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NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Harbor senior Ben Liechty learned to be competitive from an early age through his rough-and-tumble escapades with older siblings Eli and Jake.

The brothers dueled in basketball and ping-pong, and raced whenever possible. Basketball games were especially intense, often ending with someone crying.

“(Eli) is super competitive and he didn’t really let me win in anything,” Liechty recalled. “Jake was always the nicer brother. He would always let me win once in a while.”

It’s these early experiences, Liechty said, that help push him to keep improving in water polo.

This season, despite being the reigning Orange County player of the year on a defending CIF-SS championship team, he raised his level of play and led the Sailors to a second consecutive Open Division title.

For his efforts, the UCLA-bound Liechty is again The Register’s player of the year. He is the first player to claim the award in consecutive years since Mater Dei’s Bret Bonanni in 2010-11, who shared the award with Foothill’s Paul Reynolds in 2010.

“That’s good company,” Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair said. “(Liechty) was playing at an insane level last year and I think he improved this year. I thought this summer with the national (youth) team, he was great for us over in Europe. He’s really competitive, and that’s something that is going to drive someone to be great, and he wants to be great. …  and he’s going to continue to improve.”

At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, the left-handed Liechty could seemingly do it all for Sailors (31-3). The utility player was a dangerous scorer and intelligent passer. He could play on the perimeter or center, defend top opposing players and be a steady leader.

In the Sailors’ 10-9 victory against JSerra in the CIF-SS Open Division final, he scored a team-high three goals, drew a penalty at center and two exclusions, and guarded standout Ryder Dodd with the assistance of teammate Finn LeSieur.

Liechty shared the Surf League and Open Division player of the year honors with junior teammate Peter Castillo, whom he gives a lot of credit for the Sailors’ title run.

Liechty also remembers his brothers. He is excited to join forces with Eli at UCLA and hopes they face off against Jake, the oldest brother who plays at UC Irvine.

“They’re the reason why I got into this sport and why I’m so competitive to this day,” he said. “It’s all love.”

Portola’s Kate Avery, pictured with fiance and assistant coach Mark Alvarado, is The Register’s boys water polo coach of the year for 2022. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Kate Avery, Portola

Coach Kate Avery guided Portola’s boys water polo team to a season loaded with first-time achievements.

The former Chapman player led a young squad to its first Pacific Coast League title, including several wins against rivals for the first time, and a maiden trip to the CIF-SS finals.

The Bulldogs (24-4) fell to Damien in the Division 3 championship match but left their mark as one of Orange County’s up-and-coming programs.

For her efforts, Avery is Orange County’s boys water polo coach of the year, a rare feat in the county for a female coach in the sport.

“Ground-breaking season for us,” said Avery, whose team edged Irvine 13-12 in a thrilling semifinal. “I’m so proud of (our players). They worked their butts off this season.”

Avery did her part. She balanced coaching with teaching and ASB duties at Portola. One of Avery’s assistant coaches was her fiance Mark Alvarado, who also played at Chapman. The couple is planning an April wedding.

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

Ben Liechty, Newport Harbor, Sr. (O.C. player of the year)

Zach Bettino, Huntington Beach, Sr.: The USC-bound left-hander was one of the county’s top shooters and led the Oilers back to the Open Division playoffs after key transfers left the program.

Bode Brinkema, JSerra, Jr.: The All-CIF Open Division selection used his well-rounded and steady play to help the Lions reach their first Open Division final and defeat Newport Harbor for the CIF SoCal Division I title.

Jonathan Carcarey, Orange Lutheran, Sr.: The Pepperdine commit netted five goals in the finals and the winning strike late in the semifinals to lead the Lancers to the CIF-SS Division 1 title and earn section player of the year.

Peter Castillo, Newport Harbor, Jr.: The center helped power the Sailors to a second consecutive CIF-SS Open Division title, earning a share of CIF and Surf League player of the year honors with teammate Ben Liechty.

Ryder Dodd, JSerra, Jr.: The Trinity League MVP led the Lions to a runner-up finish in the CIF-SS Open Division and scored six goals to lead his team to the CIF State SoCal Division I crown.

Will Schneider, JSerra, Jr.: The center rivaled Newport Harbor’s Peter Castillo in drawing exclusions, leading the Lions to a runner-up finish in the CIF-SS Open Division and a SoCal regional title.

Nathan Tauscher, Mater Dei, Sr., GK: The UCLA-committed goalie helped the Monarchs capture the South Coast Tournament and reach the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

Spencer Averitt, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Sai Bassett, Laguna Beach, Sr.

Nick Keane, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Finn LeSieur, Newport Harbor, Sr.

Cooper Mathisrud, Newport Harbor, Sr., GK

Wade Sherlock, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

Camren Simoncelli, Corona del Mar, Jr.

ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM

Jackson Benners, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

Riley Clansen, Foothill, Sr., GK

Finn Genc, Newport Harbor, Sr.

William Griswold, Foothill, Jr.

Jackson Harlan, Corona del Mar, So.

Gavin Karnick, Mater Dei, Sr.

Charles Warmington, Corona del Mar, Jr.

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ALL-COUNTY FOURTH TEAM

Andrew Cagney, Servite, Sr.

Greg Moore, Orange Lutheran, Sr., GK

Camden Peterson, Irvine, Sr.

Andrew Vangrin, JSerra, Sr.

Cross Viter, San Clemente, Sr.

Tommy Wilkinson, Villa Park, Sr.

Sebastian Zuluaga, Aliso Niguel, Sr.