ALL-CITY MVP: BOYS WATER POLO
Hartshorne saves the day for Timberwolves
BY TIM BURT
SPORTS EDITOR
James Hartshorne was an immediate hit at Northwood. A star goalkeeper, Hartshorne helped the Timberwolves reach the CIF finals as a freshman.
It was the beginning of a stellar fouryear career for Hartshorne, the most valuable player of the Irvine World News all-city boys water polo team.
“I think I hit all sides of the table, starting with such a high going to back to back Division I (championship games) and then just stepping up as a teammate and really developing the players around me,” said Hartshorne, who has already signed a national letter of intent to attend UCLA.
“The junior year was more like learning how to be a coach in the water and a good example to the guys coming up below me.”
Hartshorne’s Northwood team came up short two years in a row in the CIF finals, losing to El Toro in 2006 and Newport Harbor in 2007.
But he said he still benefited from the experiences and was able to cap his career with two more solid seasons.
“I had people tell me a freshman has never done it (get to the finals),” Hartshorne said. “It was tough, but looking back it was the best for me, because I’m so hungry to play in college right now, I can’t wait to get started at UCLA. I’m so hungry after just tasting it and not getting there.”
Hartshorne helped the Timberwolves into the CIF playoffs all four years along with two league titles. This past year, he was first team all-Sea View League, first team all-county, second team all-CIF and most valuable goalie in the league.
The 6-1 Hartshorne had 1,126 saves in his four years as a starter. This year, he had 301 saves and 67 steals.
“He was the backbone of our program,” said Coach Ed Carrera. “He is one of those players who don’t come around very often.
“It’s really like having another coach in the water. He can pretty much run the offense and run the defenses to a T, without me saying a word.”
Hartshorne started playing goalie in the fifth grade.
“I was at this tournament and our goalie was gone, so we were just rotating through and it came to be my turn and they said, ‘James, you played pretty well, you’re going to play the next game too,’” he recalled. As it turned out, Hartshorne felt right at home in the goal. “I love being goalkeeper because I’ve always liked being a defensive player,” he said. “A great block feels so good.” So did the feeling that Hartshorne had after some memorable games with the Timberwolves.
“In the (CIF) quarterfinals my freshman year, we played Los Alamitos and it was just so tight,” he said. “I can still remember the last pass I made to win the game. I saw Caleb (Hamilton) up on his guy, so I made the full-court pass and he made the lob shot and that sent us to the semifinals.”
Hartshorne also had memories of the team’s victory over Los Alamitos in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs in his sophomore year.
And he remembered Northwood’s Sea View League victory over El Toro also when he was a sophomore.
“We came out and took it to them hard early and pulled off the win. It was good to see Jon Jon Colton and Travis Noll get a league championship their senior year,” Hartshorne said.
Hartshorne said many people have helped him in his career, including Haz Ortega, who was his first goalie coach. Dave Mikesell and Jeff Wherry also provided support along with his two coaches at Northwood, Steve and Ed Carrera.
The Carreras “watched over me here and developed me here in my high school years and gave me that opportunity my freshman year to prove myself,” he said.
Wins and losses were significant, but so were the friendships he made, Hartshorne said.
“The last two were just as much fun as the first two because I was playing with my best friends,” he said. “Everyone wants to win, but just being with them was something special.”
In his four years as a starting goaltender for Northwood James Hartshorne made 1,1 26 saves for the Timberwolves. > MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Northwood’s James Hartshorne signed a national letter of intent to play next season at UCLA.
Jack Mayers, Northwood
Mayers, a sophomore attacker, was a first team All-Sea View League player. He was ranked second among assist leaders in the county with 58.
“Jack is the youngest of the group and he’s a kid who we sort of watched progress through his age group (play),” said Northwood Coach Ed Carrera. “He has really elevated his game. Being a lefty, those lefties are so rare in our sport that it really opened up a lot for him.”
Mayers was critical in the counterattack.
“And Jack also scored some big game-winning goals for us,” Carrera said. “He hit the game-winner against Huntington Beach which put us in second place.”
Kyle Kim-E, Northwood
The Northwood senior was first team All-Sea View League and third team All-CIF, scoring 87 goals and recording 55 steals. He led the Timberwolves in scoring for the second year in a row.
“Kyle has been our big offensive threat the last two years,” said Northwood Coach Ed Carrera. “Everything has been centered around him at two meters. Interestingly enough, he was playing out of position a lot this year. Two meters isn’t his normal position, but he excelled.
“Against El Toro,the CIF champions, he scored six goals, which is no easy task. He’s a great all-around kid and very fast and a great defensive player.”
Dustin Hayashi and Bryce Wong were named Honorable Mention.
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