Different strokes for Newport

Steve Virgen

Two years ago, the Newport Harbor High boys swim team won the

school’s first CIF Southern Section Division I title in the sport.

But times have changed for the Sailors. Newport’s Big Three of

Aaron Peirsol, Ryan Lean and Andrew Cole are gone. Peirsol, the

world-record holder in the 200-meter backstroke, and Lean, now at UC

Berkeley, graduated in 2002. Cole moved on to the University of Utah

after receiving his diploma last year.

Newport Harbor came within 7.5 points of winning the Sea View

League title last year. But this season figures to be different for

the Sailors. The season started with a statement on Coach Jason

Lynch’s chalkboard.

“Newport Harbor is a water polo team that swims,” a Newport swim

team member wrote on the board.

Lynch quickly took exception with the hopes of building a

contender once again in swimming at Newport Harbor.

“I try not to have that attitude, that we’re just a water polo

program that swims,” Lynch said. “My attitude is, if we are going to

do something let’s try to do it as well as we could.”

The season has been a bit frustrating for the Sailors, since

winning hasn’t been the norm, as in the past two years.

Newport Harbor is 2-3, 0-3 in league after losing to Aliso Niguel

last week.

Senior Michael Bury, who will walk-on as a water polo player at

Stanford in the fall, is one of the Sailors’ top swimmers, able to

compete in the 100-yard butterfly or 50 freestyle.

The Sailors also feature senior Sean McGhie, as well as sophomores

Daniel Furman and Clay Jorth.

Sophomore Carson Hill has been showing improvement in the

breaststroke. Lynch referred to him as an up-and-comer.

“We’re working hard,” said Lynch, who maintains a busy schedule as

he is also the coach for the U.S. national boys cadet water polo

team. “We just don’t have a lot of experience. It’s tough to compete

against teams that have club swimmers and a lot of seniors.”

The Sailors do not have any club swimmers. Lynch expects to see

faster swims in about two weeks, when the team has rested and

tapered. The team’s strength is in the freestyle events, as the water

polo players are adept to the stroke.

Lynch also expects a strong team to come back next year.

“Next year we should have a huge group of juniors and seniors,”

Lynch said. “That’s going to make a big difference.”