In between games of an out-of-state club tournament, a team made up of boys water polo players from Coronado High huddled in front of a television at a most fortunate time.

On the screen was the U.S. Olympic squad, making its debut in the Beijing Games last week against host China with Coronado alumni Layne Beaubien and Jesse Smith in the lineup. Beaubien would score twice and Smith once in an 8-4 victory.

“It's been fun (following the Olympics),” said Coronado coach Randy Burgess, entering his 27th season guiding the Islanders. “It's nice having a connection.”

Before watching the hometown representatives in the Olympics, the high school athletes even had a chance to play against them in the annual alumni game July 5 at the Brian Bent Memorial Aquatic Complex on campus.

“I wouldn't say it was intimidating (for the prep players) because that's not how those (Olympic) guys play,” Burgess said. “But it was pretty awesome.” On hand were Beaubien and Smith, set to compete in their second Olympics after vying in the Athens Games in 2004. Coronado alumni also included Genai Kerr, another member of the 2004 Olympic team, and Thomas Hopkins, a national team player who nearly made the 2008 Olympic squad.

The United States also staged a week of workouts at Coronado High at the end of last year.

Beaubien, 32, began playing water polo “because it was the only successful sport at his high school,” according to his player profile issued by USA Water Polo, which oversees the national and Olympic teams.

Coronado experienced a banner sports year in 2007-08, with San Diego Section titles in boys and girls soccer, baseball and boys and girls water polo.

Coronado's boys water polo teams have won 15 section crowns, with appearances in 10 of the past 11 Division II finals.

Beaubien helped the Islanders take the 1993 Division II crown, earning Player of the Year honors for that division. He became a standout at Stanford University, developing into a defender regarded as one of the world's top all-around performers.

Smith, 25, contributed to four straight section titles for the Islanders from 1998 to 2001, twice earning Player of the Year honors. He played at Pepperdine University, becoming known for his athletic ability as a driver.

His younger brother, Jacob Smith, is heading to Stanford this season after helping the Islanders end a five-year title reign by Bishop's in the 2007 final with an 11-10 overtime triumph.

Coronado, which lost seven seniors from last season's squad, is counting on leadership this fall from seniors Justin Parsons and Adam Radcliffe. Parsons takes over as starting goalie for the graduated Kyle Pokorny. Radcliffe figures to help ignite the attack.

As members of the Coronado Aquatic Club, the high school players placed second in the 18-and-under division of the Hawaiian Invitational at the University of Hawaii, which overlapped the start of the Olympics.

“Our high school kids look at the Olympians, who are big, strong athletes,” Burgess said. “But they started off the same as these high school kids. It allows kids to establish some goals and some dreams. That's a good start, obviously.”

Especially at Coronado, where alumni set the Olympic example.