POWAY – As part of its preseason preparations, the Cathedral Catholic boys water polo team studied video of a certain former Olympian and UCLA alum.

That would be new Dons coach Brett Ormsby, who competed for the U.S. in the 2004 Athens Games.

The study session worked as Cathedral debuted under Ormsby by winning the championship of the Poway Invitational yesterday with a 14-8 victory over Torrey Pines at Poway High.

Senior Bernie Rogers scored six goals to lead the Dons, who opened an 8-1 lead three minutes into the second quarter on the way to closing out a sweep of five tournament games.

“This is the start, and hopefully there's a long, bright future,” said Ormsby, 25, who is in his first high school coaching position. “I said to these kids that hopefully they will set the foundation for that program – to take Cathedral to the next level and never look back.”

Rogers represents the only senior in the Dons' starting lineup, which otherwise includes six juniors. There are four returning starters from last season's squad that reached the section Division II semifinals.

“We're starting to come together,” said Rogers, a second-year varsity member who formerly attended Mt. Carmel. “We're looking to go far in (the playoffs) and hopefully win it all. It will take a lot of teamwork, so we need to come together even more.”

Ormsby concluded his collegiate career by helping UCLA take the NCAA title as the national Player of the Year in 2004. He would be forced into premature retirement from playing after college because of a series of injuries, including shoulder and abdominal ailments.

“The injuries forced me to find some other outlet,” said Ormsby, a graduate of Valhalla High. “Coaching is the closet thing. It still lets my competitive juices flow.”

After recording a 17-9 semifinal win over Fallbrook, the Dons scored the first four goals against Torrey Pines (4-1).

“Coach went back to basics with us this year,” Rogers said. “Right now, we're getting the results.”

Torrey Pines closed within 10-6 with 3:48 left in the third period but could come no closer. Keshin Purohit led the Falcons with three goals. Torrey Pines goalie Andrew Lighterink made 12 saves.

In the third-place game, Jacob Pril scored nine goals to lift Fallbrook past Poway 11-6.