Locals vie for NCAA men’s water polo title

A handful of players and one coach with ties to Back Bay high school programs are among those competing in the four-team NCAA men’s water polo championships, today and Sunday at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.

Top-seeded USC (27-0) will take on Navy (20-9) in one semifinal today at 5 p.m. The Trojans’ roster includes senior Jovan Vranes, a Newport Harbor High product, Corona del Mar High graduate Tom Money and former Sailors Blake Hockenbury and Brandon Parole.

Vranes, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound center, had 26 goals, fifth on the team. His nine multiple-goal games rank third on the team.

Money, a redshirt freshman driver, has three goals this season.

At-large entry Stanford (24-5), which plays Loyola Marymount (20-9) tonight at 6:45 in the other semifinal, is coached by longtime former CdM Coach John Vargas. The Cardinal, who under Vargas have won one NCAA title (2002) and been NCAA runner-up three times, will be bolstered by Ryan Kent. Kent, a redshirt freshman out of CdM, has five goals this season.

The Navy roster includes Kyle McGhie, a sophomore utility player out of Newport Harbor who has two goals and two assists in six games this season.

Phillip DiGiacomo, a sophomore goalie out of CdM, is a reserve for LMU.

— Barry Faulkner