Bill Barnett

Name: Heather Deyden Born: Aug. 10, 1983 Hometown: Tustin Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 150 Sport: Water polo Position: Goalie Coaches: Bill Barnett Favorite food: Sushi Favorite movie: "Beaches" Best athletic moment: "When I was able to be at the CIF(Southern Section Division I) championship game, (a victory over Irvine last season which she watched from the Harbor bench). It was so exhilarating." The week that was: She made six saves and scored a goal in a 15-2 league romp over Woodbridge, then made eight saves to help the Tars rally for a 7-5 nonleague triumph over powerful Foothill.

Bill Barnett will return to Newport Harbor High and lead the girls water polo team next season after USA Water Polo withdrew its contract offer for the national women's team head coaching job. The Women's International Olympic Committee approved Barnett to guide the U.S. women's team in March, though a contract was never signed. Rich Foster, president of USA Water Polo, said the organization pulled the contract Monday because it couldn't come to terms with Barnett, 62, a two-time Olympic men's coach.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This corrects the name of the new water polo club. It is Newport Beach Water Polo, Inc. Robert Lynn has accepted the Newport Harbor High boys' water polo and swimming head coaching position, Principal Michael Vossen announced in an email to Newport aquatics families late Friday night. "Coach Lynn comes to us with impeccable credentials that helped make him a unanimous choice with our interview panel," Vossen wrote in the email. "His extensive experience in the sport and strong affiliation with the U.S. National Team will be a tremendous asset to our program.

Newport Harbor High senior Brandon Parole has made a verbal commitment to continue his water polo career at USC, he said Tuesday. Parole was a key set defender for the Sailors, who captured the CIF Southern Section Division I title last fall. A Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection, he also notched 38 goals and earned first-team All-Sunset League status. He said he was recruited by other schools, including UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. But Parole said that USC, with Coach Jovan Vavic, is known for the tough workouts that Parole has become accustomed to under the Newport Harbor High program headed by Jason Lynch.

Tony Altobelli NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High boys water polo and swim coach Brian Kreutzkamp has resigned from the Sailors' program in order to accept men's water polo head coaching position at Golden West College. "It was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up," Kreutzkamp said. "I played there out of high school and I kept in touch with that program for years. When the position opened up, they came to me. It's a challenge I look forward to."

athleteofweek-kallylucasNewport Harbor senior shooting for a CIF championship before heading off to compete for Women of Troy.Kally Lucas, who has already signed to play water polo at USC next year, has had a lot of stellar games in her young career. She distinguished herself last season as a junior on a Newport Harbor girls' water polo squad that won the Sea View League and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I championship gameLucas led the Sailors in steals with 74 and assists with 62, and was third on the team in goals (52)

Barry Faulkner Navigating the daily obstacle course that comes with his position of authority, there are inevitable instances when Eric Tweit wishes the buck stopped somewhere else. But, he said, those moments are quickly submerged beneath the satisfaction and appreciation he has for the teachers, coaches, staff members, parents and student-athletes he works with as boys athletic director at Newport Harbor High. "At least once every day, there is a time when I wish I wasn't the athletic director," Tweit said.

NEWPORT BEACH ? Bill Barnett can sense he has a special team this year, a girls? water polo squad that possesses great talent and nice balance. Along with that, there have been high expectations for Newport Harbor High. The legendary coach only welcomes that. ?It?s good to have high expectations,? Barnett said. ?When people have high expectations toward you, that must mean you?re good ... This is a good team. There are a lot of good athletes here.? The Sailors feature a one-two punch in seniors Kaleigh Gilchrist and Kate Klippert, but on Friday at Newport Harbor their goalie was also delivering some hellacious blows.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This corrects the name of the new water polo club. It is Newport Beach Water Polo, Inc. Robert Lynn has accepted the Newport Harbor High boys' water polo and swimming head coaching position, Principal Michael Vossen announced in an email to Newport aquatics families late Friday night. "Coach Lynn comes to us with impeccable credentials that helped make him a unanimous choice with our interview panel," Vossen wrote in the email. "His extensive experience in the sport and strong affiliation with the U.S. National Team will be a tremendous asset to our program.

The old saying goes that April showers bring May flowers. The Newport Harbor High aquatics community would love to see it play out that way. This month the Sailors expect to name their new boys' water polo and swimming coach, following the firing of Jason Lynch on April 8. Girls' golf coach Scott Tarnow, who is on the hiring board, said no interviews have been conducted as of Thursday, but the position is expected to be filled in the next...

NEWPORT BEACH ? Bill Barnett can sense he has a special team this year, a girls? water polo squad that possesses great talent and nice balance. Along with that, there have been high expectations for Newport Harbor High. The legendary coach only welcomes that. ?It?s good to have high expectations,? Barnett said. ?When people have high expectations toward you, that must mean you?re good ... This is a good team. There are a lot of good athletes here.? The Sailors feature a one-two punch in seniors Kaleigh Gilchrist and Kate Klippert, but on Friday at Newport Harbor their goalie was also delivering some hellacious blows.

Newport Harbor High senior Brandon Parole has made a verbal commitment to continue his water polo career at USC, he said Tuesday. Parole was a key set defender for the Sailors, who captured the CIF Southern Section Division I title last fall. A Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection, he also notched 38 goals and earned first-team All-Sunset League status. He said he was recruited by other schools, including UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. But Parole said that USC, with Coach Jovan Vavic, is known for the tough workouts that Parole has become accustomed to under the Newport Harbor High program headed by Jason Lynch.

There always seems to be a strange story, or stereotype as to why a player is stuck at goalie. The reasons appear to be the same whether it’s in soccer, hockey, or water polo. Too slow, too big, no scoring ability. In Morgan Vickers’ case, she chose the position at Newport Harbor High because of the size of the net behind her in water polo. “I played [goalie] in soccer, so I thought it would probably be a little bit easier coming from a huge net to a smaller net,” she said.

Nowhere in California or elsewhere within the U.S. border does a certain sport captivate and inspire as water polo does in Newport-Mesa. Since the construction of Newport Harbor High School nearly three quarters of a century ago, aquatic sports have been a dominant part of both the athletic education of young participants. It has also been a social rallying point for adults sponsoring and cheering on the young competitors. One man in the Newport-Mesa community is synonymous with the sport of water polo and aquatics in general.

athleteofweek-kallylucasNewport Harbor senior shooting for a CIF championship before heading off to compete for Women of Troy.Kally Lucas, who has already signed to play water polo at USC next year, has had a lot of stellar games in her young career. She distinguished herself last season as a junior on a Newport Harbor girls' water polo squad that won the Sea View League and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I championship gameLucas led the Sailors in steals with 74 and assists with 62, and was third on the team in goals (52)

Bill Barnett will return to Newport Harbor High and lead the girls water polo team next season after USA Water Polo withdrew its contract offer for the national women's team head coaching job. The Women's International Olympic Committee approved Barnett to guide the U.S. women's team in March, though a contract was never signed. Rich Foster, president of USA Water Polo, said the organization pulled the contract Monday because it couldn't come to terms with Barnett, 62, a two-time Olympic men's coach.

Steve Virgen If you ask Brian Kreutzkamp, he will tell you he's living the good life. And, if you ask him how he got there, he will tell you through hard work and some impressive influences. Kreutzkamp, a former Newport Harbor High boys water polo coach, has worked with two Olympic coaches, and, at the young age of 30, he is planning to take full advantage of his role as protege. "My ultimate goal is to someday be a [NCAA] Division I head coach," said Kreutzkamp, who worked with Bill Barnett at Newport and is now the assistant to John Vargas at Stanford.