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Mater Dei's Alex Wherry made his impact felt on both sides of the pool with 98 goals and 68 steals.
Mater Dei’s Alex Wherry made his impact felt on both sides of the pool with 98 goals and 68 steals.
Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

Alex Wherry would have been a prime candidate to take a run at making the last U.S. junior men’s water polo team.

As a junior in 2008, Wherry helped Mater Dei capture its first CIF-Southern Section title and shared Division II player of the year honors with senior Josh Samuels of Villa Park, a mainstay for the U.S. juniors.

But Wherry didn’t toss his cap into USA Water Polo’s talent pool. He instead stayed close to the Mater Dei mainland and Coach Chris Segesman, a defender on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

Wherry made the decision so he could focus on training with the Monarchs, who were headed toward a 2009 season with only two returning starters.

The extra work certainly paid off Mater Dei and Wherry.

Powered by the senior’s all-around game, the Monarchs claimed a second consecutive Division II crown and achieved unprecedented tournament success.

For his contributions on both ends of the pool – and all points in between – Wherry is The Register’s 2009 boys water polo player of the year.

Wherry said his decision on the junior team was important for the Monarchs (26-5).

“I thought I could focus more on just practicing with my high school team and seeing if we could get better,” he said. “I was just glad that we won. … This year, everyone was pretty much new but we all came together.”

Segesman said Wherry showed his leadership skills in the decision.

“Alex not only was a leader – he had to go through the swim training, the weight training,” Segesman said. “He had a chance to show the guys, ‘Hey, this is what it takes.’

“So to have someone like Alex forgo his junior team … it’s huge and it’s huge for the (Mater Dei) program, too.”

After setting the tone in the preparation for the 2009 season, Wherry delivered more high-level play. The attacker scored 98 goals, racked up 68 steals and was selected the Division II player of the year. He also was chosen as the Trinity League MVP.

“Without my team, I wouldn’t have done as well,” he said.

Wherry’s offensive exploits included a five-goal outburst at JSerra in the Trinity League championship match.

He also netted five goals against Newport Harbor in the finals of the Memorial Cup Invitational in San Jose, leading the Monarchs to their first title at the prestigious tournament.

And in the Division II semifinals against Villa Park, Wherry scored seven goals to help Mater Dei reach a third consecutive section final.

“I think he’s the best all-around player,” Servite coach Mustafa Hassan said. “He has the intangibles. … His passing, his drives that draw a lot of defense.”

Wherry has taken an official recruiting trip to UCLA and is interested in Cal, USC and UC Santa Barbara.

“Alex is so humble as a player,” Segesman said. “Being humble and being a good athlete is hard to come by these days.”