It appears as if the controversy of last week’s controversial Irvine-Corona del Mar boys water polo match is beginning to quiet down.
In that match at the Woollett Aquatics Complex, Corona del Mar topped Irvine, 11-8, in Pacific Coast League play.
Emotions started to rise in the third quarter when Irvine’s Zack Kamai left the game with a throat injury and alleged after the match that he was choked under-water by a Corona del Mar player.
At the time Kamai left, Irvine had a 7-3 lead.
Kamai was OK after being treated by paramedics and eventually returned.
But Corona del Mar scored five consecutive goals in his absence and the Vaqueros were not able to recover. No foul was called on the play in question because the officials didn’t see it and no disciplinary action has been taken against the player involved in the alleged incident.
“Coach Barry O’Dea (of Corona del Mar) and I have talked and he assured me that they are not taking it lightly and they are discussing it within their program,” Irvine Coach Ray Wong said Tuesday.
“I believe their administration will take care of it. I’ve moved on since the tournament (last weekend). If my guy is OK, then I’m OK. I think we’ve made it big enough that people will be aware. Referees are aware now and everybody is aware, so it’s not like they’re not being watched.”
After last week’s match, Kamai told the Irvine World News:
“I came in the set, I was pushing him (the CdM player) out, he took his hand and grabbed me around the throat and started squeezing and the next thing I knew I was getting pulled to the wall.
“All I was caring about was trying to breathe.”
O’Dea and Corona del Mar officials said Thursday they didn’t know what had happened but promised to take the incident seriously and look into it.
Irvine bounced back Tuesday, defeating Northwood, 10-7.
