COMPLETE INTENSITY RIO MESA STANDOUT PRAISED FOR WORK ETHIC.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

OXNARD - Tyler Owens' mother relentlessly lobbied for years to get an on-campus swimming pool at Rio Mesa High of Oxnard. The pool is scheduled to be completed in a couple of months.

But for the Rio Mesa boys' water polo team, the pool is not the greatest contribution by the Owens family. Tyler Owens gives the Spartans an all-around threat needed to maintain hopes of their first Southern Section championship, and an example of the work ethic needed to get that title.

``He's the whole package,'' Rio Mesa coach Keith McKnett said of the senior captain, who is in his fourth varsity season.

Owens earned Pacific View League MVP and All-Southern Section honors last season when he scored 76 goals and had more than 30 steals for a team that won 20 consecutive games, including the league's first postseason victory in the sport. He's off to a solid start this year, scoring a combined six goals in the Spartans' two victories Saturday to give him 10 goals in four games.

``I think he's our most valuable player,'' McKnett said. ``From start to finish, he does it offensively and defensively.''

Such praise means a lot on a team that is ranked third in Div. IV and features 10 returning seniors, including goalkeeper Vinny Ferro and fellow All-Southern Section selection Justin Burdine, who scored a team-high 107 goals last season and ranks among the nation's top high school swimmers.

Even more valuable than any of Owens' skills might be the example he sets for his teammates. The same discipline the honor student uses to be at the top of his class academically carries over to the pool and rubs off on teammates who last year welcomed a far more grueling training regimen that included sacrificing much of their summer.

``The kid works so hard,'' McKnett said. ``I've never coached anybody with the work ethic and intensity he has.''

Burdine has been Owens' teammate since they were 11 years old and said Owens always has been as inspiration even when he wasn't one of the team's best players.

``He works really hard,'' Burdine said. ``He's the hardest worker I've met. I try 110 percent; he tries 1,000 percent. It definitely makes me work harder. I've got to stay ahead of him. You see him and even on days you don't want to work hard, he makes you work hard. It's helped all of us.''

Owens said such dedication comes naturally.

Water polo took a little longer to pick up. Growing up in an athletic family, Owens began as a swimmer - he was a Southern Section finalist in the 100 and 200 freestyle last season - before taking up the sport played by his father and older brother. He developed into a player who is receiving interest from top Division I colleges.

``I think my biggest role is just keeping everybody motivated and focused,'' said Owens as he tried to downplay his role in Rio Mesa's title quest. ``There are other good players, so I don't have to do everything.''

Most of the Spartans' seniors have played together since middle school when they were members of the Camarillo Titans. It was there they set their sights high for the high school level after winning a Ventura County title in eighth grade.

``I thought we could follow it up four years later with a CIF title,'' Owens said. ``Everybody else graduated their top players. It's our turn now. ... Just looking at the focus and determination we have now, we're going to have success.''

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Tyler Owens is off to a solid start after being named Pacific View League MVP last season.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer