25
Jan
2011
2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results
Competition continued with the second weekend of the Main Line League at Villanova University in Villanova, PA. The Senior “A” Division had three teams go undefeated with impressive wins. The Princeton Tigers continue to lead the standings with 8 points by outscoring Drexel University (8-5) and Rutgers (15-5). Not far behind is the Kingfish Vets with 7 points. The Vets are supporting one of their strongest rosters in years and showed their dominance by defeating Villanova University (16-2) and the HAWCS (16-2). The only other unbeaten in the Senior “A” Division is Greater Philadelphia who were victorious over the HAWCS (14-6) and Rutgers (15-5) to reach a 2-0-1 record.
The Senior “B” Division had three teams in action but only one team earning two wins. K&M Water Polo entered its first weekend with two tough matches but came out on top after defeating the GP Franklins (9-6) and the Patriots (11-10). Those two victories puts K&M in a 4 point tie with the Patriots on top of the Senior “B” Division standings. K&M currently holds the tie-break with the head-to-head victory over the Patriots.
Competition continues for both divisions on Saturday, February 5th at Villanova where the Kingfish Vets will look to defeat the Princeton Tigers and Greater Philadelphia in an effort to be the lone unbeaten at the end of the weekend.
For more information regarding competition available for local high school athletes and younger in the Main Line League, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.
17
Jan
2011
2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results
The 2011 Main Line League officially started this past weekend with competition in both the Senior “A” Division and Senior “B” Division. Games took place all day on Saturday, January 15th at Villanova University, a suburb of Philadelphia.
The Princeton Tigers Water Polo Club finished their day with a perfect record defeating YOE Polo (11-4) and host Villanova (14-10). The two wins place the Tigers on the top of the Senior “A” Division Standings by one point ahead of the Kingfish Veterans who also defeated YOE Polo (17-3) but ended in a tie against the 2010 championship squad of Greater Philadelphia (6-6) earlier in the day. Other teams with at least one win in the Senior “A” Division include the HAWCS, Rutgers and Villanova. All three teams are currently tied for third with two points each.
The Senior “B” Division was lead by Patriots Water Polo who outscored their competition 24 to nine with wins over the GP Franklins (14-6) and Drexel Dragons (10-3). The Pats hope to stay perfect throughout the ten game season in order to win the Senior “B” Division Championship and move into the Senior “A” Division next year.
Competition continues for both divisions this Sunday, January 23rd at Villanova where the Princeton Tigers and Patriots will look to build on their first weekend of success.
For more information regarding competition available for local high school athletes and younger in the Main Line League, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.
14
Jan
2011
Sky Walker got away from swimming competitively when he was still young to focus on water polo.
Almost
six years later, he began swimming competitively for The Hun School
swim team, and it has helped with water polo, his primary sport.
”It
definitely helps a lot,” said Walker, a junior who plays for Tigers Water Polo club team as well as Hun’s water
polo team in the fall. “I remember freshman year, I was about the same
speed as everyone else in water polo. When I came back, I was faster
than a lot of them.”
Walker is also one of the faster
swimmers for the Raiders co-ed swim team, which travels to St.
Benedicts today in their first meet since their winter break. Walker
will be looking to continue the trend of steady improvement in his
times.
”I’ve gotten my personal bests so far every meet for
the 200 freestyle, which is my main event,” Walker said. “I also do the
100 breaststroke and the 500 freestyle occasionally.
”I want to try the 200 IM because I want to see how I’d do in that. I think I’ll get that chance on Friday.”
Hun
graduated plenty from last year’s team, and their numbers have forced
them to go from being a split team last season back to co-ed.
”We
do have a lot of kids back from last year, but we did lose a lot to
graduation,” said Hun head coach Mark Kolman. “I lost the whole girls
relay team that went to Easterns last year.
Two graduated, PJ (Kolman)
is rowing and Ceara Bowman moved to another school. That was a pretty
big hit on the girls side. The returning boys are pretty much the
backbone this year.”
The Raiders are planning to take only their boys to compete against the all-boys team of St. Benedict’s.
”The
way I look at it, it’s more for the experience,” Kolman said. “As much
as we want to be competitive, I want to bring in some of the younger
swimmers and I want them to compete. I want them to know that there’s
going to be a time when they have to step up and there’s a time when
they have to be competitive. I don’t want the core group of kids to be
the only people that race all the time.
”I’ve got a lot of
freshmen with no swimming experience, some sophomores who have a year
of experience, but they’ve never been in those tight race situations.
I’m looking to get them as much race exposure as I can before
championships.”
Hun’s turnout has hurt its mark this season,
but the winless Raiders have been encouraged by the progress they have
seen through the year.
”Even though our record isn’t as good
overall, we’ve swum against some better teams this year,” Walker said.
“So far, it’s been good because most people have been getting personal
bests. It’s the best measure of how we’ve been doing.”
Walker is among the Raiders that has seen progress through the year.
”This
year, so far, every meet that I’ve swum the 200, I’ve reduced my time
by a little bit,” he said. “Whether it be a second or half a second. I
feel pretty good about that.”
Just as Walker’s swimming has
benefited his water polo, playing water polo helped him return to
swimming competitively and he’s picked up the other stuff that he had
lost in his time off. As a youngster, he swam for the Bedens Brook
Country Club team in the summer, and when he came to Hun it was the
easiest sport to take up.
”In water polo, there’s a lot of
swimming obviously,” Walker said. “It was working on the strokes that
aren’t freestyle that was hardest. I wasn’t that good as a freshman. I
improved a lot as a sophomore.
”Breaststroke, the kick is a
lot like the water polo kick,” he said. “Backstroke is probably the
second most used stroke in water polo. When you’re going back, you want
to see where the ball is. It’s a different style, but it’s pretty easy
to change over. Butterfly was not easy, but I think I’ve got it down OK
now.”
Walker still plays water polo when he can find the time
on weekends or an occasional weeknight during the swim season. Over
Hun’s winter break, he stayed in shape by playing water polo and
working out with Tiger Aquatics club team, and he is expecting to pick
up where he left off.
”For me, the main goal is to break two
minutes in 200 freestyle,” Walker said. “I’m at 2:03. I’ve gotten
closer each meet, but I’m not where I want to be yet.”
Walker’s steady swims have been a boost to the thin Raiders. Kolman is confident in the third-year swimmer.
”He’s pretty versatile,” Kolman said. “I can drop him where I need him to be. He can step up and take care of business.”
The
Raiders are hoping to see his steady swims continue. Hun’s progress
could be slowed by another exam break in two weeks, but they were
encouraged by their first month’s efforts.
”There’s
definitely been some good progress from the kids that are returning
from last year,” Kolman said. “With the new kids that are out for the
first time this year, they really need more time.”
Sky Walker
has put in more time in the pool than ever over the last three years.
Usually, he’d be doing it with a water polo ball, but he has enjoyed a
successful return to competitive swimming with the Raiders.
Release courtesy CentralJersey.com (January 7, 2011 edition)
04
Jan
2011
The new year brings new beginnings - and in American Water Polo it marks the return of one of the East Coast's premier events and the birth of a new opportunity for Masters' players.
Main Line League
For East Coast athletes, the 2011 AWP Main Line League information is now available for the
Senior “A” and Senior “B” Divisions. Typical teams who participate in
the Senior Divisions are Masters, collegiate squads and teams who
combine both master and high school level athletes. Teams can decide
what division is most suitable for their competitive level. Please use the following forms for general information as well as to
register for the season:
MLL 2011: Team Registration Form
MLL 2011: Senior Division Information
MLL 2011: Senior Division Budget
The Main Line Water Polo League is played
in the Northeast of the Eastern Region and is a great way to get
involved with the sport of water polo. All competition will take place
at either Villanova University or at a scholastic site local to the
teams participating. Game times normally take place between Noon and
9:00PM with every effort made to prevent younger age groups from
competing past 7:00PM on school nights. Divisions are offered to all
age levels, genders and abilities. The typical division breakdown is as
follows:
Senior “A” Division (Jan. – Mar.)
Registration Deadline: January 3rd
The
more competitive master level and collegiate teams whose focus is on
winning and having fun. Teams play a total of ten games including the
championship. Most teams play two games on each weekend date.
Senior “B” Division (Jan. – Mar.)
Registration Deadline: January 3rd
The
second tier master level and collegiate teams who focus on winning,
skill improvement and having fun. Teams play a total of ten games
including the championship. Most teams play two games on each weekend
date. In some cases, collegiate teams will play several weeknight games
to avoid Spring Break issues.
12&Under Experienced Division (Feb. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
For
the more competitive 12&Under Teams who are looking to play games
in accordance with the current rules. Every team plays a total of six
games over the course of three weekend dates.
12&Under Novice Division (Feb. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
For
the starting 12&Under Teams who are just learning the game and want
to focus more on the athletes learning the game versus the outcome of
the game. Games will use a modified version of the current rules to fit
the experience level of the athletes. Every team plays a total of six
games over the course of three weekend dates.
High School Boys Divisions (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
The
number of divisions is decided by the number of teams entered. Most
divisions will have six to eight teams. Divisions are typically
determined by ability and geography. Every team plays a total of eight
games including the championship.
High School Girls Divisions (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
The
number of divisions is decided by the number of teams entered. If there
are enough teams we will split into two divisions that would typically
be determined by ability and geography. Every team plays a total of
eight games including the championship.
15&Under Boys Divisions (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
Divisions
are typically determined by ability, geography and date availability.
Every team plays a total of six games over the course of three weekend
dates. Coed teams will be scheduled in the Boys Division unless there
are enough coed teams to form its own division.
15&Under Girls Division (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 1st
Divisions
are typically determined by ability, geography and date availability.
Every team plays a total of six games over the course of three weekend
dates.
Master Cup Series
In the new year, Masters athletes will have a new opportunity to compete in a series of tournaments which will truly match some of the nation's best players in the Master Cup Series.
American Water Polo recognizes there are many people who have given
so much to the sport and have touched the lives of many more. That’s
why each of the individual tournaments part of the Master Cup Series will be named after someone who has contributed to the development of the sport.
“The ability to name the Cups after icons in the sport is a way we
can honor those who have provided so much to water polo,” states Dan
Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.
The first competition of the Masters Cup Series will be named after
Peter J. Cutino to recognize his hard work on many of the different
levels of aquatic sports. Peter Cutino was a coach and educator in
swimming and water polo for over 40 years. He was the co-author with
his son on several books, including 101 Offensive Water Polo Drills and 101 Water Polo Defensive and Conditioning Drills.
During his 26-year tenor as the head coach of the University of
California - Berkeley, Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a
519-172-10 career winning record. In addition, Coach Cutino has also
served as a US National Team Coach and US Olympic Team Coach as well as
a member of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee and the chair of
the Men’s International Olympic Committee.
Not only has Coach Cutino received numerous honors, such as being
inducted into six Hall of Fames, but in 1999 the San Francisco Olympic
Club established the Peter J. Cutino Award, which is considered to be
the highest distinction presented to the top male and female collegiate
water polo player each year.
Peter Cutino continued to coach with the Olympic Club as well as run
specialty clinics after his retirement from Cal Berkeley in 1989.
In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt
by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts he came
into contact with over the years.
The Inaugural Cutino Cup will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area on Presidents’ Day
Weekend. This is fitting considering Coach Cutino’s strong bond to the
area. The event will run at several local pools in order to offer
competition to athletes on various age levels, as well as both genders.
“We love the idea of creating new concepts for competition and are
looking forward to giving the senior level athletes even more
innovative ideas in the future,” concluded Sharadin.
For more information on the Cutino Cup for Masters Athletes and the Main Line League, or if you have interest in hosting a Masters Cup Series or Main Line League Tournament in your area, feel free to contact Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development, at Tracey@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787.