One of the reasons that traffic congestion has reduced in Coronado over the past couple of weeks (just kidding, I wanted to see if you were paying attention) is that a group of 80 folks from our town were in Hawaii on important water polo business. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

For the fifth time in 6 years, elements of the Coronado Peninsula Water Polo Club participated in the Hawaiian Invitational Tournament. This year 60 athletes competing on six teams traveled to Hawaii. "We had an additional 20 parents along to help out," said Coach Dave Throop of the group. "There was a party of about 80 people we were in charge of, including five coaches. Usually we either travel with a boys or a girls program. We’ve never done it with six levels before."

The coaches included Randy Burgess, Liz Eguez, Cory Berta, Ian Silverman, and Throop.

The first contingent to arrive was the 13 girls who played in the Women’s Open Division that competed in Maui. This group, which will comprise the core of next year’s CHS varsity team finished in third place in their portion of the tournament.

Next to the tropical clime came the Boys 14 and Under, 16 and Under, and 18 and Under teams, along with the Girls 14 and Under, 16 and Under and 18 and Under squads. Typically in age group competitions, younger athletes can play in older divisions. Or as Throop said, "everyone was on a lot of rosters." In other words, playing time wasn’t a problem. If you were there, you were in the pool.

An indication of the depth of the CHS water polo program, both boys and girls, is that three of the six squads won their divisions and a fourth came within one goal of victory.

The 14 and Under Girls, which features a combination of incoming CHS freshmen and next year’s Coronado Middle School group, won their level of competition. Alex Adamson was named Tournament MVP.

The 16 and Under Girls, which featured a lot of the same girls, as well as CHS freshmen, sophomores and juniors, placed fourth in their age group. Sprinkle in a few returning varsity players including: Sandra Fernandez, Elizabeth Hopkins, Megan Braun, Brooke Clark, Katie Estrada and Emily Bigham and you voila have the 18 and Under Girls team, which won their age group. Fernandez was named Tournament MVP.

Coronado Peninsula Water Polo’s 14 and Under Boys finished in fifth place with a mark of 2-3. They were paced by goalie Andy Clapper and field players Sean Cook, Sam Working, Adam Ratcliffe, Tommy Schofer and Andrew Dorman.

"They are a younger group that will play in that age group for one or two more years," said CHS Head Coach Randy Burgess. "They got a lot of experience."

The 16 and Under Boys won their classification, with CHS junior Sean Castillo taking home MVP honors. The 18 and Under Boys lost to perennial club power Villa Park by the score of 7-6 in the title game.

Burgess thought that the 18 and Under Boys team improved as the tournament progressed. "One of the best games they played overall was the championship game in a losing cause. They had multiple chances to call it a day and go to the beach. They fought back and stayed with a really tough team. It was great to see. They met my highest level of expectation."

The older boys group then stayed in Hawaii and completed their season of club training, with additional practices, weight training and scrimmages. According to Burgess, the trip was successful on several levels. "For a coaching perspective, the enjoyable part was that I saw a lot of camaraderie among the players. With the high school season starting this week, they don’t mind being around each other and being really good teammates. Being together and away from home, the factor of being a team is a lot stronger."

Your Natterer has had a couple of requests to rerun the 2004 CHS Football Schedule, without the pithy commentary that accompanied the last published version a few weeks ago. The season consists of games played on 10 consecutive Fridays starting Sept. 10 and concluding Nov. 12. All Coronado varsity home games will be played at 7:30 pm.

The non-league games include: Sept. 10 Francis Parker at Coronado; Sept. 17 Mar Vista at Coronado; Sept. 24 Coronado at Point Loma, 3 pm; Oct. 1 Scripps Ranch at Coronado; Oct. 8 USDHS at Coronado.

Harbor League Games are scheduled for: Oct. 15 at Clairemont, 3 pm; Oct. 22 Crawford at Coronado; Oct. 29 Coronado at Kearney, game time TBA; Nov. 5 University City at Coronado; Nov. 12 Coronado at Madison at 7:30 pm.

Long-time readers of this column (that may be a contradiction of terms) know that I am a life-long Chicago Cub fan (please insert appropriate joke here). That fact aside, baseball fans that follow any team will want to attend a coming showing of "This Old Cub," which is a feature length film about former Cub standout third baseman Ron Santo.

According to Imperial Beach Film Festival President Steve Futterman, "the film portrays the inspiring story of Santo, directed by his son Jeff Santo. It will be screened at the Imperial Beach Film Festival Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004. Director Santo will attend the screening. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association. Following the screening, there will be a reception at the Silver Strand Fitness Center, located at 600 Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach, held in conjunction with the ADA.

The movie covers Santo’s baseball career and his ongoing battle with diabetes, and follows Santo as he recuperates from his second leg amputation due to the disease, and his eventual return to the broadcast booth as the analyst for Cubs games on WGN Radio.

For advanced ticket sales information and for tickets to the reception, please call 934-0051. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ibfilmfestival.com.

A reminder for CMS parents that the sign-up date for fall sports season is slated for Wednesday, Sept 8 at 6:30 pm at Granzer Hall at CMS. The fall sports include Co-ed Cross Country, Girls Lacrosse and Girls Volleyball. Prices for enrollment will again be $80 per child, per sport.

A full year of sports offerings is again planned for CMS. Winter sports include boys basketball, girls soccer, girls softball, and boys soccer. Spring sports are co-ed track, boys lacrosse, co-ed tennis and girls basketball. During the 2003-04 school year, there were 449 participants in the CMS sports program.

Before a child can participate in practice for his or her sport, they must have a completed a medical examination and must have completed and filed all CMS athletics forms. For copies of the forms, please visit the CMS office or download the forms from www.IslanderSportsFoundation.com.