Newport’s Bury to follow older brother at Stanford

While Newport Harbor High senior Mimi Bury remains excited for the upcoming girls’ water polo season, she took care of her future Wednesday that also created some great joy.

Bury signed a national letter of intent to play water polo at Stanford, where she will follow her older brother, Michael, a senior with the Cardinal.

Mimi Bury has been on the Sailors’ varsity since her sophomore year, when she helped Harbor win the CIF Southern Section Division I title.

“I want another ring,” she said Wednesday.

As a team captain, Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett expects the senior to deliver leadership and plenty of goals. For now, he’s just happy that her future appears bright.

“I’m very happy for her,” Barnett said. “I’m proud of her. She’s a hard worker.”

Barnett pointed out that hard work extends to the classroom. Bury is at the top of her class at Newport Harbor, where she is enrolled in five advanced placement courses this year. She had the same load last year. In her three-plus years at Harbor, she has earned all A’s.

A third-team All-CIF Division I selection last year, she plans to be one of the Sailors’ top players this year, and continue to improve while at Stanford.

“Mimi is a tough resourceful player,” Stanford Coach John Tanner said in a release. “She is a powerful driver and counter attacker who impressed us by leading her club team to the top eight of the Junior Olympics this summer.”

— Steve Virgen