The Register’s All-County girls water polo team for the 2014-15 season.
*******************
MAKENZIE FISCHER
Laguna Beach, Senior
The Register’s player of the year. (Click here to read about Fischer.)
ARIA FISCHER
Laguna Beach, So.
The center delivered a breakthrough season, finishing as the second-leading scorer for the Division 1 champion with 93 goals, 44 assists and 44 steals. Fischer was selected co-MVP of the Orange Coast League with her sister, Makenzie, and All-CIF. She also earned all-tournament honors at Santa Barbara and Irvine Southern California Championships.
CARLEE KAPANA
Newport Harbor, Sr., GK
The UCLA-bound goalie known for getting high out of the water racked up a personal-best 317 saves to power the Sailors to the Sunset League title and CIF Division 1 semifinals. The two-time first-team All-County pick was selected MVP of the Sunset League, All-CIF and the outstanding goalie at the Irvine Southern California Championships.
CANA MANZELLA
Foothill, Sr.
The UC Irvine-bound center remained a force at 2 meters, scoring 42 goals and drawing plenty of attention to help the Knights reach the CIF Division 1 final and win the Crestview League. The All-CIF pick had two goals and three steals in a loss against Laguna Beach in the final. “That’s one of the best efforts I’ve seen a kid … put into a game,” Foothill coach Jim Brumm said Manzella, a two-time first-team All-County selection.
MADDIE MUSSELMAN
Corona del Mar, Jr.
The U.S. national team attacker delivered another well-rounded season to lead the Sea Kings to the Pacific Coast League title and the CIF Division 1 semifinals. The Pacific Coast League MVP and All-CIF selection paced Corona del Mar in goals (98), assists (37) and steals (58) and earned all-tournament honors at Santa Barbara and Irvine. She has withdrawn from Corona del Mar to train full time with the national team in hopes of making the 2016 Olympic squad.
EMMA SKELLY
Orange Lutheran, Jr.
The strong-armed attacker scored a team-high 109 goals and added 23 assists and 37 steals to help the Lancers claim their first Trinity League title and reach the Division 1 quarterfinals for the first time. The Trinity League MVP and All-CIF pick delivered in the big games, scoring four goals against Mater Dei in league and five against Corona del Mar in the quarterfinals.
RACHEL WHITELEGGE
Newport Harbor, Sr.
The UCLA-bound defender often guarded some of the county’s best players and was a major reason the Sailors captured the Sunset League and reached the CIF Division 1 semifinals. Whitelegge led the Sailors with 49 steals and added 42 goals and 17 assists. She was All-CIF and all-tournament at Santa Barbara and the Irvine Southern California Championships.
*****************
Player of the year: Makenzie Fischer, Laguna Beach
Coach of the year: Justin Johnson, El Toro
All-County second and third teams
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com