JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers NICE EFFORT- Moorpark goalkeeper Tyler Rettig goes high out of the water to make a save during Monday's 17-4 blowout win over Camarillo at Mavericks Sports Club. For many years at La Mirada High, all Jason Nevis wanted was a home pool for the boys' water polo team he coached to compete in. Now that Nevis has changed schools by accepting the head coaching job at Moorpark High, he finally has a pool to call home, and the coach is eager to put a good team in the water.

After previous coach Thomas Smith left Moorpark last season, MPHS hired Nevis to become the head boys' and girls' water polo coach.

Nevis will also be coaching the boys' and girls' swim teams in the spring, although, according to athletic director Rob Dearborn, whether or not previous aquatics coach Garrett Rose will be back to help is still up in the air. Whatever happens, Nevis said he is glad to be with Moorpark now.

"At La Mirada we had to change pools every year," Nevis said. 'Some years we didn't know if we would have a home pool until the first practice of the year. It started to be a hassle, and there didn't seem to be much support.

"I've found it a lot easier so far to coach here (Moorpark High) because of the booster club, the pool hours and the kids and parents that are very respectful."

Last season, according to Dearborn, many parents were looking for a new coach that could work full time. Nevis said he feels he gets more respect from the kids because he's willing to work more hours.

"The kids like the fact that there is now someone here that will stay an extra couple hours if needed," Nevis said. "It's important that they know I have their backs if there is some part of their game they need to work on."

Early on in the season, some Moorpark players have taken advantage of Nevis' extra tutelage.

"He brings a lot of positive advice," senior Blaine Worthington said. "I can tell by the way he coaches us that he has played the game before.

"I trust his advice more than I would with someone else just because I know it has worked in the past for him. I would say that our whole team right now has a lot of respect for him."

Moorpark only has nine players on the varsity team after 11 players from last season's team graduated. Besides Worthington, the Highlanders have four other seniors- Tyler Johnson, Jim Brodeur, Michael Lorch and Gregory Beattie.

The rest of the team is rounded out by junior Danny Lorch, sophomores Scott Buchanon and Tyler Nelson, as well as junior goalkeeper Tyler Rettig.

So far, Rettig's teammates have been impressed with his improvement in the cage.

"He has really pushed himself the last couple of weeks," Beattie said. "Every practice he's working off on the side, and any hesitations he may have had about his game at the start of the year are now gone."

Nevis echoed Worthington's comments.

"Tyler is going through a learning process with him being only in his junior year," Nevis said. "In our last game against Westlake he got high out of the water very well and blocked three amazing shots. He shows a lot of dedication, and he's a very smart individual."

While Rettig is learning on the job, so is Nevis. During the Conejo Classic Tournament two weeks ago, Nevis saw many of his Marmonte League opponents for the first time and decided to take some notes.

"I watched all the games just to see who everyone's top players were," Nevis said. "I wrote some stuff down, and so far it's working. We lost to Westlake 97 in the Conejo Classic, but once we knew a little more about them and played them again we were able to beat them 14-8 at their own pool in a league game."

Nevis said the key to the team's success will be how well the players are conditioned and how they play defense.

"Shooting is important, but we mostly work on defense in our practices," Nevis said. "We have been running a lot of sixon-fives so we can apply more defensive pressure in games."

Moorpark made the postseason last year and won its wild-card game against Carpinteria 14-7 before bowing out in the next round to eventual Division IV champion Mira Costa. Worthington said he'd like nothing more than to get back to the postseason and end his Moorpark career on a winning note.

"We have the skill, the strength and the talent to win this year," Worthington said. "Now we just need the right attitude. I want to help keep the winning ways going here and hopefully help build a solid program for years to come."