Mustangs aiming for past glory

There will be a new yet familiar face coaching the Costa Mesa High boys’ water team this fall.

Former Costa Mesa High star Robert Grayeli missed seeing the Mustangs water polo program at an elite level.

So, Grayeli, who earned CIF Southern Section Division II Co-Player of the Year honors after leading Costa Mesa to a section title in 1995, took over.

“I’m trying to get these guys to understand the level of water polo that I expect,” said Grayeli, who went on to play collegiately at Golden West College and Pepperdine. “I’m trying to bring Costa Mesa water polo back to where it was when I was playing.”

Grayeli, a walk-on coach, replaces Mustang Boys’ Athletic Director Tim Postiff, who led Costa Mesa to a Golden West League title in 2004 and back-to-back CIF playoff appearances. Postiff stepped down in December after two seasons.

The team Grayeli inherits has plenty of talent, and he is looking to nurturing it.

“I think the bulk of learning is done in the summertime,” Grayeli said. “We lost to Tustin twice at the beginning of the summer, then beat [the Tillers] at the end. We learned a lot this summer.”

Scott Neslage and John Roche were both first-team All-Golden West League performers in 2005. They’re now the team’s two seniors, with Neslage playing goalie and Roche playing at two meters.

Grayeli said he is planning to bring in his friend, Merrill Moses, a goalie on the United States men’s national team, to work with Neslage.

And assistant coach Justin Taylor can probably also show Neslage a few things.

Taylor was Grayeli’s teammate and the goalie on the Mustangs’ 1995 section-championship team.

“[Neslage] will be the key for us,” Grayeli said. “He’s going to be a leader. I keep telling him that if he plays his cards right, he’ll be one of the top three or four goalies in Orange County.”

Sam Edman, now a junior driver, was also a first-team All-Golden West League selection last year.

Junior Skyler Twohig is another driver who is expected to shine.

Sophomore twins Cody and Dustin Serrano will probably also start, and Grayeli said he looks for sophomore Dane Shambrook to make an impact.

Daniel Derieg, Marlo Afuang, Ashkan Nasiri, Joey Dinh and Chingiz Bigalimov are incoming freshmen who played with the Mustangs over the summer.

The Mustangs move to the Orange Coast League this year, which, for water polo, also includes Estancia, Sage Hill and Laguna Beach.

Since it’s a four-team league, only two will advance to the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

“I really think Laguna Beach is the dominant team right now,” Grayeli said. “[The Breakers] played Newport [Harbor] a couple of times rather tough last year. I’d hope that we could be second in the league, to make the playoffs.”

Costa Mesa makes the move without Kyle Thorsness, who was the Golden West League MVP and led Orange County with 157 goals before graduating in June.

Grayeli said he expects his team to play both ends.

“Defense is what I’m stressing to these guys,” Grayeli said. “If you’re playing good defense, it’ll create good offense for you.”

The Mustangs scrimmage against Orange on Sept. 5. Their first regular-season game is Sept. 12 at Tesoro at 3:15 p.m.

THE MUSTANGS

Marlo Afuang Fr.

Chingiz Bigalimov Fr.

Daniel Derieg Fr.

Joey Dinh Fr.

Sam Edman Jr.

Ashkan Nasiri Fr.

Scott Neslage Sr.

John Roche Sr.

Cody Serrano So.

Dustin Serrano So.

Dane Shambrook So.

Skyler Twohig Jr.

Coach: Robert Grayeli

(first year)