Olympic calling

Aaron Chaney, the Corona del Mar High girls water polo coach, has

been selected to be a referee for men’s water polo at the 2004

Olympics in Athens, Greece. He was the only referee chosen from the

U.S.

Chaney, who has been a water polo official since 1981, has been

officiating NCAA games since 1985 and in 1990 he became a senior

referee, watching over amateur and international matches. He was a

referee for the FINA World Championships this year and in 2001.

Officiating in the Olympics had always been a goal for Chaney and

he maintained his motivation by working as a volunteer at the 2000

Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Now he’s headed for Greece, as an

official. He received the news three weeks ago.

“I was really excited and happy,” said Chaney, who guided the Sea

Kings to CIF Southern Section titles in his first two years at the

school.

Chaney earned CIF Division II Co-Coach of the Year honors after

the Sea Kings won the championship earlier this year and in 2002, he

received CIF Division IV Coach of the Year laurels when his team won

that title, as well.

-- Steve Virgen