Jon Pharris

Newport Harbor

Sr.

Goalkeeper / Helped Sailors reach Division II playoffs.

*

Tyler Wawrzynski

Los Alamitos

Sr.

Two-meter man / Main reason the Griffins won Division II title.

*

D.J. Yeilding

San Clemente

Sr.

Two-meter man / Was the Tritons’ second-leading scorer.