A state CIF appeals panel has declared water polo player Jon Walters ineligible for Mater Dei’s 2010 varsity season because it deemed his transfer from Newport Harbor athletically motivated, Mater Dei president Pat Murphy said in an e-mail Monday.
Walters will be ineligible in varsity water polo and swimming at Mater Dei for one year from the date of his transfer, which Murphy believes will be set at Aug. 30, 2010.
“Jon was very disappointed with the CIF ruling,” said Walters’ mother, Jacque, in an e-mail Monday. “The case is closed as far as the Walters’ family is concerned.”
Walters, a rising sophomore center, played with the U.S. junior national water polo team during the summer. He left Newport Harbor’s water polo program during the spring.
Newport Harbor’s water polo program recently learned that Walters played last season for the Sailors while academically ineligible. The Sailors have forfeited most of their 2009 season, including their Sunset League title and playoff victories.
Newport Harbor was the CIF Division 1 runner-up to El Toro last season. As a freshman, Walters started in the final and scored three goals.
Murphy said Walters’ touted freshman brother, James, is eligible to play for the Monarchs (2-0), ranked second in Orange County this week.
Murphy also said water polo coach Chris Segesman was found by the state CIF to have not committed any violations in the case.
The Southern Section issued a clarification last week stating there were no findings that Segesman violated Southern Section rule 510 or used undue influence in the case.
Mater Dei plays host to No. 4 Los Alamitos on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in one of the featured games of the week. The Monarchs then start the South Coast Tournament on Thursday.
FOOTHILL ON THE RISE
Foothill (2-1) opened the season unranked in the county Top 10 but jumped to No. 5 after defeating previously No. 4 Corona del Mar, 13-12, last week.
In the CIF-SS Division 2 poll, the Knights moved to No.4 behind No. 1 Murrieta Valley, No. 2 Long Beach Wilson and No. 3 Villa Park.
Foothill opens the South Coast Tournament as a No. 5 seed in its bracket. The Knights play host to Santa Barbara on Thursday in one of the best first-round matches of the 32-team event.
KENNEDY BOUNCES BACK
Kennedy (6-4) bounced from a 1-4 showing at the Ayala tournament to claim the Western tournament on Saturday.
In the championship match, the Fighting Irish edged San Joaquin Memorial, 10-9, early in the sudden-death overtime. Preston Summers scored on a 5-meter penalty shot drawn by Kody Kliezo.
Junior center Keith Renner was selected tournament MVP.
Second-year Kennedy coach Kevin Hammond was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We showed a lot improvement from last week,” Hammond said.
Kennedy opens the competitive Empire League on Tuesday by playing host to Yorba Linda. Kennedy is fifth in Division 6. Valencia (No. 4), Tustin (No. 6) and Katella (No. 9) also are ranked in the division this week.
SAN CLEMENTE WINS IN CLOVIS
San Clemente won the Clovis Championships on Saturday for the first time. In the finals, the Tritons twice rallied from three-goal deficits to beat Las Lomas, 11-8. “This team is just gritty,” San Clemente coach Marc Parker said.
The Tritons open the South Coast League on Tuesday by playing at Dana Hills. The Division 1 South Coast League is playing a double round of games.
