Watch the 2012 NCAA Women's Championship Online this Weekend

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will stream all 12 games of the 2012 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship on Friday-Sunday, May 11-13, live and free from San Diego State University's Aztec Aquatics Center in San Diego, Calif.

To watch the games, CLICK HERE or go to http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2012/05/11 and select the date of the games which you choose to view.

An eight-team tournament, the top three seeds are held by teams from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in No. 1 Stanford University, MPSF champion/No. 2 University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and No. 3 University of Southern California (USC).

Automatic qualifiers make up the fourth through eighth seeds as the University of California-Irvine (Big West Conference), Loyola Marymount University (Western Water Polo Association), Princeton (Collegiate Water Polo Association), Iona College (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) hold the spots, respectively.

The championship marks the second time in three years that the Aztecs will serve as host of the NCAA women's water polo championship as the institution hosted the 2010 championship.

Opened in March 2007, the 112,000-square foot Aztec Aquaplex features two pools, one for competition, and another for recreation and a hydrotherapy spa. The competition pool measures 51 meters in length and 25 meters in width. It also includes a movable stainless steel bulkhead, which allows a flexible water depth of anywhere between seven and 17 feet.

San Diego State's selection to host the championship continued a trend of West Coast sites for the championships. The University of Michigan hosted the 2011 women's championship, while the University of California-Berkeley served as the site for the 2010 and 2011 men's championships.  The University of Southern California will be the site of the 2012 men's and 2013 women's championships.

Main Line Champ Schedule

The High School Girls Western Division is set with Kingfish Pompanos looking to remain undefeated in their quest for a championship title. They will take on Cumberland Valley and Mustang Kingfish in a round robin format to determine a champion.

In the bottom bracket WVW-Hazelton will battle Muhlenberg and Cumberland Valley "B" to determine places 4^th through sixth. Cumberland Valley "B" replaces Perkasie Pirates, who had a scheduling conflict for the weekend.

CWPA to Stream Women's Collegiate Club Championship

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association will offer live streaming of the league's 2012 Women's National Collegiate Club Championship from Florida State University's Morcom Aquatics Center.

Unlike previous seasons, the league has invested in the purchase of a TriCaster, a professional video switcher that will allow the CWPA to use a three-camera feed under the directon of recently hired Director of Multimedia Alex Lourido.

Fans can access the broadcasts on championship weekend by CLICKING HERE.  The cost of viewership is $9.99 per game, or $25 for the weekend championship package that includes all 30 contested games.

Main Line League

The 18 & Under Boys Red Division Championship Schedule is now determined, with Trojan Aquatics earning the first seed by virtue of a 4-1-1 record. Malvern Friars also had a 4-1-1 record, but lost in their head-to-head match-up 11-8, giving Trojan Aquatics the Tiebreaker.

Trojan will meet Hudson Valley in the first round of the championship while the Friars will face Spartan Pride.

The remaining three teams will feature Cardinal & Gold, PV Valhalla, and Spartan Pride Blue battling for the final places.

In the Western Division the top two teams, Perkasie Pirates and Cumberland Valley Eagles share the same record at 5-1, followed by WVW Hazelton in the third seed. The threesome will play round robin to determine a division winner.

In the remaining seeds, Mustang Kingfish will battle Kingfish Bulldogs and Muhlenberg to see who takes fourth place.

Main Line League

Mustang Kingfish dominated the 15U Boys Division this weekend with a 16-4 win over Trojan Aquatics and a 13-9 victory over Rebel Polo. Rebel bounced back to earn a convincing 17-4 win over Trojans.

In the High School Girls Pink Division Tiger Aquatics continues to be the class of the group, posting victories over Trojan Aquatics 12-6 and K & M 12-1.

Boy’s High School Red Division play saw Trojan Aquatics win a pair over Friars 11-8 and PV Valhalla 13-2.

Competition resumes this weekend at various locations. Admission is free.

Main Line League Update

The Main Line League continued this past weekend with competition in several divisions. In the High School Girls Pink Division Tiger Aquatics soundly beat Penn Charter, while Greenwich Aquatics also won a pair of games against Trojan Aquatics and PV Valhalla. K & M narrowly edged Rebel Polo, with Trojan Aquatics handily beating PV Valhalla 18-8, including a seven-goal performance by Alexandra Wein. 

In the 15U Girls Division Greenwich Aquatics absolutely dominated, with their two teams winning all of their games by margins of 10+ goals. Perkasie also went undefeated as they handled PV Valhalla 16-5 and tied Tiger Aquatics. EAAC split on the day losing to Greenwich and beating Tiger Aquatics.

In the Boys Navy Division, places 4^th through 6^th were decided by goal differentials since all three teams each went 1 & 1 on the day. Rebel ended up as the Fourth Place team with a +2 goal differential, followed by K & M White in Fifth and K & M Blue in Sixth.

In the Red Division Spartan Blue won a pair, with Hudson Valley splitting on the day, losing to Spartan Blue and beating Cardinal & Gold.

Next competition takes place in several pools on the 14^th & 15^th of April. For a complete schedule check the website.

Main Line Competition

The Main Line League continued competition in several divisions this weekend. Opening up the games were the 12 & Under Novice teams, with EAAC winning a pair over Spartan Pride and K & M.

In the High Schools West Division the Kingfish Pompanos were the class of the weekend as they posted solid wins over Mustang Kingfish and Hazelton.

The Malvern Friars remained undefeated with a tie against Cardinal & Gold in the High School Boys Red Division. Second place is currently held in a three-way tie with Spartan Pride, Trojan Aquatics, and Cardinal & Gold all knotted with 2-1-1 records.

The High School Boys Navy Division wrapped up the regular season competition, with Penn Charter winning four straight games to earn the second seed moving into the championship. Tiger Aquatics Orange and White teams share the first and third seeds respectively.

12 & Under Experienced Division teams also saw action with Hudson Valley going undefeated with a tie and a win over the K & M teams.

The 15 & U Coed teams watched a resurging Perkasie Pirates squad win a pair over PV Valhalla and Trojan Aquatics.

Next competition runs at Villanova on April 7 as the Navy High School Boys battle for 4^th through 6^th place, while the High School Boys Red Division and the 15 & Under Girls Division also field competition.

 

Main Line League Schedule Changes

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. --  American Water Polo announces changes to the Main Line League schedules for the 15 & Under Co-ed, 12 & Under Novice, Western High School Boys' & Girls' Divisions.

To access the most recent schedule, CLICK HERE

Main Line Results

The Malvern Friars were one of five teams to go undefeated last weekend in the 18 & Under Boys' divisions, as they defeated Hudson Valley, Spartan White and Spartan Blue. Other teams without a loss included Red Division rival Trojan Aquatics, West Division Cumberland Valley Eagles and Perkasie Pirates, and Tiger Aquatics White in the Navy Division.

On the ladies side of the ball, Rebel Polo and Tiger Aquatics remained unblemished in the 18 & Under Girls Pink Division as each team won both their games handily.

In the 15 & U Boys Division the Kingfish Bulldogs exited the day with a pair of victories to lead the division, while three teams in the 15 & Under Coed Division played without a loss as Stingrays, Spartan Pride, and YPro White all won a pair.

Competition resumes this weekend at several locations. Complete schedules.

Main Line League Schedule Changes

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. --  American Water Polo announces changes to the Main Line League schedules for the 15 & Under Coed and High School Girls Divisions.

To access the most recent schedule, CLICK HERE

La Salle University to Host Kennedy's Cause Tournament

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- La Salle University host a fundraising water polo tournament on Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15 at their home pool to raise money and awareness for a rare disease called Lymphatic Malformation.  

The tournaments benefits the work of Kennedy Hubbard, a 14 year old girl from New Jersey who was born with disease.

With the help of her family and friends, she founded Kennedy’s Cause, a foundation trying to raise funds for research that will hopefully lead to better treatment options for her and for others that have this disease. 

The proceeds will be donated to Kennedy’s Cause and then given to The Vascular Anomalies Center at the Children's Hospital of Boston. 

There are two days to this tournament and each team only needs to commit to one of the days in order to allow Kennedy’s Cause Water Polo Tournament to reach its turn out goal.

Be aware that depending on the number of teams that register, play maybe divided into A and B brackets.

What:  Kennedy’s Cause Water Polo Tournament

When: Saturday, April 14^th, 2012 (games run from 12:00pm to 7:30pm) or Sunday, April 15^th, 2012 (games run from 12:00pm to 7:30pm)

Where: La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA

How Much: $200 per team (proceeds benefit Kennedy’s Cause)

What You Get: Participating in the Kennedy’s Cause Water Polo Tournament is a rewarding experience! Consider the benefits you get

• ·                       Officiated games of water polo against local clubs or universities;
• ·                       Two 18-minute running halves;
• ·                      One wristband for each player (and coach, if you have one) participating at the tournament
• ·                      The fulfillment that you supported a worthwhile cause
  
  

How to Sign Up: Contact Rebecca Fordham (fordhamr1@student.lasalle.edu) and let her know the name of team and primary contact person.

How to Pay: Bring cash or a check (made out to La Salle University) to the tournament.

More information on the cause is available at:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/12/22/courageous-new-jersey-teen-shines/

Main Line Age Group League Begins

The age group competition opened last Sunday with 15 & Under girls games followed by an 18 & Under boys doubleheader between two K & M and Tiger Aquatic squads. In the 15 & Under bracket, K & M, Greenwich Aquatics, and Kingfish Pompanos went undefeated as K & M beat PV Valhalla 8-4 and Perkasie Pirates 10-3. Kingfish bested Tiger Aquatics 13-10 and EAAC 13-4, while Greenwich Blue handily won over the Pirates 10-5 and PV Valhalla 15-2.

In the 18 & Under Navy division, Tiger Aquatics had the upper hand as their Orange team beat K & M Blue 14-2, followed by their White team beating K & M White 16-7.

The next competition takes place at four locations on March 24^th, with games at Pennridge High School, Villanova University, Wissahickon Middle School, and North Penn High School. Admission is free at all sites.

 Complete schedules.

Franklins Win SR "B" Division

The craziness continued from the Main Line League "A" Division results into the "B" Division on Sunday at Villanova University. The competition opened with the three top teams playing for the title, as Greater Philly Franklins, YOE Polo and K & M battled each other. The first game saw a defensive struggle, which ended in a 5-5 tie between K & M and the Franklins. This meant YOE had the advantage in the next two games. However, they were not able to match their opponents, falling to both squads 6-15, and 6-17. Goal differential decided the final outcome giving Greater Philly the title.

The next bracket featured the Villanova Wildcats, Patriots, and Lehigh. The Patriots proved to be the better team of the day, edging out Lehigh 11-10 and defeating the Wildcats 17-11 to earn 4^th Place. Villanova beat Lehigh 7-4 to secure 5^th Place.

The bottom bracket saw Franklin & Marshall win a pair to take 7^th Place over LaSalle and the Drexel Dragons, while the Dragons beat LaSalle 10-4 to finish in 8^th Place.

Kingfish Vets - A Div Champs!

While Asphalt Green was the team to beat throughout the regular season, the Vets brought their best game to the championship and ended up on top.Fans were treated to some terrific polo all day as games were close throughout each of the three brackets.

The  top three featured a battle between undefeated Asphalt Green, Kingfish Vets, and Greater Philly. Greater Philly opened the surprises with a win over Asphalt Green, 13-9. The score was not indicative of the game, as both teams traded leads throughout until the very end when foul trouble became a problem for Asphalt Green. Greater Philly then took on a motivated Kingfish Vets squad and came up short, 7-13. The Vets earned a satisfying win over their rivals and positioned themselves to win it all if they could oull out a victory over Asphalt Green. The contest proved to be an exciting one, as the Vets squeaked out the win in Sudden Death, giving them the League Title.

The next bracket of three included Villanova, Harrisburg HAWCs, and the Patriots, three teams tied in record during the regular season.Competition opened with Villanova edging the HAWCS 11-9, followed by the HAWCS rebounding to beat the Patriots 12-8. The final bracket game witnessed the Patriots coming back to beat Villanova 12-7. The crazy finish left the final places decided by goal differentials, with the HAWCS 4th, Patriots 5th, and Villanova 6th.

The  bottom bracket involved less drama as Drexel won both games to finish 7th, followed by NJ Masters at 8th, and Tiger Aquatics at 9th.

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Main Line League Seeds Finalized

The Main Line League wrapped up the regular season last night with three games. Drexel Dragons split on the night with a loss to the Franklins and a win over the Wildcats, while Drexel University handed Villanova University a loss. The result of the games did not change any seeding, with the final places now determined for the upcoming championship games this weekend.

Saturday's Division "A" competition will be broken down into three groups of three teams, with each group playing round robin to determine final placings. The matchups bring three teams with identical records together to determine fourth through sixth places, as the Patriots, HAWCS, and Villanova battle it out. The top three teams include the undefeated Asphalt Green squad, along with the Kingfish Vets and Greater Philadelphia teams, while the NJ Masters, Tiger Aquatics and Drexel teams will play to see who stays out of the basement.

Sunday's competition for the Senior "B" Division will match up in similar style as the Franklins, YOE, and K&M squads will play for the title. Although tied in record with the Patriots, K & M squeaked into the top group by virtue of their head-to-head win over the Patriots earlier in the season. The remaining two groups include the Wildcats, Lehigh, and Patriots, and LaSalle, Dragons, and Franklin & Marshall, as the teams contend for the 4th through 6th and 7th through 9th final places respectively.

All games will be held at Villanova University and admission is free. Complete schedule

Main Line League

With two more wins under the belt, Asphalt Green secured the #1 seed heading onto the championship weekend and completing an undefeated regular season. Victories over Patriots 15-5 and Princeton 18-2 left no doubt that they are the class of the league right now and will be tough to beat.

Their opponent in the championship was also decided, as the Kingfish Vets beat arch rival Greater Philadelphia in a great game, 11-9. The lead traded throughout the contest before the Vets sealed the victory, including a goal by Oliver Wingenter that could have made the ESPN Play of the Day.

With only a few more league games left to play, most of the seeds heading into championship weekend have been determined. The "A" Division championship will beheld at Villanova University, Villanova, PA on March 17, with the "B" Division held at the same location the following day. Admission is free.

Northern Virginia Captures Virginia State Water Polo Tournament

RICHMOND, Va. -- Eight teams entered the Virginia State Water Polo Tournament field on February 25-26 at the Nova of Virginia Aquatics Center, but only one exited with the championship as Northern Virginia Water Polo proved to be the class of the field with a 15-4 victory over Hampton Roads Water Polo in the title tilt .

The event marked the largest gathering of Virginia state teams in the history of the sport as the teams competed in group round robin play Saturday with the top two teams from each group moving on to the championship round of semifinals and finals on Sunday.  The last two teams from each group competed for 5^th and 7^th places.

In the championship game, NOVA was paced by strong two-meter play from Pablo Nichols with five goals, while Colin Gerber tossed in four markers to aid in the nine-goal victory. 

Tournament runner-up Hampton Roads moved into the championship game by defeating hosts Richmond Water Polo 10-9 in the most tightly contested game of the weekend.  Hampton was particularly proficient at drawing ejections as Hampton’s 10 extra-man opportunities combined with hat-tricks by Andy Spillane and Joe Donahoe  proved to be the difference.  For Richmond, nine different players found the back of the cage.

A highlight of the event was the appearance of the Virginia Military Institute which formed  a new team this year and competed in their first games.  VMI made a great showing and played some good water polo.  Joe Dutter, a VMI sophomore, was voted to the All-Tournament team to mark the lone collegian to garner honors for his play. 

Competing Teams

University of Virginia
Virginia Tech
James Madison University
William & Mary
Virginia Military Institute
Hampton Roads Water Polo
Northern Virginia Water Polo
Richmond Water Polo

All-Tournament Team:

• Jay Wilkes (Northern Virginia) Goalie
  Nate Mormann (Richmond)
  Colin Gerber (Northern Virginia)
  Pablo Nichols (Northern Virginia)
  Joe Dutter (Virginia Military Institute)
  Joe Donahoe (Hampton Roads)
  Mike Suriano (Hampton Roads)

Game Scores:
James Madison 8  Virginia 7
Northern Virginia 17   Virginia Tech 3  (Semis)
Hampton Roads 10 Richmond 9   (Semis)
VMI  14  William & Mary  5
Northern Virginia 18  James Madison 1 
Hampton Roads 15  William & Mary 5
Richmond 18   VMI 4
Virginia Tech 10  Virginia 3
James Madison 13  VMI 7
Hampton Roads 14  Virginia 7
Northern Virginia 15  Richmond 5
Virginia Tech 20  William & Mary 5
Northern Virginia 20  VMI 2
Hampton Roads 13  Virginia Tech 8
Richmond 10  James Madison 5
Virginia 13  William & Mary 2

2012 All-Tournament Team
From left to right: Jay Wilkes (Goalie), NOVA; Nick Archambault, NOVA; Pablo Nichols, NOVA; Joe Donahoe, Hampton Roads; Mike Suriano, Hampton Roads; Nate Mormann, Richmond; Joe Dutte, VMI (not pictured)

Hampton Roads

James Madison University

University of Virginia

Virginia Tech

VMI

William & Mary

K & M Wins Pair

K & M helped themselves tremendously in the standings this past weekend winning a pair of games against LaSalle 14-5 and Franklin & Marshall 12-8. The victories moved the squad into third place in the standings as they head into the championship weekend. The Franklins locked in first place with wins over Lehigh, 15-8 and the Wildcats 13-3, while YOE secured second place by going undefeated against the Patriots 11-9 and the Drexel Dragons 10-10.

With two more games still to be played, many of the final seeds are yet to be determined for the upcoming championship games on March 18 at Villanova.The format may also be revised, depending upon Franklin & Marshall's ability to return from break.

Next competition for the league resumes March 4th at Villanova when the "A" Division teams compete to determine the remaining seeds before their championship on March 17.

Virginia State Water Polo Championship Set for this Weekend

RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond Water Polo, RWP, will be hosting the second Virginia State Water Polo Championships this coming weekend (Saturday-Sunday, February 25-26) at the Nova Aquatic Center in Richmond, Virginia.  This years event has expanded from six teams to eight teams, to include every water polo team in the state (excluding high schools).

Information on the tournament is available by downloading the PDF flyer by CLICKING HERE.

2nd Annual Cutino Cup Moved to May 19-20

MORAGA, Calif. -- American Water Polo announces the Second Annual Peter J. Cutino Cup for Masters level athletes will now be held on Saturday-Sunday, May 19-20.

Originally scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15, 2012, the event will still occur in the East Bay area of Northern California at the Soda Aquatic Center at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif.,

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men's and women's teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division (although teams will be allowed to make some "roster adjustments" as need).   

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of two games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo.  Officiating will be coordinated by Jeff Roy.

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites. 

To achieve this goal, local club teams will help set-up the course and run the desk at each age group pool.  In addition to the learning experience of helping out at an event of this caliber and meeting many great players of the game who will be in attendance, the local clubs will be raising funds for their efforts and assist in growing the sport of water polo in the local area - a region in which Cutino made his name and consistently gave back to the community.

Complete results of the 2011 Cutino Cup are available by clicking here.

About Pete Cutino
A legendary California coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

"The ability to name the Cup after an icon in water polo like Coach Cutino is a way we can honor those who have provided so much to the sport. Pete Cutino is undeniably one of the greatest," states Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.

Cutino also served as a US National and 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.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives," according to University of California head men's water polo coach Kirk Everist. "Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute."

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino's legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

"Pete made all of us love the sport of Water Polo and because of that many of his "boys" still love to play the game and the Peter J. Cutino Cup will be a fitting way to honor Pete's sizable impact on each and every one of us," adds Everist.

To Register for the Cutino Cup
Payment & Fees: $450 per team by March 15 or $525 late entry fee by March 31.

Paypal to CCUMastersPolo@gmail.com or make checks payable to Tri Valley Water Polo.  Additional information, registration forms and address information for the tournament are available on the Cutino Cup website at http://www.CutinoCup.com. 

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, access the AWP website at: http://www.americanwaterpolo.org or contact Dan Sharadin at 610-277-6787 or office@americanwaterpolo.org

About American Water Polo
Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Water Polo (AWP) is among the leaders in a new generation of scholastic and Masters sports organizations whose purpose is to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to enjoy the sport of water polo.

More than just an administrative service, AWP's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to be involved in the sport of water polo and to provide its members with the highest degree of customer satisfaction at an affordable price.

Focused on giving unrivaled service to its members, American Water Polo offers insurance coverage and competitive opportunities for teams at an affordable rate by operating leagues and competitions, as well as providing assistance for individual teams to do so independent of the national office.

Three-way Race

All three of the top teams went undefeated this weekend to remain at the top of the standings. Asphalt Green easily dispatched Villanova 18-6 and Delaware 18-1 as they dominated both teams. The Kingfish Vets did likewise beating the Patriots in a physical game 16-7 and the NJ Masters 14-9. Greater Philly did not have such an easy day as they barely squeaked by a much improved Harrisburg HAWCS squad 14-13.

The wins for each program keep the race alive and builds suspense towards which team will have the chance to face Asphalt Green in the finals.

The next competition will include both "A" and "B" Division games on February 26th at Villanova University. Admission is free.

Gonzaga College High School Seeks Assistant Coach

Gonzaga College High School's water polo team is in search of a new assistant coach for their boys' team for the upcoming 2012 Fall high school season.

Gonzaga is a Jesuit high school with 950 male students. The school is located in the shadow of the Nation's Capitol and boasts of a water polo team of sixty male athletes of varying levels and abilities spread over 4 teams (Varsity, JV A, B & C).

Gonzaga is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo League and competes against fellow member teams such as Greenwich, Naval Academy Aquatic Club, and Landon High School among others. The team was founded ten years ago and continues to grow and compete on the East Coast with the ultimate goal every season of trying to win Prep Eastern's as well as our league championship.

The season starts on August 13th and runs through November 11^th 2012. Practices are from 3:30-6:00 PM Monday through Friday and are held at Takoma Aquatic Center in DC. The team attends tournaments most weekends during the season. While most tournaments are in Annapolis, we may travel to Baltimore, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to play. In addition, coaching and directing the spring team could be available.

Attendance at all practices and tournaments would be required. As assistant coach, you would help run practice, direct the team and coach one of the teams during games. Playing and coaching experience at high school, club, or collegiate level is highly recommended.

Questions or inquiries can be directed to Joe Viola, jviola@gonzaga.org or c/703-899-5986.

Asphalt Green #1

Asphalt Green proved clearly why they are the team to beat as they handily downed Greater Philly. The game began close with teams knotted 5-5 at the half, but turned into a lopsided contest in the second half with Aspalt Green opening up a four goal lead and never looking back' outscoring Greater Philly 12-3 in the final half. They went on to easily beat New Jersey Masters in their second game 22-8 to remain undefeated. Greater Philly also bested the NJ Masters 12-6 to remain in contention for the championship.

Kingfish Vets Redeemed

Kingfish Vets Redeem Themselves

The "A" Division witnessed the Kingfish Vets going undefeated this weekend with victories over Villanova 15-7 and Princeton 18-6. The wins help the Vets remain in the running for the championship as they move into first place based on total points. Technically they share the lead with Asphalt Green and Greater Philly, two teams that are undefeated with fewer contests played.

In the "B" Division the race is wide open with four teams tied for first place in total points. At the present time the Villanova Wildcats, Patriots, Lehigh, and Greater Philly Franklins all share top billing with six points, although the Franklins are currently undefeated having played fewer games.

Next competition takes place this Saturday, February 11^th, with games in both divisions. Key match-ups will feature two undefeated teams in the "A" Division squaring off at 11:30, as Greater Philly takes on Asphalt Green, while in the "B" Division two first place teams also meet with the Franklins taking on the Patriots at 2:50 PM. Admission is free for all spectators.

Greater Philly and Asphalt Green Dominate

In the first action for the Main LIne League "A" Division, Greater Philly and Asphalt Green go undefeated, while the Kingfish Vets split to remain in the hunt for the championship. Asphalt Green started off strong with a victory over the Vets 16-9. They may have caught Kingfish a little winded due to the new format requiring consecutive games for some teams, which saw the Vets taking on Asphalt Green after just finishing a tough game against Harrisburg. Asphalt Green went on to win handily over the Harrisburg HAWCS 23-8 in their second game.

Greater Philly opened their season with a win over Villanova 15-6, followed by a 9-4 victory over a much improved Patriots squad.

The next competition takes place at Villanova on Saturday, February 4th, with games in both the "A" and "B" Divisions.

Franklins and Lehigh Go Undefeated

The Main Line League "B" Division opened this weekend with some great competition. Both the Franklins and Lehigh University started off their seasons on the right foot with two wins apiece. The Franklins bested YOE Polo 15-8 and then LaSalle University 6-3. Lehigh University opened with a win over Franklin & Marshall 13-8, followed by a victory over the Drexel Dragons, 11-7.

The defending champion Patriots were a little weaker than last season due to the fact that they are now fielding an "A" Division team as well. The depletion in talent led to a split as they lost to 2011 runner-up K & M 5-11 and then bounced back to beat the Villanova Wildcats 11-6.

The Main Line League hosts competition at Villanova University during the winter each year, with this season including 19 teams in two divisions. Next competition for the "B" Division occurs February 4th, while the "A" Division begins January 29th.

 

Main Line League Schedule Posted

The Main Line League will kickoff its competition on January 22nd this season with the Greater Philly Franklins taking on YOE Polo to open the schedule. This season the senior division is the largest in its history, with 19 teams participating in two divisions, separated according to ability.

New to the division this year are Asphalt Green from New York City ("A" Division) and LaSalle University from Philadelphia ("B" Division). Other clubs have also added teams to offer more competitive opportunities for their members. Both the Patriots and Villanova University added a squad to the mix in each of the brackets.

In the "A" Division look for the Kingfish Vets and Greater Philly to be two of the stronger returning teams, while Asphalt Green comes in with a talented and experienced roster that will also contend for the title. The "B" Division could be wide open with YOE probably the frontrunner as the season opens. The league wraps up in mid-March with championships for each bracket.

Complete Schedule

2nd Annual Cutino Cup Set for April 14-15

MORAGA, Calif. -- To honor and continue the legacy of a Hall of Fame coach, American Water Polo announces the Second Annual Peter J. Cutino Cup for Masters level athletes.

The inaugural event of the American Water Polo Masters Cup Series, the Cutino Cup will take place on Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15, 2012 in the East Bay area of Northern California at the Soda Aquatic Center at Campolindo High School in Moraga, Calif.

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men's and women's teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division (although teams will be allowed to make some "roster adjustments" as need).   

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of two games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo.  Officiating will be coordinated by Jeff Roy.

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites. 

To achieve this goal, local club teams will help set-up the course and run the desk at each age group pool.  In addition to the learning experience of helping out at an event of this caliber and meeting many great players of the game who will be in attendance, the local clubs will be raising funds for their efforts and assist in growing the sport of water polo in the local area - a region in which Cutino made his name and consistently gave back to the community.

Complete results of the 2011 Cutino Cup are available by clicking here.

About Pete Cutino
A legendary California coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

"The ability to name the Cup after an icon in water polo like Coach Cutino is a way we can honor those who have provided so much to the sport. Pete Cutino is undeniably one of the greatest," states Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.

Cutino also served as a US National and 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.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives," according to University of California head men's water polo coach Kirk Everist. "Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute."

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino's legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

"Pete made all of us love the sport of Water Polo and because of that many of his "boys" still love to play the game and the Peter J. Cutino Cup will be a fitting way to honor Pete's sizable impact on each and every one of us," adds Everist.

To Register for the Cutino Cup
Payment & Fees: $450 per team by March 15 or $525 late entry fee by March 31.

Paypal to CCUMastersPolo@gmail.com or make checks payable to Tri Valley Water Polo.  Additional information, registration forms and address information for the tournament are available on the Cutino Cup website at http://www.CutinoCup.com. 

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, access the AWP website at: http://www.americanwaterpolo.org or contact Dan Sharadin at 610-277-6787 or office@americanwaterpolo.org

About American Water Polo
Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Water Polo (AWP) is among the leaders in a new generation of scholastic and Masters sports organizations whose purpose is to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to enjoy the sport of water polo.

More than just an administrative service, AWP's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to be involved in the sport of water polo and to provide its members with the highest degree of customer satisfaction at an affordable price.

Focused on giving unrivaled service to its members, American Water Polo offers insurance coverage and competitive opportunities for teams at an affordable rate by operating leagues and competitions, as well as providing assistance for individual teams to do so independent of the national office.

Main Line League

The Main Line League Senior Division information is now posted. This year is expected to have the most teams in recent years with competition in both an "A" and "B" division, combining local college teams with AWP club programs.

Games will take place primarily at Villanova University with a few satellite contests at various universities throught the season. All teams will be guaranteed ten games including a championship.

To access the information, CLICK HERE.

Donate to Save Maryland Water Polo

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- In order to Save Water Polo, a steering group of alumni, parents and friends is working with athletic department staff to raise $4,205,366 in cash donations by June 30, 2012.

You can help us to avoid program elimination for Maryland Water Polo by making a donation now, either online or by mail or fax. No donation is too large or too small.

Should we not be able to save our sport, donations will either be re-designated or refunded, depending on the date of donation. Please see the Donor FAQ or Gift Agreement for details.

Teams will work to raise funds independently, but in order for the University of Maryland to continue to comply with the non-negotiable requirements of the federal Title IX law, to save a men's program, we must also reach the fund raising goal for a women's program with similar squad size and scholarship commitments, and vice versa.

Make your gift to SAVE MARYLAND WATER POLO today. If you'd like to speak with a staff member about your gift intentions, contact Julie Potter at (301) 314-7077 or potter@umd.edu.

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A Letter from the University of Maryland Women's Water Polo Team

The Save Maryland Water Polo website can be found here - please give today.

Our existence depends on you.

Thank you -

University of Maryland Women's Water Polo

Illinois Girls Winter League Information Available

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Information on the Girls' Illinois Winter League is now available on the American Water Polo website by CLICKING HERE.

Founded by Ed Prystalski in December 2010, the league provides competition for girls in high school.

Cost: $400/team. Checks should be made payable to Illinois Water Polo and sent directly to:

Ed Prystalski
1409 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60642

For more information, contact Ed Prystalski 773-316-1625, ede1108@comcast.net

The league features:

* Six minute quarters
* Two-minute break between 1st and 3rtd qtrs
* Three-minute break at half
* Two time-outs
* No overtime

CWPA to Stream 2011 Men's Eastern Championship

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The road to the 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship will once again go through Cambridge, Mass. as Harvard University will host the 2011 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship on Friday-Sunday, November 18-20.

A match-up of the top four teams from the Southern Division and Northern Division Championships, the eight-team CWPA Eastern Championship will decide the league's representative to the four-team NCAA Championship set for December 3-4 at the University of California-Berkeley.

If you can not make it to Cambridge for the East Coast's biggest water polo championship, do not worry.  The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 12 games live on Friday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below:

Georgia Tech to Host Men's National Collegiate Club Championship this Weekend

ATLANTA, Ga. -- 16 teams will take to the pool, but only one will leave with the title of National Champion as the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will host the 2011 Men's National Collegiate Club Championship at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia on November 11-13.

Featuring champions from 15 of the league's divisions (Atlantic, Big Ten, Florida, Great Lakes, Great Plains, Mid-Atlantic, Missouri Valley, New England, New York, Northwest, Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountain, Sierra Pacific, Southeast, Texas), along the Southeast Division runner-up Emory University, the tournament features 30-games over three days to decide which collegiate club program is the best in the nation.

Competing division championship teams include: University of Southern California (Pacific Coast), Texas Tech University (Texas), University of Michigan (Big Ten), University of Florida (Florida), Arizona State University (Rocky Mountain), St. Louis University (Missouri Valley), Yale University (New England), University of Oregon (Northwest), University of California-Santa Cruz (Sierra Pacific), Villanova University (Mid-Atlantic), University of Illinois-Chicago (Great Lakes), University of North Carolina (Atlantic), Georgia Tech (Southeast/Host), Columbia University (New York) and Illinois State University (Great Plains).  Emory makes the field at No. 16 due to Georgia Tech capturing the Southeast title and holding the No. 13 position in the tournament.

A complete schedule for the tournament is available by CLICKING HERE, and features links to directions to Georgia Tech's campus.

For fans that will be in the Greater Atlanta area over the weekend, ticket prices for the tournament are:

• General Admission: $25 Weekend Pass, $13 Day Pass
• Georgia Tech Students & Staff: $12 Weekend Pass, $5 Day Pass

In addition, for fans unable to attend the championship, the CWPA will once again offer live-streaming of all 30-games through the league's partnership with Stretch Internet.  The cost for a weekend pass to watch the entire tournament is $25, while individual contests can be purchased at a cost $10/game.  Fans can access the streaming page directly by CLICKING HERE, or by visiting the Multimedia Link on the front page of the CWPA website.

The championship will be held at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC), a 300,659 sq.ft. facility that was completed in August 2004. Located off of Ferst Drive on the West side of campus, this state of the art facility is a unique expansion of the existing swimming and diving venue (Georgia Tech Aquatics Center) that served as the site of all swimming, diving and synchronized swimming competition as well as the swimming portion of the modern pentathlon during the Centennial Olympic Games in the summer of 1996.

Along with hosting the '96 Olympics, the GTAC played host to the 2005 Men's and Women's Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships and was the site of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Championships.

The 1,900-seat main stadium contains a competition pool and dive pool.

The competition pool is 50 meters by 10 lanes, with two movable bulkheads so that courses can be set up for 25 yards, 25 meters or 30 meters for water polo. It also features a movable floor which can be set from zero depth to seven feet, eight inches.

During the 1996 Olympic Games, the GTAC also included a temporary water polo pool with a seating capacity of 4,000. It was used for all competition except the finals, which were held in the main pool.

The original $21 million facility was funded entirely by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG). Construction on the facility began in July 1994 and was completed in time to host the VIIth Synchronized Swimming World Cup in August 1995. The newly-renovated enclosure of the GTAC is part of an over $45 million expansion to the CRC.

Other test events held at the facility included the Nations Bank Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, the IXth Diving World Cup and the IXth Water Polo World Cup, as the National Collegiate Club Championship will continue a tradition of world-class events at the CRC.

The CRC continues a tradition of standout athletic facilities for National Collegiate Club Championship competition as Southern Utah University (2010), University of Florida (2009, 2001), Ohio University (2008), University of Arizona (2007), Miami University of Ohio (2006), Williams College (2005), University of Notre Dame (2004), Texas A&M University (2003), California Polytechnic State University (2002) and University of Washington/King City Aquatic Center (2000) most recently hosted the tournament.

In the history of the championship, Northwestern University (1993), the United States Military Academy (1994), the University of Dayton (1995), the University of Michigan (1996, 1998, 2003), Dartmouth College (1997), California Polytechnic State University (1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007), Michigan State University (2000, 2006, 2008), Grand Valley State University (2005) and the University of California-Los Angeles (2009, 2010) have claimed titles. 

History could be made this year as UC-Santa Cruz, which captured the Division III National Collegiate Club Championship last year at Macalester College, can become the first program to win both the Division III and National Collegiate Club Championships.

In addition, several teams will have a chance to become the first East Coast program since Dartmouth College in 1997 to capture a National Collegiate Club Championship.  Since the Big Green claimed the prize against the University of Colorado, only four squads east of Michigan have qualified for the title tilt (Pennsylvania State University - 1998, University of Richmond - 1999, Villanova University - 2001, Florida International University - 2009), with none leaving the championship site with the a tournament.

National Collegiate Club Championship to be Streamed

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will stream all 30 games of the 2011 Men's National Collegiate Club Championship on Friday-Sunday, November 11-13 at the Georgia Institute of Technology's (Georgia Tech) Campus Recreation Center.

The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 30 games live on Friday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

A match-up of 16 teams from 15 of the CWPA's divisions, the championship will feature 12 games on both Friday and Sunday before six placement games on Sunday to determine which collegiate club team is the best in the nation.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below:

Men's Division III Collegiate Club Championship to be Streamed

CLINTON, N.Y. -- The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) will stream all 12 games of the 2011 Men's Division III National Collegiate Club Championship on Saturday-Sunday, November 5-6 at Hamilton College.

The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 12 games live on Saturday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

A match-up of eight teams from six of the CWPA's divisions, the championship will feature eight games on Saturday and four placement games on Sunday to determine which program is the best small college team in the nation.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below:

2011 Eastern Championship to be Streamed

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The road to the 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship will once again go through Cambridge, Mass. as Harvard University will host the 2011 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship on Friday-Sunday, November 18-20.

A match-up of the top four teams from the Southern Division and Northern Division Championships, the eight-team CWPA Eastern Championship will decide the league's representative to the four-team NCAA Championship set for December 3-4 at the University of California-Berkeley.

If you can not make it to Cambridge for the East Coast's biggest water polo championship, do not worry.  The CWPA, in partnership with Stretch Internet, will be streaming all 12 games live on Friday-Sunday for the league's fans at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a weekend pass that allows viewers to watch every game from the comfort of their home or office.  In addition, each game will be archived so that fans can catch up on the action if they miss a game.

Fans can access the streaming page by clicking on the GameCentral link below:

Wissahickon Trojan Water Polo Claims State Championship

Water Polo Pioneer: Don Atwood

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- My long-time friend Don Atwood was involved with water polo for almost 20 years, during which he contributed greatly to the sport.   He played four years collegiately at Purdue University.  Then he served for nine years as a player, coach, and organizer with the Houston (Texas) Water Polo Club, after which he coached at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez for several years.  Following his highly-successful playing and coaching days, he officiated internationally as a FINA-certified referee.

Here’s a look at the complete story.  Don was born in New England in 1933 and attended St. Michael’s College before moving on to Purdue University, where he played polo under Coach Denes Nagy in the late 1950s while obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry.   In 1960, he went to work in Houston as a research specialist for the Exxon Corp.  While there, he worked with Doc Hunkler – who was the coach at Waltrip High School – to get water polo started in that city.  The Houston Water Polo Club (HWPC) included a large number of players from Art Adamson’s Texas A&M program.  After Doc Hunkler left to teach and coach at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, Don developed a women’s water polo program in Houston.  

The initial women’s team was actually a group of teenaged girls who came from the Bellaire Recreation Swim Team, the Meyerland Swim Club, and the Dad’s Club YMCA.  They trained in the large diving area at Phil Hansel’s Sharpstown Swim Club, scrimmaging against the HWPC men’s team. 

There were very few women’s teams in the country at that time in history, perhaps two dozen altogether, and they were playing under the auspices of the AAU and YMCA.  The Y conducted its first National Women’s Championships at Belleville, Illinois, in 1967, with the Davenport, Iowa, team, led by player-coach Ruth Johnson, beating Des Moines, Iowa, in the finale.

The second YMCA Women’s Championships were hosted in 1968 by East St. Louis, and Don Atwood’s team, representing the Dad’s Club Y of Houston, came and conquered, defeating defending titlist Davenport and three other entries.  Don’s team was incredibly fast, with five starters having qualified for the National Swimming Championships in the 100-meter freestyle.  Their passing was quick and their shooting was pin-point accurate, and they moved from the defensive end of the pool to the offensive end with such speed that the opposing teams had no chance of keeping up.  

Encouraged by their showing at the YMCA Championships, Don and his girls traveled East to the AAU’s Senior National Women’s Championships at Arlington, Virginia, where they faced not only several top teams but also a different style of playing.  The women, whose competitive efforts were then in their infancy, were debating whether to follow the men’s rules, which resulted in rough, tough, physical action, or a less aggressive type of game, with more of an emphasis on swimming.   At Arlington, the Houston girls, whose training was almost always against male players and under the existing men’s rules, were shocked by the officiating and never adjusted to the style of play.   Nevertheless two of the Texas teens were selected as All-America.

Back home, the HWPC conducted an AAU Junior National Women’s tournament, but only two teams entered.  Ruth Johnson came from Iowa to help out.  She coached one team and Don the other.  Incidentally, Ruth played a prominent role in advancing women’s water polo.  She was not only an All-American herself but also a good coach, and she pushed, pushed, pushed for having two referees for the women’s games, a rule that was subsequently adopted nationally not only for the women but also for the men, and eventually internationally. 

In 1969, Don Atwood moved to Puerto Rico to become an Associate Professor of Chemical Oceanography for that university’s graduate programs.  The sport of water polo was booming under the guidance of Harry Hauck, the former Detroit coach who’d also moved to Puerto Rico, with a helping hand from the Puerto Rican Swimming Association (PRSA).  Jose Enrique Arraras, the Rector at the university in Mayaguez where Don was teaching, built a huge outdoor swimming stadium and hired Jose Portela as the swimming coach and Don as the water polo coach.  The PRSA and Harry Hauck had created an age group water polo league, and soon teams from San Juan, Ponce, and Mayaguez were competing in all of the age divisions.  This was with Rector Arraras’ strong support, as he saw the Mayaguez boys’ teams becoming feeders for the university’s men’s team.

The youth league conducted Sunday games in three age groups – 12 and under, 13-to-15, and 16-and-over. The island-wide Puerto Rican men’s team, coached by Harry Hauck, had already competed in the AAU Men’s Senior Nationals at the New York Athletic Club and in the Pan-American Games, and now the Puerto Rican boys’ teams began participating in the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships, which was another step forward.

Don’s University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez men’s team started dominating the PR intercollegiate championships, beating teams from San Juan and Ponce.  Don recalls that whenever his team won, the Rector would be standing in a suit and tie at poolside with a bunch of photographers.   When the final whistle blew, he would leap fully clothed into the pool to hug the nearest player on the team.  Those pictures always appeared magically on the front page of the San Juan newspapers the next day.

Out of this programming came a group of young girls who were interested in playing polo, including Don’s daughter, Janet Atwood, and her American friend Leah Kay from Mayaguez, plus some swimmers from Harry Hauck’s Condada team in San Juan.  They practiced with the men and boys and became so good that Harry and Don staged an exhibition game at San Juan’s Escambron pool.  It caught the attention of the press, and when Monday’s newspapers came out, they had feature stories and photos with comments like “These girls are not shy” and “They play as aggressively as the men.”

Don was elated until Harry called and spoiled his joy.  “I guess you know this is the end of women’s water polo in Puerto Rico,” Harry said.  Don was totally dumbfounded and asked, “Why?”  Harry answered, “Because no PR parents want their daughters to be as aggressive as the men.  It’s just not part of the local culture.”   Sure enough, at the next women’s practice, only two girls showed up.  They were Janet Atwood and Leah Kay.  That was the end of the girls’ game in PR, at least for a while.   Note: Puerto Rico eventually started promoting women’s water polo again, and their ladies’ team has qualified for the 2011 Pan-Am Games, being held later this month at Guadalajara, Mexico.

But Don Atwood wasn’t done.  To continue with this story, he became certified as a FINA referee, officiating men’s games in Puerto Rico and Venezuela.  He recently told me, “I was refereeing a game here in PR in which Bob Helmick’s outstanding team of men and boys from the Des Moines YMCA was taking on a team from Colombia.  The Colombians became quite upset with a call I made and tried to turn the game into the ridiculous with a lot of grabbing and fighting.  When we had a re-start in mid-pool after a Des Moines goal, they threw the ball into Bob Helmick’s face.  I then stopped the game.”

Don told me of another incident.  “Whenever the Des Moines YMCA team came to Puerto Rico, it was during the long Midwest winters or the early spring, and Bob Helmick loved to bask in the sun.  Between matches, he’d cover himself with lotion and sit in the stands.  On one occasion, when Des Moines was playing the New York Athletic Club, I was the referee.  As the game progressed, the NYAC captain asked for a time-out and came over to me, complaining that Bob had oiled his body, which was against the rules.  I called Bob over, and sure enough, he had residual lotion all over, so I told him to take a soapy shower.  When he did, the NYAC coach ran up with the rule book, which clearly stated that any player leaving the pool improperly was to be ejected, with his team playing a man short thereafter.  I had to enforce the rule.  Up to that point, Des Moines had been giving favored NYAC a very close game, but NYAC went on to win handily.  Needless to say, Bob was very angry!”

Don also remembers when a team of teenaged boys came from Orange County, California, seemingly convinced that they’d win the Puerto Rico tournament in a breeze.  But in their first two games, they were beaten soundly by PR and Jamaica, and they still had to take on Des Moines, the NYAC, and Trinidad.   These teams of fully-grown men had much more experience than the Orange County kids and knew every trick in the book.  After their first two games, the Californians complained bitterly about the referees.  Thus Don was assigned their next game against Des Moines.  They lost that one too, and never could own up to the fact that it was not the refereeing but the competence of the other teams that was the deciding factor.

Once, Don said, the Puerto Rican National Men’s Team was playing in Venezuela, and Don was refereeing the PR vs. Club Italiano game.   It was tied with just a few seconds remaining, and a PR defensive player committed a major foul inside the four-yard line.  Don gave a penalty shot to the Venezuelan, who made the shot and won the contest for his side.  As Don left the pool, an Italiano fan barreled out of the stands and hugged and kissed Don and said, “At last … a fair referee.”  The PR coach was walking behind them, and when they reached the locker room, he shook his head and said, “Wow, Atwood, you sure know how to make friends.”   But the tale doesn’t end there.  Both PR and Club Italiano advanced to the final game and had to play again.  The Italianos asked for Don to be the referee, and he was appointed.  By then the PR team had found its ‘zone’ and drubbed their opponents.    As Don left the venue, the same gentleman charged out of the stands, screaming epithets and saying Don was stupid and didn’t know anything about the sport of water polo.  The PR coach was behind them again, and this time he ended up laughing.  As for Don, it was another example of how fans feel – that when their team wins, it’s because they played well, but when their team loses, it’s because of a bad referee.

Don left Puerto Rico in the mid 1970s and went to Miami to serve for the next 20 years as Director of Ocean Chemistry Research for NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  On one of my many past trips to Miami, he took me (Chuck Hines) and my wife Lee to his research facility.  As my wife and I have been enthusiastic oceanic skin-divers over the years, we were fascinated by Don and his work.

In return, we brought Don to Asheville, our hometown, to officiate at the North American Women’s Invitational which we hosted in the summer of 1977.  This was a tough tourney, with the excellent Ste-Foy team from Quebec, Canada, ranked second in the world at that time behind only the Hilversum club from Holland, beating our Asheville YMCA ladies, whom I coached, by 9-to-6 in the championship clash.  We were tied at halftime, 5-to-5, but in the second half, we lost two starters who accumulated three major fouls each, and that spelled doom for Asheville.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ste-Foy won, but it was the darn ref who caused us to lose!  Luckily I don’t think any of our Asheville fans charged out of the stands and assaulted the ref … who was Don … who actually did a sensational job of officiating at this event, which found Miami taking third place, Fort Lauderdale fourth, and Houston fifth.

This was Asheville’s last appearance in national water polo competition, although we’ve kept on playing locally and intramuraly amongst ourselves ever since; and I believe this also was Don Atwood’s final appearance on the national water polo stage.  He became involved with bicycle racing and then, after retiring from NOAA in the mid 1990s, he took up dancing and dance choreography as a second career.  For many years, he’s been one of the leading dance experts in the country.  Now semi-retired and residing in Colorado, he has a web-site that can be found at www.worlddancereviews.com.  This month (October, 2011), Don is being given an award in Denver as one of Colorado’s “living dance legends.”  He opines this is mostly because he’s stayed alive for so long.

I haven’t seen Don in many years, but he and I continue to keep in touch via email.  He’s one of the smartest men I know, with a tremendous sense of humor, and although not many current water polo enthusiasts know about him, Don contributed A LOT to the sport in the past.   When I was serving as chairman of the AAU’s national women’s water polo committee, I could always count on Don for good advice.  That’s still true today.

Don has recently been recognized as one of the Pioneer Coaches of Women’s Water Polo by Water Polo Planet, and several of the girls from his HWPC and Dad’s Club YMCA teams from back in the 1960s are listed in WPP’s Pioneer Players of Women’s Water Polo Hall of Honor.

There are a number of unsung heroes in our sport, and Don Atwood is one of them.

Did You Know?

• * The modern game originated as a form of rugby football played in rivers and lakes in England and Scotland with a ball constructed of Indian rubber. This "water rugby" came to be called "water polo" based on the English pronunciation of the Balti word for ball, pulu.

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• * The rules of water polo were originally developed in the late nineteenth century in Great Britain by William Wilson.

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• * To deal with variations in regional rules, in 1888, the London Water Polo League was founded and approved a set of rules to allow team competition, forming the basis of the present game. The first English championships were played in 1888. In 1890, the first international water polo game was played; Scotland defeated England, 4-0.

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• * The annual Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities is the sport's longest running rivalry, first played in 1891.

• Men's water polo at the Olympics was the first team sport introduced at the 1900 games, along with cricket, rugby, soccer, polo (with horses), rowing and tug of war.

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• * Between 1890 and 1900, the game developed in Europe, with teams competing in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Hungary and Italy, using British rules. A different game was being played in the United States, characterized by rough play, holding, diving underwater, and soft, semi-inflated ball that could be gripped tightly and carried underwater. As a result, European teams did not compete in the 1904 Olympic championships in St. Louis. By 1914, most US teams agreed to conform to international rules. An international water polo committee was formed in 1929, consisting of representatives from Great Britain and the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA). Rules were developed for international matches and put into effect in 1930; FINA has been the international governing body for the sport since that time.

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• * Women's water polo became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games after political protests from the Australian women's team.

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• * Every two to four years since 1973, a men's Water Polo World Championship is organized within the FINA World Aquatics Championships. Women's water polo was added in 1986. A second tournament series, the FINA Water Polo World Cup, has been held every other year since 1979. In 2002, FINA organized the sport's first international league, the FINA Water Polo World League.
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• * Over the years, both technical and rule changes affected the character of the game. In 1928, Hungarian water polo coach Bela Komjadi invented the "air pass," or "dry pass", a technique in which a player directly passes the ball through the air to another player, who receives it without the ball hitting the water. Previously, players would let the ball drop in the water first and then reach out for it, but the dry pass made the offensive game more dynamic, and contributed to Hungarian dominance of water polo for 60 years. In 1936, James R. ("Jimmy") Smith, California water polo coach and author of several books on water polo mechanics, developed a water polo ball made with an inflatable bladder and a rubber fabric cover, which improved performance. The previous leather ball absorbed water and became heavier during the game. In 1949, rule changes allowed play to continue uninterrupted after a referee whistled an ordinary foul, speeding up play. In the 1970s, the exclusion foul replaced a point system for major fouls; players guilty of this foul were excluded for a 1 minute penalty and their team forced to play with fewer players. Possession of the ball was limited to 45 seconds before a scoring attempt. Time of penalties and possession have been reduced since then. The direct shot on goal from the seven (7) meter line after a free throw was allowed in 1994, and changed to a five meter throw in 2005.

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• * Not all water polo rules are the same.  For example, overtime is different on the international level and in college.  In FINA (international) rules, if the score is tied at the end of regulation play, two overtime periods of three minutes each are played. If the tie is not broken after two overtime periods, a penalty shootout will determine the winner, much like in hockey. Five players and a goalkeeper are chosen by the coaches of each team. Players shoot from the 5 meter line alternately at either end of the pool in turn until all five have taken a shot. If the score is still tied, the same players shoot alternately until one team misses and the other scores. Overtime periods are common in tournament play due to the high level of skill of these superior teams; Team USA defeated Hungary in the 2004 Women's Water Polo World League Super Final when US goalie Jackie Frank made 2 stops on penalty shots.

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• * Differing from FINA rules, overtime in American college varsity water polo play is sudden victory, first team to score wins, after the two three minute overtime periods. There are no shootouts, the overtimes simply continue until a team scores.

• 
  
• * All water polo is not the same, either, as the game has developed into different variations.

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• * Inner tube water polo is a style of water polo with the important difference that players, excluding the goalkeeper, are required to float in inner tubes. By floating in an inner tube players expend less energy than traditional water polo players, not having to tread water. This allows casual players to enjoy water polo without undertaking the intense conditioning required for conventional water polo. This sport is predominantly played at universities/colleges by intramural coed teams. The sport's rules resemble those of water polo, however, with no governing body the rules vary across different leagues. For example, while the winner is determined by the team which scores the most goals, some leagues award one point for a male goal, and two points for a female goal, while others award one for either. The game was invented in 1969 by now retired UC Davis associate athletic director of intramural sports and sport clubs, Gary Colberg. Noticing how much fun the water polo team was having, Mr. Colberg thought up the idea of using tubes so that people with no experience in water polo could still enjoy the game.

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• * Surf polo, another variation of water polo, is played on surfboards. First played on the beaches of Waikiki in Hawaii in the 1930s and 1940s, it is credited to Louis Kahanamoku, Duke Kahanamoku's brother.

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• * Canoe Polo or kayak polo is one of the eight disciplines of canoeing pursued in the UK, known simply as "polo" by its aficionados. Polo combines paddling and ball handling skills with an exciting contact team game, where tactics and positional play are as important as the speed and fitness of the individual athletes.

* In 1999, the Peter J. Cutino Award was established by the San Francisco Olympic Club, and is presented annually to the top American male and female collegiate water polo player.

• * Musician Sean Paul is a former member of Jamaica's national water polo team.

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• * Former major league baseball commissioner and US Olympic Committee chair Peter Ueberroth was a water polo player at San Jose State.

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• * Prince William of England was the captain of his collegiate water polo team at St Andrew's University, Scotland.

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• * Captain Jonathan Archer (played by actor Scott Bakula), a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, played water polo for Stanford University and competed in the 2134 North American Water Polo Regionals against Princeton University.  A water polo ball can be seen in many shots on the show.
  

The Life of Edwin Hubble

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Not all water polo players have made their name in the water, nor have all players gone onto make a name which transcended the terrestial plane.

But for one player from the Heartland of America, his work and name have transcended the realm of science and Earth to stand apart for explaining that the Milky Way Galaxy is but one of an ever-growing number in the universe.

Born to Virginia Lee James, from Virginia City, Nevada, and John Powell Hubble, an insurance executive from Missouri, in Marshfield, Missouri on November 20, 1889 during a visit to his father's parents, Edwin Powell Hubble's family moved to Wheaton, Illinois, in 1898 to be closer to his father's offices in Chicago.

Renowned more for his athletic abilities as a child, including seven first and a third place finish at a high school track meet in 1906, Hubble achieved both athletic and academic success.  Excelling in every subject except spelling, the Illinois state high jump record-holder for a number of years took an interest in fly-fishing and amateur boxing in his youth in addition to novels, including those of Jules Verne.

On his high school commencement day in 1906, the principal said, "Edwin Hubble, I have watched for four years and I have never seen you study for ten minutes." He then paused and continued, "Here is a scholarship to the University of Chicago."

However, by mistake, his high school scholarship was also awarded to another student, thus the money had to be halved, and Hubble had to supply the rest. He paid his expenses by tutoring and summer work, before earning a scholarship in physics and by working as a laboratory assistant to Robert Millikan in his junior year.

Excelling in mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy to earn a bachelor of science degree in 1910, he also performed well in athletics earning letters in track, boxing and basketball.

A member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Chicago, and the organization's 1948 Kappa Sigma "Man of the Year", he spent the next four years after earning his bachelor's degree in England at Oxford University's Queens College as one of the first Rhodes Scholars.

It is at Oxford where he picked up the sport of water polo, competing for the university's team while continuing his academic studies.  Originally a jurisprudence major, he changed his major to Spanish in which he earned a master's degree before returning to the United State in 1913.

Upon returning to North America, he acquired a position as a teacher of Spanish, physics, and mathematics at the New Albany High School in New Albany, Indiana. He also coached the boy's basketball team there in addition to earning admission as a member of the Kentucky bar association, practicing law for a year thereafter in Louisville.

He reported that at this time he "chucked the law for astronomy, and I knew that even if I were second-rate or third-rate, it was astronomy that mattered." Thus in 1914 he returned to the University of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory for postgraduate work leading to his doctoral degree in astronomy.

While finishing work for his doctorate early in 1917, Hubble was invited to join the staff of the Carnegie Institution's Mount Wilson Observatory, Pasadena, California, by founder George Ellery Hale.  Although this was one of the greatest of astronomical opportunities, it came in April with World War I raging on. After sitting up all night to finish his Ph.D. thesis, and taking the oral examination the next morning, Hubble enlisted in the infantry and telegraphed the Observatory, "Regret cannot accept your invitation. Am off to the war."

He was commissioned a captain in the 343d Infantry, 86th Division and later became a major. He was sent to France where he served as a field and line officer. He returned to the United States in the summer of 1919, was mustered out in San Francisco, and went immediately to Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory where he remained with a few interruptions for the remainder of his life.

It is at Mount Wilson over the next 22 years that he changed the world's perspective of the universe as he photographed the sky through the Hooker Telescope, then the most powerful telescope in the world. Hubble identified Cepheid stars within the Andromeda Nebula, and proved that they were outside of the Milky Way galaxy, as part of identifying other galaxies to affirm for the first time that our galaxy is one of millions within the universe.

Hubble also used the Hooker telescope to develop “Hubble’s Constant,” which defines the linear relationship between a galaxy’s distance and the speed with which it moves. Hubble noted that the farther apart galaxies are from each other, the faster they move apart, illustrating that the Universe is expanding uniformly. This conclusion helps to substantiate the “Big Bang” theory, which states that everything in the universe originated from a single point and dispersed from there.

In addition to his research, Hubble settled down and married Grace Burke on February 26, 1924, before the outbreak of World War II led to his relocation to the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. For his work there he received the Medal of Merit award in 1946 for "oustanding contribution and achievement in ballistics research."

After the end of World War II, he returned to Mount Wilson to contribute to the design of the Hale telescope and helped direct the building of the Palomar Observatory, where he worked until his death from a cerebral thrombosis (a spontaneous blood clot in his brain) on September 28, 1953 in San Marino, California.  No funeral was held for him, and his wife never revealed what happened to his body, taking the secret to her grave.
 
Today, one of NASA's most advanced tools, the Hubble Telescope, serves as a legacy to the great astronomer. The Hubble mission began in 1990 when the telescope was launched to orbit the Earth outside of the atmosphere. It has since provided hundreds of thousands of images and helped researchers determine the age of the universe.

Ironically, the telescope that bears his name was revived in 1997 by another water polo player, as seven-time swimming and water polo All-America Steve Smith, who led the Stanford University Cardinal to two NCAA water polo championships, was the primary astronaut repair technician.

Peering Into Polo's Past with Andy Burke - Part XII

After finishes the original articles, I happened to think of one incident that happened that might be interesting to some? It certainly was an experience for me.

I wrote in the article that in 1991, I was honored to be selected by USAS to serve as the Chef-de-Mission for the US Aquatic Teams at the World Championship in Perth, Australia. An incident happened toward the end of the Championship that was really challenging. The plans made for the various teams had the bulk of the athletes and coaches leaving Perth at 11:30 PM on the night of January 14^th for Sydney, and then out of Sydney to Los Angeles on January 15^th.

This seemed like no problem, but as it turned out, Iraq had invaded Kuwait and the World was in great unrest.

The US athletes strongly favored the problems of Kuwait, and there were many badges worn by all that said “Free Kuwait”. The problem that arose was with the scheduling for the start of the operation titled “Desert Storm”; it was scheduled to begin on January 15^th. Moving approximately 200 US athletes on this date presented a major target for any terrorists. When we found out that this coincided with our travel home, I contacted United Airlines and the US State Department to discuss the problem with them. They brought in the Australian government and due to the time differences between the US and Australia, I spent most of the next three days on the phone discussing how we could do this with the minimum exposure of the athletes. I would guess that I probably averaged about 3-4 hours of sleep for the last three days, as trying to coordinate between the different entities, and keeping all of our teams up to date was very time consuming.

What was finally worked out was that all of our delegation was notified that no one was to wear any clothing with USA designation on it and that all bags were to have any USA insignia taped over. It was arranged with the Australian Military that they would come in the afternoon to pick up all luggage and bring it to a secured hanger in the cargo area of the airport. At 7:30 PM, they came and picked up all those flying that night and took us to the hanger at the cargo area. Once there, all luggage was checked again to make sure that any USA insignia was taped over, and each person had to identify their luggage before it was marked for loading. At about 11:00 PM, buses showed up at the Cargo area to take us out across the tarmac to the plane that was to take us to Sydney. You can imagine the surprise of the few other passengers that had boarded the plane through the terminal when the doors opened up and our group came aboard the plane. Once it was loaded and checked, the doors were closed again and we took off for Sydney.

We landed at the domestic terminal in Sydney about 6:00 am and had to transfer over to the International Terminal; again we were met by airline personnel and moved separately from any normal transfers. United Airlines had brought in their personnel to check us in for our flight, which was about 3:30 in the afternoon. They also provided us with a check in area for any carry-on luggage, so we could come back after and pick it up and head directly for the plane as we were already checked in for the flight. I had arranged for five buses to take the group to various tourist attractions in Sydney, so that the group was dispersed throughout Sydney, rather than in one large group. The buses brought everyone back about 2:30 PM, and we were able to go directly onto the plane. United had bumped me up to First Class (which was really a pleasure after handling all of these arrangements) and when the stewardess came by and asked me what I wanted, I just said, "Give me big glass of Tanqueray Gin with a lot of ice, and wake me up when dinner is served". She did that, I drank it and went to sleep. She came by as each course of dinner was served to wake me as I would eat it and then go back to sleep.

It really was an adventure to have the pressure of the responsibility for such a large group of American Athletes which could have been a prime target for terrorists. The cooperation of the US State Department, the Australian Government and military, United Airlines and our US Aquatic Teams was just great. It was an adventure that I will never forget.

For the Brotherhood of Sport,

Andy Burke

Editor’s Note by Chuck Hines:  Andy Burke built San Francisco. Well, not quite. But in his profession, his real job, at which he worked for 37 years, he provided the City with concrete. It is impossible to tour San Francisco without seeing some of Andy’s handiwork, including the Transbay Tube (BART), all 212,000 yards of it. He also has been a super husband to his wife Carolyn, and together they’ve raised four children, all boys and all successful. Now 81, Andy, a San Francisco native, and Carolyn reside in San Carlos, Calif., where they spend as much time as possible with their 14 grandchildren. Through it all, dating back to his teenaged years, Andy has been one of water polo’s most avid and stalwart supporters. In fact, I do not know ANYONE who has contributed more to the sport over the past 50-60 years than him.

Beast of the East Tournament Set for this Weekend

READING, Pa. -- The 2011 Beast of the East Tournament featuring some of the best high school boys' and girls' teams from the Northeast will be held on Friday-Saturday, September 23-24 at Wilson High School (Friday First Round and Saturday Flight One Championship), Governor Mifflin High School (Friday First Round and Saturday Flight Two Championship), Muhlenberg High School (Friday First Round and Saturday JV Tournament), Reading High School (Friday First Round and Saturday Flight Three Championship), Pottsville High School (Friday First Round), Perkiomen Valley High School (Friday First Round), Cumberland Valley High School (Friday First Round), Upper Merion High School (Friday First Round) and Central York High School (Saturday Flight Four Championship).

The event will feature over sixty varsity and junior varsity teams from five different states including: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio and New Jersey. This is a great recruiting opportunity for collegiate coaches to see a large number of the top male and female players from the Northeast in one weekend. College coaches attending the event will be admitted free.

The tournament schedule for both varsity dates and the junior varsity tournament are available at the following links:

• JV Tournament Schedule (PDF)
• Varsity Tournament Schedule (PDF)

Peering Into Polo's Past with Andy Burke - Part IX

1996 was again an Olympic year, with the Games being held in Atlanta, Georgia, where the men finished a disappointing seventh. We had played Spain in the quarter-finals to advance to the Medal Round and lost a very close game to them. Spain went on to win the Gold Medal behind outstanding play from their goalie Jesus Rollan and their outstanding field player Manuel Estiarte.      

1997 started a new quadrennial with a new head coach, John Vargas. The team traveled to Athens, Greece for the FINA Cup, where they produced a strong performance, winning the Gold Medal, followed by Greece and Hungary; while the women traveled to Nancy, France and finished in 7^th place, with Netherlands winning followed by Russia and Australia. 1998 was highlighted by the World Championships, back in Perth, Australia. The men’s team struggled some and finished in 7^th place, with Spain winning the Gold Medal followed by Yugoslavia and Russia; while the women finished in 8^th place, with Italy winning the Gold Medal, followed by Netherlands and Australia. 1999 went back to the FINA Cups, with the men traveling to Sidney, Australia, where they finished in 6^th place with Hungary winning the Gold, followed by Italy and Spain and the women traveling to Winnipeg, Canada, where they finished in 6^th place with Netherlands taking the Gold Medal, followed by Australia and Italy. At the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, the men continued their domination taking the Gold Medal, followed by Brazil and Canada; the women made their debut at these Games and finished second to Canada while Brazil took the Bronze medal.

2000 was the Olympic Year, with the Games being held in Sydney, Australia. Most of the water polo games were conducted at the Ryde Pool, with the finals being held at Homebush in the main swimming stadium. The men finished in 6^th place, while the women made their debut in the Olympic Games. The men’s side was won by Hungary, followed by Russia and Yugoslavia. The women played in the Homebush stadium pool against Australia in the Gold Medal Game in one of the best games ever played. The game was viewed by over 12,000 very noisy spectators, most of them Australian. It looked like the game was going to go to overtime when Australia scored in the final seconds with an outside shot. It was a devastating loss for the women, but again, there is nothing wrong with being the second best team in the World and I am sure that all the women prize their Silver Medal today. These Games served as the debut for Tony Azevedo for the United States. Tony has gone on to be a three time Olympian and one of the top players in the World. On the Women’s team was Maureen O’Toole, for many years considered as the top women’s player in the World. At age 39, she had come out of retirement to compete for a place on the team and won it. The ability to compete against women almost 15 years younger than her was a testament to the outstanding ability of this remarkable athlete and person.

Editor’s Note by Chuck Hines:  Andy Burke built San Francisco. Well, not quite. But in his profession, his real job, at which he worked for 37 years, he provided the City with concrete. It is impossible to tour San Francisco without seeing some of Andy’s handiwork, including the Transbay Tube (BART), all 212,000 yards of it. He also has been a super husband to his wife Carolyn, and together they’ve raised four children, all boys and all successful. Now 81, Andy, a San Francisco native, and Carolyn reside in San Carlos, Calif., where they spend as much time as possible with their 14 grandchildren. Through it all, dating back to his teenaged years, Andy has been one of water polo’s most avid and stalwart supporters. In fact, I do not know ANYONE who has contributed more to the sport over the past 50-60 years than him.

Peering Into Polo's Past with Andy Burke - Part VIII

Andy Burke (second from left) at USA Embassy in Cuba

1990 was an empty year, as the World Championships were held in January 1991 in Perth, Australia. I felt honored to be chosen by USAS to serve as Chef-de-Mission for the entire US Aquatic Team at these Championships. This entailed visits to Perth in January 1989 and 1990, to select the hotels for the US Team and work on the logistics for handling the different teams involved.

I made the first trip with Penny Taylor, who was the Team Leader for US Swimming. The organizers were surprised to see us this early, but were excellent hosts. After reviewing all the available hotels, we decided on the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle for all the teams except men’s water polo who wanted separate accommodations, and we selected a hotel in downtown Perth for them. A funny story is that about a year later, the Australian Federation contacted the Organizing Committee and said that they wanted the Esplanade Hotel as their Headquarters hotel. They were told sorry, but that the Americans already had it. Penny and I considered this a feather in our cap. Our men’s team played well, but ended up in fourth place, losing to Hungary 13-12. Yugoslavia was first with Spain second. In the women’s competition, Netherlands won the gold, Canada second and USA third.

Something interesting that happened at the FINA Congress in Perth was a proposal had been made to increase the time element of the game to four quarters of 9 minutes each. All of the major water polo countries, including the US, were in favor of this change. However, at the FINA Congress the smaller nations stood up and said that all this did was to allow the major countries eight more minutes to beat up on them and the proposal was soundly defeated. Funny how things are looked at from the different sides of a proposal?

1991 was also the Pan American Games, held in Havana, Cuba. We lost a very difficult game to Cuba for the Gold Medal, with Brazil taking third. The game was played on Fidel Castro’s birthday and he was present, so the Cuban team was sky high. I was privileged to escort Castro out to present the medals. I asked the Cuban member of the ASUA water polo committee if it would be okay to present Fidel with an ASUA pin. He said yes, but keep it in your hand, don’t reach into your pocket for it. When Castro came down from the stands he was accompanied by six bodyguards and two of them stood on either side of me when I welcomed him and presented the pin. Needless to say, it was not a very comfortable feeling.

The way the pool was laid out, the victory stands were separated from the stands by a building, so the crowd could not really observe the medal Ceremony. Our team asked me if it would be okay to sing Happy Birthday to Fidel, so I said okay and they did. Castro really enjoyed it, and much to chagrin of his bodyguards he went over and got right in the middle of the US Team. Many pictures were made from this episode. I have a great photo of myself and Castro when I was escorting him out to the medal ceremony. I have it sitting next to my cigar humidor and everyone always asked is that him? My response is that it is “Me and my cigar supplier”.

1992 was an Olympic year and with Bill Barnett still at the helm, we prepared to play in Barcelona, Spain.  The US again made the medal round, but lost to the Unified Team (the name they gave to the Russian Team after the breakup of the Soviet Union, so that they could participate) in the third place game, with Italy winning the Gold Medal and Spain the Silver Medal. With no Olympic competition, the women had the year off.

1993 brought both teams back to the FINA Cup, with the men traveling to Athens, Greece, to finish fourth behind Italy, Hungary and Australia. Bill Barnett had stepped down as National Team Coach and his place had been taken by Rich Corso, with Ricardo Azevedo and John Vargas serving as assistant coaches. The women traveled to Catania, Italy, where they finished sixth, with the Gold going to Netherlands, Silver to Italy and Bronze to Hungary.

1994 was the World Championships in Rome, Italy, with both teams participating. The men finished in sixth place, with the Gold going to Italy (home cooking is always best), Spain winning the Silver and Russia the bronze. The women finishing in fourth place behind Hungary, Netherlands and Italy

In 1995 the men’s FINA Cup was held in Atlanta as a test for the Olympic Games scheduled for Atlanta in 1996. The US again made the medal round, but again finished in fourth place, trailing Hungary, Italy and Russia. The women traveled to Sydney, Australia for their FINA Cup, finishing in sixth place, with Australia taking the Gold, Netherlands the Silver and Hungary the Bronze. 1995 was also the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The women were not yet included in these Championships, but the men won the Gold, with Brazil the Silver and Cuba the Bronze.

Editor’s Note by Chuck Hines:  Andy Burke built San Francisco. Well, not quite. But in his profession, his real job, at which he worked for 37 years, he provided the City with concrete. It is impossible to tour San Francisco without seeing some of Andy’s handiwork, including the Transbay Tube (BART), all 212,000 yards of it. He also has been a super husband to his wife Carolyn, and together they’ve raised four children, all boys and all successful. Now 81, Andy, a San Francisco native, and Carolyn reside in San Carlos, Calif., where they spend as much time as possible with their 14 grandchildren. Through it all, dating back to his teenaged years, Andy has been one of water polo’s most avid and stalwart supporters. In fact, I do not know ANYONE who has contributed more to the sport over the past 50-60 years than him.

Greater Philly Tops Vets for Championship

2011 EWPL Champion - Greater Philadelphia

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Max Kelly proved to be the difference in a hard fought battle between Greater Philadelphia and the Kingfish Veterans for the 2011 EWPL Championship. Kelly, who made several keys saves during the Vets' final two possessions, was solid between the pipes from start to finish as he lead Greater Philly to their second title in five months (2011 Main Line League Senior Men's A Division Championships being the first).

On the offensive end, Greater Philly relied heavily on the experience of players like Patrick Kain, Brad Barron, Gary Murphy and Mike Gartner as the home team squad outlasted their opponent to a 13-12 victory. The game deciding goal was scored by Alex Bond on a pass to the inside post after drawing an exclusion to give Greater Philly the final man-advantage of the match with only 18 seconds remaining. 

The game was well played and another classic competition between two longtime rivals. The Vets who came out of the gates strong, jumped to an early 6-3 lead due mainly to the offensive strength of Chad Arnold, Oliver Horrigan and Aaron Chapple. Defensively, goalie Ryan Keiser was stellar in cage shutting down several on-slaughters by Greater Philly. The Vets' Ryan Holt proved to be one of the best well-rounded players in the league working hard on the defensive and offensive ends throughout the game.     

By halftime, Greater Philadelphia was able to work their way back into the match by controlling their offense and taking advantage of good passing and strong two-meter play. When the teams switched ends, the scoreboard had the squads knotted at six goals each.

The remainder of the game saw the teams trading goals where neither squad was able to score enough to pull away. Both teams did an incredible job to keep their emotions in check and play smart offensively and defensively. In the end, one team needed to be victorious but both teams played like champions.   

In the consolation game, the top seeded team going into the weekend, an experienced Northern Virginia, faced off against the younger squad of Kingfish Water Polo Foundation. The game proved to be competitive, as well as entertaining, as each team played a different style of water polo. The masters of Northern Virginia relied on their ball control, outside shooting and slower pace to take advantage of the clock. Meanwhile, the Kingfish Water Polo Foundation took advantage of their speed and endurance to push their opponent into exhaustion. Thanks in a large part to the almost unstoppable two-meter play of Pablo Nichols, Northern Virginia was able to pull away with a 16-13 win and clinch a third place finish      

For complete results of the 2011 Eastern Water Polo League, visit the Eastern Region Schedules located on the main header of the American Water Polo website. 

Bruin Water Polo Captures 2011 Pacific Coast League Title

PEPPERDINE, Calif. -- Bruin Water Polo made history capturing the first-ever Pacific Coast League title with a 12-11 victory over Lamorinda at Pepperdine University on Sunday, July 31.

Bruin WP, the club program for the University of California-Los Angeles, used timely scoring and strong defense in the closing minutes to hold off Lamorinda, the University of California-Berkeley club program, for the one goal victory in the wake of a 2-1 mark in bracket play.

Following a narrow 9-8 victory over No. 6 seed Long Beach State in the squad's opening game of the championship weekend on Saturday, July 30, No. 3 seed Bruin WP suffered a 13-11 set-back to No. 7 seed Lions Water Polo, Loyola Marymount's club program, before upending No. 2 seed Olympic Club 14-12 to claim Bracket B and a date with Lamorinda and destiny in the title game.

The top-seed entering the chamionship tournament, Lamorinda made it to the championship contest by claiming Bracket A following victories over No. 8 seed Santa Barbara (17-10 W), No. 5 seed Pepperdine (13-9 W) and No. 4 seed Stanford (9-8 W) before falling to the Bruin in the league's penultimate game.

In the other placement games, Stanford knocked off the Olympic Club 14-3, while Long Beach stopped Pepperdine 11-10 in the fifth place contest and Santa Barbara managed Lions WP 14-11 for seventh place.

The complete results of the Pacific Coast League season are available by clicking here, while the regular season and championship standings are available at this link.

Coronado Tops Greater Philly 11-8 for Boys' NSC Title

2011 National State Challenge Champion - Coronado

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Joe Rodgers made nine saves in the first three quarters of play before being relieved for three saves by Elijah Belmontez in the fourth period, while Van Burgess contributed four goals to help Coronado down Greater Philadelphia 11-8 and claim the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket Championship at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

The victory gives Coronado the title of "champion" for a year in addition to the tournament championship prize: a check for $1,000 for the winning club.

Coronado never trailed and built an early lead to keep Greater Philly at a distance for the majority of the contest.

Tommy Grall opened the scoring 1:13 into the game as he buried a feed to make it 1-0. Burgess added to the margin 30 seconds later with a blast to push the lead out to 2-0 before Greater Philly responded with a man-up marker by Tyler Sauder at 2:24 to cut the margin in half.

However, Coronado added to the deficit with strikes by John Hill and Nick Wiley with 1:50 and 28 seconds left in the opening frame to jump out to a 4-1 lead through six minutes of action.

Aaron Polk tacked on Coronado's fifth goal of the afternoon 37 seconds into the second period, but the Keystone State contingent fought back netting a score by Nicholas DiLeo with 4:21 glowing from the scoreboard clock to trim the margin back to three at 5-2.

Again, Coronado responded to a Philly goal with two of their own before the end of the quarter as Eltan Peled (2:34) and Burgess (1:43) dinged Greater Philly goalie Nelson Glendinning with scoring shots to put the Golden State group in front 7-2 at halftime.

Greater Philly was unable to rally from the deficit as Coronado pushed the margin out to 11-6 with 3:24 left in the fourth period before the game closed to the 11-8 final.

For Coronado, Wiley and Grall both finished with pairs of goals to combine for Burgess' total, while Polk, Peled and Hill each netted solo markers in the victorious effort.

Glendinning led the way for Greater Philly on defense with six saves guarding the iron.  On offense, Carl Dowzicky took command in the second half of the game with five goals, including four in the fourth period, after being held in check for the first 12 minutes of the championship tilt.

DiLeo, Timothy Decker and Sauder comprised the remainder of the Greater Philly offensive output as the eight-man roster held their own against some of the nation's best 18-and-Under players from California (Coronado, Greater San Diego, Mustang) and Illinois (Windy City).

Carlsbad Neutrinos Down Princeton 11-8 OT for Girls NSC Title

2011 National State Challenge Champion - Carlsbad Neutrinos

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Ashleigh Bandimere scored twice in overtime to finish with four goals in the contest to earn Player of the Game honors and lead the Carlsbad Neutrinos to an 11-8 overtime victory against Princeton in the title game of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

The victory gives Carlsbad bragging rights for a year in addition to the tournament championship prize: a check for $1,000 for the winning club.

Neither team could put away the other in regulation as the lead changed three times before the Neutrinos were able to neutralize the Tigers' defense and stymy their offense to outscore Princeton 4-1 in the two extra three-minute periods to notch the victory.

Tied 7-7 at the end of regulation, Princeton was the first to strike in overtime when Madison Andres connected on a shot with 1:27 remaining in the first OT frame to put the Tigers back in front for the first time since a 3-2 lead with 3:24 left in the second period.

However, the lead lasted for only 29 seconds as Bandimere pushed a ball across the goal mouth to knot the score at 8-to-8.  Carlsbad's luck continued to be plentiful in the closing seconds of the OT period as Monica Stiles of Princeton was whistled for an ejection.

Following a full time-out to set up a play, the Neutrinos registered the eventual game-winning score when Elizabeth Williams swished a man-up shot into the netting with three ticks left on the clock to make it a 9-8 game in favor of Carlsbad.

Princeton attempted to climb back into the game behind the play of goalie Addy Colona who blocked a five-meter penalty shot with 2:43 left in the second OT period, but Bandimere and Williams eluded their defenders and the outstretched arms of Colona for goals at the 1:31 and 59 seconds marks to close out the offense.

For Carlsbad, Williams finished with a hat-trick, while Casey Reid and Bryn Lutz tacked on pairs of markers to join Bandimere in accounting for all the Neutrinos offensive performance.

Between the pipes, Sam Toretto claimed the win for Carlsbad with seven saves, the same total of Princeton goalie Colona.

The Tigers were led in the field by Andres who buried four balls, including a hat-trick in the third period, while Meghan Mahoney chipped in a pair of scores.  Lizzie Watson and Hannah Cross accounted for the other two Princeton goals.

Greater San Diego Tops Windy City 8-6 in Boys' NSC Third Place Game

Greater San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Trevor Sauerbrey scored twice in the first period to give Greater San Diego an early 2-0 lead as the squad picked up an 8-6 victory over Windy City in the third place game of the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

Greater San Diego never trailed in the game following Sauerbrey's back-to-back tallies as Windy City was able to cut the lead to 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3, but the Golden Staters managed to pull away to carry a 7-4 lead into halftime.

Tom Osmalak led all scorers as the netted a hat-trick for Windy City, while Daniel Uphues equaled Sauerbrey by putting home a pair of markers for the Illinois natives.

Windy City Sinks Navy 10-9 OT in Girls' NSC Third Place Game

Susan Doetsch

SAN DIEGO, Calif, -- Alexa Ovalle made her only goal of the game count as she netted the game-winner with 2:43 remaining in the second of two three-minute overtime periods to lead Windy City past Navy 10-9 OT in the third place game of the Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Leading 7-5 with 3:36 remaining in the fourth period, Windy City saw its lead evaporate during the remainder of regulation as Leigh Auth (3:18) and Lily Doerfler (00:23) connected on man-up goals to draw the two teams even before the end of regulation.

In overtime, Navy jumped out to an 8-7 lead via a tally by Denise Hager at 2:22, but Windy City's Cara Borkovec responded at 2:05 to make it 8-8.  The pattern continued for the remainder of the first OT period as Doerfler (1:49) and Colleen Barron (1:38) exchanged scores to make it 9-9 and set-up Ovalle's heroics.

Overall, Borkovec (five) and Barron (four) combined for nine of Windy City's goals, while Doerfler led Navy with five goals.  Hager and Auth both chipped in pairs of goals for Navy.

Between the pipes, Susan Doetsch made nine saves for Navy, with Mackenzie Bonk stopping eight shots in earning the victory for Windy City.

Coronado Conquers Carlsbad Quarks 7-3 for Fifth at NSC

Carlsbad Quarks' Glorida Espinosa

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Jaicey Taylor registered four goals to lead Coronado to a 7-3 victory over the Carlsbad Quarks to finish fifth in the Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Coronado, which defeated the Quarks 6-5 in the first game on Day Two of the tournament, used a scoring spurt in the second period to answer any questions about another one goal game.

Trailing 3-0 following Taylor's first goal of the day with 4:08 remaining in the second period, the Quarks cashed in on a defensive lapse by Coronado to break the ice via a rocket from the wings by Malia Magro. Facing the potential of a Quarks scoring run through the remainder of the period, the Coronado defense stepped up to stymy Carlsbad's scorers and Taylor whipped home a five-meter penalty shot goal with 38 seconds remaining in the half for a 4-1 Coronado lead at the break.

Carlsbad chipped into the advantage once more to open the third period when Maria Espinosa found the back of the cage at 4:43, but Coronado used natural markers by Kendall Hoshko (3:34) and Taylor (2:08) along with a man-up tally by Hoshko (1:05) to build a nearly unsurmountable 7-2 lead with a period of play to go.

The Quarks attempted to rally back, but the Coronado defense stiffened down the stretch to limit Carlsbad to a successful five-meter penalty shot by Dulcie Manchenton with 2:32 left on the game clock to roll to the 7-3 victory.

Greater San Diego Tops Greater Philly for 7th at NSC

Greater Philadelphia

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Sarah Young scored four times, including three in the second half, as Greater San Diego outscored Greater Philadelphia 7-4 in the second half to build a 3-1 halftime lead into a 10-5 victory in the seventh place game of the American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Greater San Diego never trailed in the game opening up a 1-0 lead 49 seconds into the contest with a blast by Young before Greater Philly responded at 2:46 with a line-drive by Lela Garner to knot the score at 1-1 through a period of play.

Chelsea Abrahamson put Greater San Diego in front with 4:16 left in the first half before Kathryn Andrews buried a five-meter penalty shot at 1:49 to make it 3-1 at the break.

Young added to the margin to start the third period with her second score of the day at 5:15 to make it 4-1.  Meredith Wurtz sliced the lead down to two at 4-2 with a score at 3:30, but Young countered at 3:16 to reurn the lead to three. Greater Philly trimmed the lead down to one prior to the end of the third period as Garner struck at 2:59 and 14 seconds to shave it down to 5-4 with six minutes to play.

However, Greater San Diego began to pull away again in the opening minutes of the fourth period as Young connected on shots at 5:18 and 4:39 to make it a 7-4 game.  Greater Philadelphia cut into the lead with Garner's fourth strike of the morning at 4:32, but Greater San Diego rattled off markers at 2:04, 1:16 and 44 seconds to take the five-goal victory and seventh place in the eight team tournament field.

Windy City Handles Mustang to Reach Boys' NSC Third Place Game

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Tom Osmalak scored five times for all Windy City would need in handling Mustang Water Polo 15-1 to reach the third place game in the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

The victory sets the field for today's boys' championship round games as Windy City will meet Greater San Diego, which edged Windy City 7-5 in the opening round on Friday, for third place at 1:00 p.m..  In the title game, Greater Philadelphia will clash with Coronado at 3:00 p.m. with the tournament championship and the $1,000 check for the victorious club program on the line.

Windy City blew out to an early lead and never looked back building a 5-0 margin by the conclusion the first period and a 9-0 lead by halftime to keep the Mustangs at bay the rest of the way to improve to 1-3 at the tournament.

For the victors, Michael Hanfland tacked on a hat-trick, while Daniel Uphues and Omar Calderon, in support of Osmalak's game-high five tallies.

Mustang Water Polo (0-4) concludes the tournament in fifth place

Day 1 of Pacific Coast League Championship in the Books

PEPPERDINE, Calif. -- Day one of competition at the Pacific Coast League Championship is in the books following the conclusion of eight games on Saturday, July 30 at Pepperdine University.

In opening day competition, No. 1 seed Lamorinda is proving why they earned the top seed during the regular season in the wake of a pair of victories:

• Lamorinda 17, UC-Santa Barbara 10
• Stanford 9, Pepperdine 6
• Olympic Club 14, Loyola Marymount 7
• UCLA 9, Long Beach 8
• Lamorinda 13, Pepperdine 9
• Stanford 14, UC-Santa Barbara 7
• Olympic Club 13, Long Beach 5
• Loyola Marymount 13, UCLA 11
• 
  
• Competition will resume on Sunday, July 31 at Pepperdine with the completiton of bracket play before the placement contests.  A complete schedule of the championship is available by clicking here or by visiting the Pacific Coast League page on the American Water Polo website.

Carlsbad Quarks Stop Greater San Diego 8-6 in Girls' NSC Action

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Carlsbad-Quarks opened up an early lead and never looked back in dropping Greater San Diego 8-6 to reach the fifth place game at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

The Quarks will take on Coronado at 11:00 a.m. for fifth place on July 31, while Great San Diego will meet Greater Philadelphia at 10:00 a.m. for seventh place.

For Carlsbad, Kayla Hampton led the way with a hat-trick, while five other players (Dulcie Manchenton, Olivia Melsh, Jenn Mahin, Sana Hussain and Sydney Foster)found the back of the cage with solo strikes to account for the winning margin.

Greater San Diego received scoring from four players, but it was not enough to overcome Carlsbad's balanced attack.

Carlsbad Neutrinos Neutralize Windy City 12-6 in NSC Women's Play

Ashleigh Bandimere

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Ashleigh Bandimere scored seven times to account for the difference as the Carlsbad-Neutrinos stopped Windy City 12-6 to reach a title game showdown with Princeton in the Girls 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

The Neutrinos will clash with the Tigers at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31 for the tournament title and a $1,000 check, while Windy City will meet Navy AC at noon in the third place game.

Carlsbad and Windy City played a tight game through three periods of play as the teams entered the final six minutes of play tied at 6-to-6.

However, the Neutrinos exploded for a 6-0 scoring advantage in the fourth period to roll to victory behind four goals by Bandimere at 2:45, 2:26, 1:53 and 42 seconds.

Windy City was unable to compensate for Carlsbad's offensive showcase as the Neutrinos limited Windy City to just one shot on goal while firing off 11 shots on cage in the period.

In addition to Bandimere, Bryn Lutz scored twice, while Candyace Day, Makena Magro and Elizabeth Williams as the Neutrinos improved to 4-0 in the tournament.

Alexa Ovalle, Colleen Barron and Haley Wickham all scored twice to account for Windy City's six goals.

In cage, Sam Toretto stopped five shots to earn the win, while Windy City's Mackenzie Bonk turned aside seven shots in suffering the loss.

Princeton Shocks Navy AC 10-9 OT SD in NSC Semifinals

Navy's Lily Doerfler looks to shoot

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Meghan Mahoney made her lone score of the afternoon count as she buried a man-up goal 39 seconds into a sudden death period as the Princeton Tigers managed to escape Navy AC 10-9 in overtime to reach the title game of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

The title berth guarantees Princeton a shot at capturing one of the sport's biggest prizes: a $1,000 championship check for the team which can survive the field and come out on the other end victorious against some of the nations' best 18-and-under players.

Princeton will face the victor of the other semifinal between Carlsbad-Neutrinos and Windy City at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31 at Cathedral Catholic for the championship, while Navy will square-off with the loser of the Carlsbad-Windy City semifinal at noon with third place on the line.

No more than one goal separated the two teams from the opening sprint to the final whistle as the squads combined for 14 fouls, including one game misconduct and two penalties. 

The penultimate moment in the game of Mahoney's game-winning score was set-up earlier in overtime as Navy goalie Susan Doetsch was rolled from the game with a misconduct for "swinging aggressively in pursuit of a ball in front of the cage." With Doetsch departing the contest with 28 seconds remaining in the second three-minute overtime period, Navy was at a marked disadvantage against a Princeton team which cashed in on 10-of-16 shots in the game.

Following Doetsch's departure, the Tigers won the opening sprint of the sudden death period.  Princeton coach Roddy Carter immediately called his last remaining full timeout to set up a play, which failed to lead to a scoring shot.  Following an offensive ball to turnover the ball, the Tigers began to drop-back on defense.  However, a Navy player reenttered the field of play too soon, leading to another turnover which Mahoney cashed in with a crossing shot that eluded normal Navy field player and desperation goalie substitute Carleigh West with 2:42 remaining in the period to end the game.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout with Princeton holding leads at 2-1, 3-2, 6-5 and 7-6 before Mahoney's decider.

Trailing 9-8 entering the second of two three-minute overtime periods, the Tigers need every second of the second OT frame to even the damage against Navy as Madison Andres launched a desperation heave following Doetsch's misconduct that sailed into the cage as the end of the period horn sounded to bring on sudden death and Mahoney's heroics.

Overall, Andres and Lizzie Watson led all Princeton scorers with hat-tricks, while Sophia Monaghan (2), Mia Siclari (1) and Mahoney (1) rounded out the offense.

For Navy, Leigh Auth hung five goals on the Tigers' defense, including the marker to put her team in front 9-8 at the end of the first overtime period, while Lily Doerfler (2), Mackenzie Edwards (1) and West (1) accounted for the Blue & Gold's four other scores.

In cage, West took the loss for Navy following a six save performance by Doetsch, while Addy Colona earned Player of the Game accolades for the Tigers with 11 blocks.

Coronado Edges Greater Philly 9-8 to Reach Girls' NSC Fifth Place Game

Coronado's Shannon Spence goes up for a save

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Cassidy Wiley scored twice in the final period of play, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left on the clock as Coronado upended Greater Philadelphia 9-8 to reach the fifth place game of the Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

The victory moves Coronado into the fifth place game at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 31 at Cathedral Catholic as the squad will meet the winner of a Day Two match-up between Greater San Diego and Carlsbad-Quarks.  Greater Philly falls into the seventh place game and will clash with the loser of the GSD-Carlsbad game at 10:00 a.m.

Down 3-0 in the opening minutes of the second period, Greater Philadelphia began to climb back into the contest as Lela Garner rattled the cage with a blast at the 1:04 mark to cut the deficit to two markers.  The lead shrank by one under a minute later as Alexandra Wein dodged around her defender and uncorked a line-drive that eluded Coronado goalie Shannon Spence with 10 seconds left in the first half for a 3-2 Coronado lead at intermission.

The teams traded goals throughout the third period to a 5-4 Coronado lead with six minutes to go, but Greater Philly tied the game-up at 5-5 with a tally by Marian Hirshberg at the 4:22 mark.

Following a strike by Sarah Alfano at 4:10 to return Coronado to the lead at 6-5, the Keystone State residents went to work reeling off three straight scores by Brina Mahoney (3:31), Garner and Hirshberg (1:45) to grab an 8-6 lead with under two minutes to go.

However, Coronado was too much down the stretch for Greater Philly as Coach David Throop called a full timeout and set-up an offense which rattled off a natural goal at 1:39 by Sophia Zinser and man-up tallies by Jaicey Taylor (00:54) and Wiley (00:17) for the victory.

Sauerbrey Leads Greater San Diego Past Mustang WP 19-6 in Boys' Competition

Greater San Diego head coach Robin Bregman

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Trevor Sauerbrey scored five times to lead all scorers as Greater San Diego Water Polo outperformed Mustang Water Polo 19-6 to clinch a meeting with either Windy City or Mustang Water Polo in the third place game of the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge hosted at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Sauerlerry netted four of his five markers in the first half as San Diego built a 5-0 lead in the first period and an 11-3 margin by halftime to outdistance the Mustangs and clinch a placement game appearance at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31 back at Cathedral High.

Mustang Water Polo can get another shot at Greater San Diego if the squad can defeat Windy City at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.  Both Windy City and Mustang enter the game with identical 0-3 marks as the contest will mark the final game of bracket play before the third place and championship games commence later in the day.

Overall, San Diego converted on 19 of 26 shots on goal as 10 different players found the back of the cage.

A key to the game was man-up chances as Greater San Diego limited Mustang Water Polo to 0-3 on man-up chances and one-for-one of five-meter penalty shots, while cashing in on one-of-two man-up bids and tacking on a short-handed goal.

Princeton Cages Windy City 8-7 in Girls' NSC Action

Windy City

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Lizzie Watson netted a hat-trick, including two goals in a decisive third period, to lead Princeton to an 8-7 victory over Windy City in Girls 18-and-Under Bracket competition at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Princeton never trailed in the contest, but needed a pair of strikes by Watson in the third period to snuff out Windy City's comeback hopes.

Trailing 3-1 after a period of play, Windy City knotted the game at 3-3 with a tally by Colleen Barron at the 4:52 mark.  Princeton regained the lead courtesy a marker by Sophia Monaghan at 4:36, but Windy City responded in kind witth a strike by Haley Wickham at 3:29 to return the contest to deadlock status.

The Tigers finally regained command of the game prior to the halftime horn as Meghan Mahoney drilled a shot into the back of the cage with 3:14 remaining in the first half for a 5-4 lead at the break.

Princeton expanded the margin to 6-4 less than two minutes into the third period as Watson zipped a shot into the twine at 4:21, but Jenette Angelini shaved the lead back to one with a blast from set at 4:04 to make it 6-5.

Needing a string of scores to breeze past Windy City, the Tigers turned to Watson and Monaghan who netted back-to-back markers at 2:24 and 29 seconds, respectively, for all Princeton would need to gain the victory.

Windy City would not go down without a fight, however, as Maureen Barron dented the iron with five seconds left in the third period before Alexa Ovalle tallied the final score at the 3:21 mark of the fourth period to move within 8-7 before the clock ran out.

Between the pipes, Addy Colona notched the victory for Princeton with six saves, while Mackenzie Bonk suffered the loss for Windy City with seven stops.

The victory places Princeton into a semifinal showdown with Navy AC at 4:00 p.m. later today, while Windy City will face Greater San Diego at 5:00 p.m. with a spot in the fifth place contest on the line.

Coronado Bests Greater San Diego 14-4 in Boys' NSC Action

Joe Kusters defends against Greater San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Patrick Mayles recorded 11 saves to lead Coronado to a 14-4 victory over Greater San Diego in Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket play at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Coronado scored early and often in the game rushing out to a 4-0 lead in the first period before carrying a 5-1 lead into halftime.  Following the break, the squad rattled off six goals in the third period to make it 11-1 and cruise to the 10-goal victory.

For Coronado, Jake Frese netted a hat-trick, while John Hill, Joe Kusters and Van Burgess each tacked on pairs of markers to account for nine of the team's 14-goals. Christian Dudley, Garrett Eyer, Nick Wiley, Tommy Grall and Michael Bigham round out the Coronado scorers.

Rhett McGinty and Garrett Gallear combined to tally seven saves for Greater San Diego.

The victory places Coronado into the tournament title game against Greater Philadelphia at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, at Cathedral Catholic.  Coronado is 1-0 against Greater Philly in the tournament as the squad picked up a 16-11 victory in the first game of the weekend on Friday, July 29.

Carlsbad Neutrinos Zap Greater San Diego 15-5 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Ashleigh Bandimere scored six times to power the Carlsbad Neutrinos to a 15-5 victory against Greater San Diego to clinch first place in the Girls 18-and-Under Bracket A at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

The victory moves the Neutrinos into a 5:00 p.m. showdown with either Windy City or Princeton in the semifinals of the tournament, while Greater San Diego will meet the Carlsbad Quarks in the other 5:00 p.m. game with a berth in the fifth place game on the line.

Carlsbad never trailed in the game running out to a 4-0 lead in the first period before carrying an 8-2 lead into halftime.  Greater San Diego was unable to trim the margin below six the rest of the way as the Neutrinos outscored San Diego 7-3 the rest of the way.

For Carlsbad, Sam Toretto notchced a hat-trick and Elizabeth Williams tacked on a pair of goals in support of Bandimere, while Makena Magro, Bryn Lutz and Nicolette Balch and Candyace Day chipped in solo strikes.

Navy AC Broadsides Greater Philly 15-7 at NSC

Alexandra Wein defends a Navy AC player

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Leigh Auth recorded a first period hat-trick and finished with four goals in the contest as Navy AC lowered the boom on Greater Philadelphia 15-7 on Day Two of women's action at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Navy, which improves to 2-1 in the tournament, never trailed building a 5-0 lead with 15 seconds left in the first period and outscoring Greater Philly in every period with the exception of the fourth.

The key to the game was Navy's ability to keep Greater Philadelphia guessing as nine differnet players found the back of the cage for the Blue & Gold.  Lily Doerfler, Claire Whitaker and Denise Hager each lit up the scoreboard two times behind Auth's game-high quartet of markers, while Jordan Cox, Francis Del Valle and Sinead Foley tacked on single scores.

Greater Philadelphia (0-3) received pairs of goals from Alexandra Wein and Lela Garner to lead the way, along with single tallies by Carly Zurcher, Jade Lawson and Marian Hirshberg.

The loss finishes Greater Philadelphia's bracket play as the girls from the Keystone State will meet Coronado at 4:00 p.m. later today, while Navy AC will have to wait for their opponent as the result of this afternoon's Carlsbad Neutrinos-Greater San Diego game will have an impact on the final seeding.

Coronado Tops Carlsbad Quarks 6-5 at NSC

Shannon Spence

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Shannon Spence notched seven saves to earn Player of the Game honors as Coronado upended the Carlsbad Quarks 6-5 on Day Two in the Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Coronado captured the contest on the back of three players as Spence kept the Quarks in check, while Cassidy Wiley and Jaicey Taylor both finished with hat-tricks for all their team needed to improve to 1-2 in the tournament.

Carlsbad was led by the play of gaolie Brittany Buckley who finished with eight saves between the pipes.  Sana Hussain led the Quarks in scoring with a pair of markers as Carlsbad also received single strikes from Kayla Hampton, Dulcie Manchentotn and Malia Magro.

Tied 3-3 with 4:55 left in the second period, Coronado took the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining in the first half as Wiley wrapped a shot inside the far post for a 4-3 advantage at the break.

The margin expanded to 5-3 in the third period courtesy another strike by Wiley, but the Quarks trimmed the deficit back to one with 3:18 remaining in the fourth period to put a Coronado victory in jeopardy.

Needing a strike to stave off Carlsbad, Coronado turned to Taylor who buried a field with 1:34 left on the clock for the eventual game-winning tally.

Following a missed penalty shot by Coronado that would have sealed the victory and a full timeout, the Quarks struck for their fifth goal of the afternoon via a catch-and-shoot chance for Manchenton to move to within 6-5 with 11 ticks on the clock.

However, Coronado was able to run-out the clock and terminate Carlsbad's hopes of a miracle comeback victory in the closing seconds of the game to hang on for the one-goal win.

Greater Philly Calms Windy City 10-8 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Nicholas DiLeo earned Player of the Game honors for tallying goals in the first, second, third and fourth periods, including the eventual game-winner with 2:49 remaining on the game clock, to power Greater Philadelphia to a 10-8 victory over Windy City and a berth in the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket title game at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Greater Philly, which finishes bracket play with a 3-1 mark via wins over Windy City, Mustang Water Polo (11-2 W) and Greater San Diego (12-11 W) with a loss to Coronado (16-11 L), will face either Coronado or Greater San Diego in the title tilt at 3:00 p.m. PST on Sunday, July 31 at Cathedral Catholic.

The game was tight for all but one period of play as DiLeo put Greater Philly on the board first with 4:47 remaining in the first period before Tom Osmalak responded for Windy City at 4:11 to knot the game up at 1-1.  Greater Philly regained the lead as Carl Dowzicky scored short-handed with 41 seconds on the clock, but Windy City responded less than 20 seconds later when Osmalak whipped home a marker with 22 ticks on the clock to even the damage at 2-2.

Greater Philadelphia would take the lead for good 12 seconds later as Dowzicky broke down the center and unleashed a blast that dented the twine with 10 seconds remaining in the first six-minute period to hand his team a 3-2 lead.

The margin expanded quickly in the second period as Dowzicky completed a hat-trick with an arching shot at the 5:03 mark to go in front 4-2.  Tyler Sauder added to the lead at 3:39 before DiLeo found the back of the cage for the second time on the day to give Greater Philadelphia a 6-2 lead at halftime.

Windy City broke through to move to within three goals 50 seconds into the third period when Osmalak polished off a hat-trick, but DiLeo cashed in on a man-up opportunity at 3:51 to return the spread to four at 7-3.  The teams continued to exchange scoring blows for the remainder of the period as Osmalak cashed in a five-meter penalty shot (2:52) and Omar Calderon (1:39) netted a natural goal for Windy City, while Dowzicky zipped in a tally att 2:13 to make it 8-5 through 18 minutes of action.

Windy City continued to climb back into the game in the dawning moments of the fourth period as Michael Mahoney connected on shots at 4:38 and 3:47 to pull his team to within 8-7.  However, DiLeo netted the eventual game-winner at 2:49 to give Greater Philly back a two-goal lead.

The game was not settled, though, as Osmalak converted on his fifth shot of the day to make it 9-8 at 2:06 before Sauder sealed the victory with a marker at the 17 seconds mark for the 10-8 final score.

Between the pipes, Nelson Glendinning concluded the game with 11 saves to earn the victory, while Thomas McGuire took the loss for Windy City with 10 saves.

Coronado Manages Mustangs 16-0 at NSC

Joe Rodgers makes a save for Coronado as Michael Bigham (#12) and Christian Dudley (#3) attempt to block

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Elijah Belmontez and Joe Rodgers combined to make 10 saves to share Player of the Game honors as Coronado rolled to a 16-0 victory over Mustangs Water Polo to open the second day of competition in the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge hosted at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Coronado wasted no time in icing the victory as the squad reeled off seven goals in the first period, including five in the first three minutes of play, to build an insurmountable lead against the Mustangs.

John Hill and Josh Williams led the way with hat-tricks, while Joe Kusters, Garrett Eyer and Eltan Peled tossed in pairs of markers as Coronado improved to 3-0 to date in the tournament.

Coronado will face potentially its most difficult challenge later in the day as a meeting with Greater San Diego awaits at 1:00 p.m. PST.  If Coronado wins the game, the team will advance to the title game at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday against either Greater San Diego or Greater Philadelphia.  A win by Greater San Diego, combined with a victory against Mustangs later in the day, will put San Diego into the title tilt against most likely Coronado.  Greater Philadelphia makes the title game, and another meeting with Coronado, if Coronado defeats Greater San Diego.

The loss puts Mustangs into a precarious position as the team will need a victory against Windy City on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. to reach the third place game and earn a fifth contest at the tournament.

Pacific Coast League Championship Starts Today

MALIBU, Calif. -- Some of the best collegiate players in the world will take to the pool to make history and claim the first-ever Pacific Coast League Championship this weekend at Pepperdine University.

The eight team championship field drawn from the Pacific Coast League regular season standings feature some of the best summer collegiate teams in the nation, including Santa Barbara, Stanford, Pepperdine, Lions Water Polo, Bruins Water Polo and Long Beach Water Polo, along with Lamorinda and the Olympic Club.

Lamorinda is the odds-on favorite to take the title as the No. 1 seed, but do not discount the other seven teams ability to rise to the occassion and capture the championship crown.

Action begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 30 and will run all day with eight contests slated for the afternoon through early evening hours.  On Sunday, July 31, the squads will return to the tank at 9:00 a.m. to conclude bracket play before the placement contests later in the afternoon.

A complete schedule of the championship is available by clicking here or by visiting the Pacific Coast League page on the American Water Polo website.

Andy Burke Wraps Up FINA Women's Championship Series

Princeton Nips Coronado 8-7 at National State Challenge

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Melissa Rudolph scored her second tally of the game when it mattered the most connecting on a scoring-shot with 1:16 left in the fourth period for the decider as Princeton knocked off Coronado 8-7 in the final game on Day One of the 2011 Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at the American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge hosted at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Trailing 6-4 at the end of the third period, the Tigers rallied to take the win thanks to multiple defensive stands and timely scoring.

Lizzie Watson started the fourth period comeback to victory by rifling home a shot at 5:30 before Meghan Mahoney evened the damage at 6-to-6 with a sinking shot that eluded Coronado netminder Shannon Spence at the 4:15 mark.

Facing the possibility of a rally to victory, Coronado attempted to pen-up the Tigers' scorers and unleash their own as Cassidy Wiley split the Princeton defense for a goal at 3:03 to put her team back in front at 7-6.

However, the Tigers do not change their stripes, as the comeback was back-on in force behind the play of Watson and Rudolph who clawed Coronado for tallies at 2:14 and 1:16, respectively, to put the finishing touches on the come-from-behind win.

Overall, five players found the cage for Princeton as Rudolph, Watson and Madison Andres each netted pairs of goals.  Sara Bortz and Mahoney also chipped in solo strikes in the winning effort.

For Coronado, Jaicey Taylor led the way with a hat-trick, while four other players netted tallies in the near-miss.

Between the iron, Addy Colona picked up the win for Princeton with three saves.  Spence stopped nine shots for Coronado.

Greater Philly Tops Greater San Diego 12-11 at NSC

Nelson Glendinning

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- In a classic nail-biter between two greater teams, one had to be better as Carl Dowzicky scored his sixth goal of the game with 52 seconds left on the game clock to power Greater Philadelphia to a 12-11 victory over Greater San Diego in the Boys' 18-and-Under Bracket of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School.

Dowzicky, who concludes the first day of competition with 17 goals in three games after notching three versus Mustang Water Polo and eight against Coronado, broke free from his defender and buried a feed with under a minute to play for the decider.

The game was nip-tuck throughout as neither team coudl manage more than a two goal lead until three straight strikes by Greater San Diego to open the fourth period put the Golden State residents in front 11-8.

Greater Philly chipped away at the deficit thanks to the play of Tyler Sauder who ripped in tallies at 3:10 and 1:17 around a marker by Nicholas DiLeo (2:43) to knot the game at 11-all and set-up Dowzicky's heroics.

Overall, the heros of the game were the two netminders as Greater San Diego's Rhett McGinty stopped nine shots, with none in the fourth period, and Nelson Glendinning turned aside eight shots for Greater Philly to earn the victory.

Overall, DiLeo finished with a hat-trick in support of Dowzicky, while Sauder's two tallies were his only scores of the afternoon.  Timothy Decker accounted for Greater Philly's other goal, unleashing a shot which sailed into the back of the cage at the 1:43 mark of the first period for the Keystoners first lead of the day at 3-2.

Decker's goal put his team in front for the first of four times in the game as Greater Philly took one-goal leads in the first period, second period (6-5 at 3:16), third (8-7 at 4:12) and finally the fourth (12-11 at :52) periods to lead in the game for a total of just three minutes and 22 seconds.

Windy City Stops Carlsbad Quarks 10-4 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Maureen Barron did all the damage she would need to do in the first six minutes of play completing a first period hat-trick as part of a game-high four markers to power Windy City to a 10-4 victory over Carlsbad Quarks on the opening day of the American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral High School's Aquatic facilities in San Diego, Calif.

Trailing 1-0 following a quick tally by the Quarks' Sana Hussain at the 3:58 mark of the first period, Barron went to work handing her team the lead as she deked her way to uncork a shot that drew nothing but net at 3:16.  She struck again less than a minute later cashing in a man-up chance at 2:20 before rattling the iron with a rocket at 1:01 to put Windy City in front 3-1.

Following a strike by Cara Borkovec with 30 seconds left in the opening period to make it 4-1, Windy City continued its scoring momentum in the second period with back-to-back tallies by Barron (5:31) and Alexa Ovalle (2:34) to push the lead out to 6-1.

Carlsbad found the back of the cage again prior to the end of the half as goalie Brittany Buckley lobbed a heave at the halftime horn that sailed into the back of the cage to move her team to within 6-2 with 12 minutes to play in the contest.

However, Borkovec (4:53) and Ovalle (2:33) put an end to the scoring run by the Quarks with consecutive tallies to make it 8-2.

Carlsbad was unable to close the gap to anymore than five at 8-3 the rest of the way as Windy City picked up a six-goal victory.

Between the iron, Buckley stopped five shots for the Quarks, while Mackenzie Bonk notched the win for Windy City via 11 saves, including a pair of five-meter penalty shot blocks.

Greater San Diego is Six Better Than Greater Philly at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Melanie Merritt recorded nine saves to key Greater San Diego to an 11-5 victory over Greater Philadelphia on the opening day of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls' 18-and-Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School's aquatic facilities in San Diego, Calif.

The game was all Greater San Diego in the early going as the Southern Californians opened up a 2-0 lead in the first period and expanded the margin to five goals (7-2) before the conclusion of the first half courtesy five more second period goals.

Greater Philadelphia was able to trim the deficit to four goals as a strike by Lela Garner made it 9-5 with 4:38 left in the fourth period.  However, the comeback bid was short-lived as back-to-back shots from outside five-meters found the back of the cage at 4:35 and 42 seconds to set the 11-5 final.

For Greater San Diego, the key to the game was the play of Merritt who tutrned aside nine of Greater Philly's 14 shots on goal and vacuumed up five loose balls in front of the cage to prevent the Keystone Staters from cashing in on point-blank opportunities.

Alexandra Wein led the way on offense for Greater Philadelphia with a hat-trick, while goalie Rebecca Mount notched a game high 10 saves, including six in the first period.

Coronado Handles Windy City 12-2 at NSC

Coronado head coach Randy Burgess

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Aaron Polk netted a hat-trick to highlight a 12 goal outburst by Coronado as the squad picked up a 12-2 victory over Windy City on the opening day of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Boys' 18-and-Under bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Coronado took the momentum from the opening sprint and never looked back rattling off six goals in the first period before netting pairs of markers in the second, third and fourth periods to build a margin which Windy City was unable to overcome.

Trailing 8-0 with five minutes to play in the first half, Windy City broke-up the shuout bid by the goalie duo of Pat Mayles and Elijah Belmontez as a ball eluded Mayles with 1:43 left in the half to make it an 8-1 game.

However, Garrett Eyer (4:10) and Nick Wiley (3:30) snuffed out any ideas of a climatic comeback with back-to-back strikes to open the third period and push the lead out to nine at 10-1 on the way to the 12-2 final.

Overall, Coronado received scoring from eight players, including pairs of goals by Wiley and Van Burgess, while playing solid defense to keep the Windy City scorers from breaking loose and roll to the 10-goal victory.

Carlsbad Neutrinos Sink Navy AC 11-9 at NSC

Sam Toretto goes for a save as Rebecca Zak (3) and Casey Reid (8) defend

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Sam Toretto notched nine saves and Elizabeth Williams tossed in four goals to make the difference and key the Carlsbad Neutrinos to an 11-9 victory over Navy AC nn the first day of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Girls’ 18-and Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Leading 6-5 at the end of the third period, the Neutrinos needed a five-goal scoring outburst in the beginning moments of the third period to hit Navy AC broadsides and put some distance between themselves and the Blue & Gold.

Bryn Lutz started the scoring run for Carlsbad burying a feed at 5:36 before Katrina King (4:41), Williams (3:51, 3:27) and Ashleigh Bandimere (2:59) followed to turn a one-goal nail-biter into an apparently comfortable 11-5 lead with approximately three minutes to play in the contest.

However, Navy would not go down without a fight as Lily Doerfler (2:48) found the back of the cage at 2:48 to trim the margin down to five goals.  Carleigh West (1:32) chipped off another goal at 1:32 and Doerfler pulled Navy to within 11-8 with 52 seconds to go.

Needing a miracle to erase the lead with under a minute to go, Navy AC turned to Doerfler who buried another shot into the back of the cage with 15 seconds to go.  However, the Carlsbad defense and the passage of time put an end to Navy’s comeback bid in the 11-9 loss.

For Navy, Doerfler finished with a game-high five goals, while Mackenzie Edwards tossed in three tallies and Susan Doetsch recorded eight saves.

Coronado Falls to Windy City 7-3 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Colleen Barron found the back of the cage in the first, second, third and fourth periods to account for the difference as Windy City defeatetd Coronado 7-3 on the first day of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge 18-and-Under Women's Bracket at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

Windy City never trailed in the game as Mauren Barron put her squad on the board with 4:02 left in the first period to break the ice.  Cara Borkovec followed at 1:58 to make it 2-0 before Colleen Barron closed out the opening barrage with a man-up tally at the 59 seconds mark for a 3-0 lead after six minutes of action.

The margin expanded to 4-0 prior to the halftime horn as Colleen Barron struck again for another man-up marker at the 4:08 mark of the second period.

Coronado finally broke through with 4:48 to go in the third period as Cassidy Wiley zinged a ball past Windy City netminder Mackenzie Bonk to move her team to within 4-1.  However, Colleen Barron terminated any dreams of a comeback bid with her third goal in as many periods of play to return the lead to four goals at 5-1 with 3:58 remaining on the clock.

Borkovec pushed the lead to 6-1 at the 3:36 mark with her second goal of the day, but Coronado sliced the lead back to four at 6-2 two and a half minutes later when Katy Gauvin rattled the iron with a blast with 1:05 left in the period.

Coronado's run continued in the first minute of the fourth period as Jaicey Taylor whipped in a man-up goal to trim the deficit to 6-3, but Colleen Barron finished off her four-goal game with a sinking shot which eluded goalie Shannon Spence with 4:44 glowing on the clock for the 7-3 final score.

Greater Philly Corrals Mustang Water Polo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Nicholas DiLeo scored four times, including twice in the first period as his team opened up a 5-0 lead through the first six-minutes of play, as Greater Philadelphia corraled Mustang Water Polo 11-2 in the opening round of the Boys' 18-and-Under bracket at the National State Challege in San Diego at Cathedral Catholic High School.

Greater Philadelphia never trailed opening up a 7-0 lead midway through the second period before Mustang cracked the scoring column with a man-up goal at the 2:57 mark to make it 7-1 at halftime.

The lead expanded to 8-2 by the end of the third period before Greater Philadelphia tacked on three goals in the fourth period for the nine-goal margin of victory.

Carl Dowzicky chipped in a hat-trick for Greater Philly, while four other GP players found the back of the cage and Nelson Glendinning earned the victory with four saves.

Greater San Diego Blows Down Windy City 7-5 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Garrett Gallear made 12 saves to earn Player of the Game honors as Greater San Diego blew by Windy City 7-5 in the opening round of the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge Boys’ 18-and Under Bracket at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout as Windy City opened the scoring with a blast by Daniel Uphues with 1:05 left in the first period to take an early lead. 

Greater San Diego responded with 3:24 left in the second period to knot the game at 1-1, but Michael Hanfland countered for San Diego with a marker of his own at 2:56 to return the Golden State men to the lead.

However, the boys of Illinois would not go silently into halftime, as Tom Osmalak drove around his defender and uncorked a ball which sailed into the back of the cage at 2:36 to even the damage at 2-2.

Following a full timeout by Windy City, Uphues dumped in his second tally of the day at 1:26 to give his squad its first lead of the day at 3-2.  This time, Greater San Diego would not allow a lead at the half-time break as a rocket with four seconds left in the opening half drew nothing but twine and water to balance the scoreboard at 3-3 at halftime.

Windy City returned to the lead with 3:43 left in the third period as Trevor McLean converted on a man-up chance to make it 4-3, but Greater San Diego responded with a five-meter penalty shot at 3:38 to return the game to a tie at 4-4.

Greater San Diego finally went back in front with 1:45 remaining in the third period as Michael Patterson zipped a ball into the cage to make it 5-4.

The lead expanded in the first half of the fourth period as Kyle Bachelder (4:46) and Randy Sammons (3:07) tacked on markers to make it 7-4 before Osmalak finished out the scoring with his second strike of the day at 1:50 for the 7-5 final score.

Between the pipes for Windy City, Thomas McGuire finished with 14 saves in taking the loss.

Princeton Splits Carlsbad Quarks 15-2 at NSC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Kirstin Carter and Lizzie Watson notched hat-tricks as Princeton rolled over the Carlsbad Quarks 15-2 in the opening round of the 2011 American Water Polo National State Challenge at Cathedral High School in San Diego, Calif.

The Tigers wasted no time in taking command of the game running out to a 4-0 lead by the end of the first half and a 5-0 advantage in the dawning two minutes of the second period before the Quarks put up their first marker of the day courtesy a rising shot by Olivia Melsh with 2:20 remaining in the second frame.

Leading 6-1 at halftime, Princeton continued to pour it on tacking on three goals in the third period and six more in the fourth period, while Carlsbad could manage only a strike by Taylor Keyes with 3:30 left in the final period of play.

For Princeton, Madison Andres, Sophia Monaghan, Meghan Mahoney and Melissa Rudolph aided the duo of Carter and Watson with pairs of goals, while Monica Stiles chipped in a solo marker.

Coronado Overpowers Greater Philly 16-11 at National State Challenge

Carl Dowzicky

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Tommy Grall scored five times, including twice in an 11-goal second period outburst by Coronado, to lead his team to a 16-11 victory over Greater Philladelphia in the opening game of the Boys’ 18-and-Under Bracket at the National State Challenge hosted at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif.

Grall’s performance was matched only by Greater Philly’s Carl Dowzicky who netted eight goals to nearly lead his team to a come-back victory.

Coronado never trailed in the game opening up 1-0 lead 22 seconds into the game courtesy Grall’s first marker of the day before expanding the margin to 5-2 prior to the end of the first period.

The margin exploded to 11-4 by halftime as six different Coronado players found the back of the cage, including Grall twice, to apparently put the game out of reach for Greater Philadelphia.

Down 14-6 after three periods of play, Greater Philly attempted to climb back into the contest moving to within 16-8 at 3:58 before Dowzicky went off for the final three goals of the game at 3:22, 1:28 and five seconds to trim the final spread to five goals at 16-11.

Navy AC Sinks Greater San Diego 13-2 at AWP National State Challenge

Navy AC

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Susan Doetsch made 12 saves to anchor Navy AC to a 13-2 victory over Greater San Diego in the opening round of the Girls' 18 & Under bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School.

Doetsch stymied Greater San Diego on 12-of-14 shots on goal to give Navy an opportunity to build a 5-1 lead by the end of the first period and a 7-2 mark by halftime.

In the second half, Doetsch shut down the Greater San Diego defense turning aside six shots, including four in the fourth period, as Navy cruised to the 11-goal victory.

For Navy, Mackenzie Edwards keyed the offense with a hat-trick, while Leigh Auth, Lily Doerfler and Denise Hager tossed in pairs of markers to account for nine of their squad’s 13 goals.

Greater San Diego (1-1-0-0—2)
Navy AC (5-2-3-3—13)

Greater San Diego: Gabriela Von Borstel; Shelby

Navy AC: Mackenzie Edwards (3); Leigh Auth (2); Lily Doerfler (2); Denise Hager (2); Claire Whitaker; Dollaku; Carleigh West; Sinead Foley

Saves: Greater San Diego – Melanie Merritt (5) ; Navy AC – Susan Doetsch (12)

Exclusions:  Greater San Diego – 5 ; Navy AC -- 9

Man-Up Chances: Greater San Diego – 1-for-9 ; Navy AC – 4-for-5

YC – Greater San Diego HC

Carlsbad Neutrinos Neutralize Greater Philly 15-3 at NSC

Makena Magro

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Recent high school graduate Ashleigh Bandimore rifled home four of her team's first five goals in the opening period to help build a 6-0 lead for the Carlsbad Neutrinos that the team never relinquished in rolling to a 15-3 victory over Greater Philadelphia in the opening game of the Girls' 18 & Under bracket at the 2011 American Water Polo (AWP) National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic High School.

The Neutrinos never trailed in the contest as Bandimore found the back of the cage with even-strength strikes at 6:11, 4:20 and 2:29, along with a five-meter penalty shot at 5:30, as Carlsbad opened up a 6-0 lead through a period and a 10-0 advantage by halftime.

The margin expanded to 14-0 with 3:22 left in the third period before Greater Philly responded as Lela Garner connected on a shot at 2:11.  However, Carlsbad answered at 1:53 with a rising shot by Nicolette Balch to return the spread to 14 goals.

Greater Philly sliced the lead back down to 13 prior to the end of the third period as Jade Lawson ripped a ball into the twine with 35 seconds showing on the clock, but her squad could muster only one more score in the fourth period to set the board at 15-3 at the concluding whistle.

In cage, Sami Toretto and Dani Teta combined for four saves in anchoring Carlsbad to the victory, while Rebecca Mount equaled the duo with four stops for Greater Philly.

Greater Philadelphia (0-0-2-1--3)
Carlsbad Neutrinos (6-4-5-0--15)

Carlsbad-Neutrinos: Ashleigh Bandine (4); Elizabeth Williams (3); Bryn Lutz (3); Nicolette Balch; Lexi Domingo; Sam Toretto; Casey Reid; Makena Magro

Greater Philly: Lela Garner; Jade Lawson; Marian Hirshberg

Saves: Carlsbad-Neutrinos – Sami Toretto (3), Dani Teta (1); Greater Philly – Rebecca Mount (4)

Exclusions:  Carlsbad-Neutrinos – 7; Greater Philly – 3

Man-Up Chances: Carlsbad Neutrinos – 1-for-3; Greater Philly – 0-for-7

Andy Burke Continues His Series from the FINA Championship

Until tomorrow,

Andy Burke

Pacific Coast League Championship Field Set

NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- The Pacific Coast League Championship field is now set as Lamorinda clinched the No. 1 seed for the championship on July 30-31 at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

Olympic Club, Bruins Water Polo, Stanford, Pepperdine, Long Beach Water Polo Club, Lions Water Polo and Santa Barbara round out the eight team field for the 16-game championship.

Andy Burke's Updates the FINA Championships

Andy Burke

Peering Into Polo's Past with Andy Burke - Part V

Unfortunately, 1980 witnessed the infamous “Olympic boycott” precipitated by the Soviet Union’s military actions.  At the USOC Annual Meeting, the vote as to whether or not we should participate in the Olympics was a long and contentious process. The Aquatics delegates (Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, and Water Polo (I was a water polo delegate) supported the athletes’ position in that they would participate in the Games but only to compete. They would not march in the Opening Ceremonies or take part in the medal presentations. Pressure was put on by the White House, and we had several top officials address us, including Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska, architect of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. The vote was close, but it was to boycott. When asked to vote for a “white ballot,” the Aquatic group refused, as we wanted our position known.

I really believe that our 1980 water polo team was one of the strongest teams we’ve ever had and would have been a definite threat for a medal position in the Games had we not boycotted. In 1980, the women played their second FINA World Cup in Breda, Netherlands, where the finish was Netherlands, U.S., and Canada.

I believe it was at the FINA Congress at the 1980 Olympic Games that we finally were able to get the rules changed to use two referees in a match, but the rule governing this was influenced by the Europeans, who wanted to still leave the major decisions to the front court referee. The top international referees were stars in their own way. They were outstanding in controlling the game and looked on themselves as “conductors,” rather than as facilitators. One of the mantras of the game was “Who is our referee? Oh, then we will play this way.”

We had used two referees for years in the U.S, and it was a cooperative effort between the two referees. If you were in the front court on the right hand side of the course and the ball moved to the far side of the pool, the back court referee, who was in a better position to officiate, would move forward and take control, while you moved your attention to the perimeter. As soon as the ball returned to the attacking position in front of the goal, or on your side, the roles reversed. The rule as passed by FINA restricted the back court referee to not being further than the last attacking player, thus leaving the front court referee in total charge of the game, just as it was with one referee.  Editor’s Note: it was the women playing in the U.S. in the late 1960s who initially pushed for a second referee.  Ruth Johnson, the All-America player-coach of the Davenport, Iowa, YMCA women’s team, who was a national leader in the sport, lobbied for three years for a second ref in order to keep the games as clean as possible.  After the women started using a second ref, the U.S. men began doing the same a few years later, and eventually it was accepted internationally.   

In 1981, we were not eligible for the FINA Cup as we had not participated in the 1980 Olympic Games. However, with help from Bob Helmick, we were able to convince FINA to allow us to host FINA World Cup II and make our team eligible. The competition was held at Long Beach State College. This team blended many of the members of the 1980 Olympic Team with some upcoming players, and we finished fourth in a very strong field.  The women again were able to play in a FINA World Cup, this time held in Brisbane, Australia, where the finish was Canada, Netherlands, Australia, and the U.S.

This led us to 1982 and the FINA World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This team was mostly the same players from our FINA World Cup team with the addition of goalies Craig Wilson and John Gansel. Our team was able to finish sixth at the Championships.

In 1983, we again hosted the FINA World Cup III, this time at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, using it as a test event for the 1984 Olympic Games.  All of the major teams were present, and we showed our strength by finishing in fourth place. After a one-year lapse, the women’s FINA World Cup was resumed in 1983.   Conducted at Saint-Foy, Canada, this event was won by the Netherlands, with the U.S. second and Australia third.

Returning to the men, the 1983 Pan-Am Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela, with virtually our same U.S. FINA World Cup team competing.  Here we continued our dominance in the Americas, winning the gold medal and thus qualifying for the 1984 Olympic Games (not really necessary, as we were “in” as the host nation). One incident I recall from Caracas was at the medal ceremony when they played a recording of the Star Spangled Banner. It was an abbreviated version, so when the recording stopped, our team continued to sing the anthem at full voice all the way through to the end. It was a very inspiring moment and kept us all motivated as we looked forward to the 1984 Olympics being hosted by Los Angeles. 

To be continued

Editor’s Note by Chuck Hines:  Andy Burke built San Francisco. Well, not quite. But in his profession, his real job, at which he worked for 37 years, he provided the City with concrete. It is impossible to tour San Francisco without seeing some of Andy’s handiwork, including the Transbay Tube (BART), all 212,000 yards of it. He also has been a super husband to his wife Carolyn, and together they’ve raised four children, all boys and all successful. Now 81, Andy, a San Francisco native, and Carolyn reside in San Carlos, Calif., where they spend as much time as possible with their 14 grandchildren. Through it all, dating back to his teenaged years, Andy has been one of water polo’s most avid and stalwart supporters. In fact, I do not know ANYONE who has contributed more to the sport over the past 50-60 years than him.

Santa Clara Sees Impact of Pacific Coast League

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Santa Clara Water Polo coach Keith Wilbur is looking towards the future, or at least the next two months to gauge the impact of the Pacific Coast League on his team’s fortunes.

“Our entire team that will be here in the fall is playing this summer,” notes Wilbur.  “The Pacific Coast League is very beneficial for us.  After losing six seniors last year, the younger guys are getting a chance to play and go through a learning curve this summer.”

Playing in the summer is not a new fad for the teams in the Pacific Coast League, but the organization and structure of the league has been a benefit for Wilbur and Santa Clara.

“The biggest benefit of the league for us has been getting to play a lot of games during the summer.  We have done it in the past, but we weren’t able to get as many games.  Now, we travel to a tournament each weekend and get four games.  It is great to have a format in which we can play consistently and all the teams have committed to participating and making this grow.”

To date, two players have been among the leaders for Santa Clara’s program as senior goalie Michael Wishart and driver James Case highlight the squad’s varsity roster.

“Michael is going into his senior year and has been our best player so far this summer,” Wilbur notes.  “He is our starting goalie, although I have been playing all three goalies on the roster, but has really stepped up this summer and shown a lot of improvement.”

“James was our leading scorer last year and has been playing a bigger role each season for us.  He has been playing great and it is hoped that he continues that success into the varsity season.”

A 1996 graduate of Princeton University, leading the Tigers defensively from the cage to three Ivy League Championships and the 1992 Eastern Championship, success is nothing new to Wilbur.

In 2010, he led the Bronco men to a second-consecutive third-place finish at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships as Santa Clara finished the season with a 19-15 record.  A year prior in 2009, he guided the men's team to its highest ever Collegiate Water Polo Association ranking of No. 10 in the nation and a third-place finish in the WWPA Championships after falling to eventual champion Loyola Marymount in the semifinals. The Broncos also put together their best record in program history with a 22-12 mark.

Although 0-9 in league play against some of the nation’s best collegiate summer teams, including Stanford, Pepperdine, Bruins WP and Lions WP among others, for Wilbur the ability to get his players in the water against competition they will see in the fall is a godsend.

“For us, the goal is to get out to a better start in the fall and continue that momentum into the rest of the y ear.  Playing in the Pacific Coast League will help us make it and continue to develop the players for years down the road.”

Time Running Out to Register for National State Challenge

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Teams wishing to register their 18-and-under boys/girls teams for the National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic in San Diego, Calif - the time is now to get your information into the American Water Polo office.

Established in 2008, this event brings together the top teams from various states to compete for the National Championship and $1,000 in prize money. Its purpose is to develop league competition within each of the states, with the the best teams competing in a tournament late summer.

Click here for more information and to register your team.

Stanford to Face Lamorinda in Pacific Coast Northern Division Tonight

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- For Stanford Water Polo Club coach John Vargas, everything is coming up roses as the Cardinal stand at 5-1 in Pacific Coast League play to date to lead the Northern Division by a half-game.

Over the weekend, the club dispatched Pepperdine (11-5 W), Xtreme (9-2 W) and Santa Barbara (11-5 W) at Santa Clara University, while suffering its first loss of the season in a tight 8-6 defeat at the hands of Bruins Water Polo to move to four games over .500.

Earlier in the season, the Cardinal stopped Santa Clara (10-5 W) and Davis (12-4 W) as much of the team's success has to be credited to the teamwork to date.

"We have players who have all been very important to our success so far," noted Vargas entering this past weekend of activity, "with one not being more important than the others."

But for Vargas, although the team's record is impressive so far, the most important benefits of the Pacific Coast League are the administrative burdens are off his shoulders to operate a summer league and find games to keep his players active during the summer months.

"I think all the coaches will agree that it is great to have organized competition in the summer.  Participating in the league will not change how we prepare for the fall season.  Marc Hunt, Adam Wright, Adam Krikorian, Kirk Everist and I have been organizing summer games for the past 10 years."

"This league's strength starts with Dan Sharadin and Tom Tracey of American Water Polo.  They have done a great job organizing and communicating with the coaches to give us the best experience."

However, Stanford's attempts to reign the PCL Northern Division standings could run into a usurper to the throne tonight as Lamorinda (4-1) will take on the Cardinal this evening as part of a double-header at Stanford beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Prior to the Stanford-Lamorinda game, Santa Clara and the Olympic Club will clash in the first game before two of the Northern Division powers lock-up to decide who is the best team in the division.

Lamorinda comes in a half game back of Stanford, but with a crucial victory, as the squad knocked off Santa Barbara (13-6 W), Xtreme (16-3 W), Pepperdine (11-9 W) and Stanford-toppler Bruins WP (10-9 W).  The Olympic Club is the only team to best Lamorinda so far this season courtesy an 11-9 victory on July 7 at the University of California-Berkeley.

A Stanford victory gives the Cardinal sole possession of first place in the division, while a loss to Lamorinda will drop Stanford one game back with other key contests coming up in the next several weeks.

Check the complete Pacific Coast League schedule for games in your area.

Time Running Out to Register for National State Challenge

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Teams wishing to register their 18-and-under boys/girls teams for the National State Challenge at Cathedral Catholic in San Diego, Calif - the time is now to get your information into the American Water Polo office.

Established in 2008, this event brings together the top teams from various states to compete for the National Championship and $1,000 in prize money. Its purpose is to develop league competition within each of the states, with the the best teams competing in a tournament late summer.

Click here for more information and to register your team.

Pepperdine's Perfect Weekend Moves Squad into First

Northern Virginia Powers Through Competition

Long Beach WPC Takes Over Pacific Coast League Lead

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Long Beach Water Polo Club took over the lead in the Pacific Coast Water Polo League standings on the evening of Thursday, June 23, as the squad squeaked past host Lions Water Polo 9-8 on the campus of Loyola Marymount University to improve to 4-2 on the season.

The victory marks Long Beach's second of the week as the team went 1-1 with a victory over Bruins Water Polo (10-8 W, Shootout) on Sunday, June 19 and a 19-17 loss to Santa Barbara (19-17 L, Shootout) on Saturday, June 18 as part of a 10-game event at Santiago High School in Riverside, Calif.

Long Beach, which fell to Lions Water Polo 11-10 on June 4 at the University of California-San Diego, avenged the defeat to take over command of first place in the standings by points (8) over Lions WP (3-1, 6 points).

In other action over the weekend, Bruins Water Polo went 2-2 with wins versus Santa Barbara (9-3 W) and Xtreme Water Polo (15-6 W), while falling to Long Beach (10-8 L) and Pepperdine (8-5 L).  Santa Barbara also finished 2-2 over the weekend, downing Xtreme (12-6 W) and Long Beach with losses to Pepperdine (12-9 L) and Bruins.

Xtreme went 0-2 to fall to 0-5 on the year with losses to Bruins and Santa Barbara, with Pepperdine moving to 3-2 in the wake of victories versus Santa Barbara and Bruins.

Complete results of Pacific Coast League competition to date are available on the PCL homepage.

(Photos courtesy Allison Delgado and Meghan Rowland)

Lehigh Valley Water Polo Set for this Summer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Athletes in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania will have new opportunities to enjoy the sport of water polo as the inaugural summer season of the Lehigh Valley Water Polo league kicks off on June 30.

The brainchild of Justin Houck and Ken Vincent, in conjunction with the City of Allentown's Recreation Department, American Water Polo and the Kingfish Water Polo foundation, the league offers introductory competition for all levels of water polo athletes entering the ninth grade and older.

All sessions and competitions will be held at Cedar Beach Pool, located at Cedar Parkway and W. Linden Street in Allentown.

The first sessions of competition will consist of scrimmages on Thursday, June 30 and Thursday, July 7 from 6:30-to-8:30 p.m.

Players will then be divided into evenly matched teams based on age and ability.  The teams will be scheduled for a minimum of five games to be played either on Thursday evenings (6:30 pm or 7:30 p.m.) or Saturday mornings (between 8 a.m. and noon).  The summer league will end on Saturday, August 6.

All competition will be held under current NCAA water polo rules.  All rules will be reviewed during the first two week instructional sessions and scrimmages.

The entry fee is just $45 for the entire summer program.  Current American Water Polo members receive a $15 discount.  The entry fee includes insurance through American Water Polo and a t-shirt.  The entry form and fee (checks made out to “Lehigh Valley Water Polo”) must be submitted at the first session attended.  As space in the league is limited, please email your name, age, and address to lehighvalleywaterpolo@gmail.com to hold your spot in the league.

Contact Lehigh Valley Water Polo at:

Email: lehighvalleywaterpolo@gmail.com

Telephone: Justin Houck at 610-858-6270 or Ken Vincent at 484-223-7243.

Pacific Coast League Gets Xtreme

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. – Xtreme Water Polo head coach Rick Rowland is true to his club’s name in regards to the Pacific Coast League: Extremely excited about the league’s potential.

Xtreme, the summer water polo club of California Baptist University, will experience something which Rowland and his squad have rarely competed in during the summer, regular and highly competitive games.

“It is exciting for the club to have a chance to play some of the best players in the country during the summer,” notes Rowland.  “In the past, we formed the club and typically played in some games against Masters’ teams, but they were spread out over the summer.”

One of the benefits for Rowland is the Pacific Coast League’s defined schedule of games.

“Now we are playing on six weekends during the summer.  Previously, we did a lot of training, but it was hard to keep the guys motivated because there were not enough games.  In this format, we are playing the University of California and other Top 10 teams, while also getting games against the Olympic Club and some of the best Masters players in California.“

The level of competition is a big draw for Xtreme, due to the potential of facing the best in California during the season.

“Each weekend the guys are playing either ex-All-Americans or the best collegiate players in the country.  This is great for our development and the team is focused, something which did not happen with our past schedule of sporadic games.  We have our current players and some alumni, probably 18-22 guys in all, coming back on a weekly basis to compete while working around their jobs and the rest of their lives. That may not have happened with our past structure.”

The low cost to compete are also significant factors in Xtreme’s perspective on the league.

“ For $30 each not only do they have an opportunity to play against the top guys, but each member of the team gets a t-shirt too, which I think they are most excited about, ” quipped Rowland.

Unlike past players experiences, including Rowland who reminisced about being part of collegiate teams that played every other weekend against other collegiate programs year round, the set-up for collegiate water polo over the past few years in California did not feature a competitive league for teams.

“This is a big boast for collegiate water polo in California.  We needed someone to form the league and set-up the structure so the collegiate teams could have a chance to continue the momentum from the season.  I give the credit to Dan Sharadin and Tom Tracey, as they are a reason all of us have a chance to play at this level during the summer.”

Cal Baptist, which does not fund the summer club program, is still in the midst of a transition from NAIA to NCAA.  However, the Xtreme players are no strangers to the upper-levels of competition during the varsity season as Cal Baptist consistently ranked in the Top 20 over the past few seasons, rating at anywhere from No. 12-to-20 during the course of the past few years.

“Teams used to kind of smirk to play us,” states Rowland. “When I started at Cal Baptist, Dan was a huge help in getting us games against the top level teams.  The Pacific Coast League is another example of Dan and Tom helping not only us (the Pacific Coast teams), but the sport to grow.”

In terms of “Players to Watch”, Rowland’s analysis of the team starts with goalie Austen Ramer, who ranked in the Top Five in the nation in saves, assists and steals last season.  Add in the presence of Brent Troutman, who finished third on the team with 40 goals last year, and Extreme appears well positioned on both offense and defense.

In addition to the active Cal Baptist players, Extreme may receive an infusion of scoring later in the season from All-America alum Aaron Steiger.

Steiger, California Baptist’s first ever 300 and 400 goal scorer, was the only non-NCAA Div. I player named to the first, second, or third team in the Fall of 2010, no small feat as he also led the nation in goals (126) for the second time while posting a 38-game scoring streak.  On top of that he paced the team in steals (57) and added 26 assists. 

“Our top two scorers from the fall graduated, so our juniors are going to have to step up and fill the void.  Playing against this type of competition should give them a challenge.”

Make that an Xtreme challenge.

EWPL Schedule Now Available

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The schedule of games for the 2011 Eastern Water Polo League is now available online by clicking here.

Teams will play regular season games during two weekends and a third championship weekend as competition will take place on June 25-26, July 12, July 16-17 and July 19 before the championship on Augustt 6-7.

Established in 1988, the Eastern Water Polo League is the largest organized water polo summer league east of the Mississippi River and features some of the top collegiate and senior players on an annual basis.

Games are held at Villanova University between June and August. Teams are guaranteed 11 games which take place during the course of three weekends. Please review the general information on the EWPL page for specific details including costs, league rules and competition dates.

Pacific Coast League Schedule Change for this Weekend

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The schedule of games for the Pacific Coast League this weekend at Santiago High School in Riverside, Calif. has been adjusted due to opponent changes.

Fans and teams should check the complete Pacific Coast League schedule by clicking here for the most recently updated schedule and results for the league.

Last Day to Register Senior Team for EWPL

Today marks the deadline for registering senior teams for the 2011 Eastern Water Polo League.

Teams are asked to fill out the registration form by the end of today (June 10) to guarantee their inclusion in the league schedule.

Teams will play regular season games during two weekends and a third championship weekend. Teams entering must commit to all three weekends in order to participate.

Competition will normally take place between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (game times are subject to change dependent upon day, location and number of teams). All efforts will be made to answer specific request by teams as well as a later start on Saturday for teams traveling a great distance.

Competition for women will be offered in single tournament invitational events.

Established in 1988, the Eastern Water Polo League is the largest organized water polo summer league east of the Mississippi River and features some of the top collegiate and senior players on an annual basis.

Games are held at Villanova University between June and August. Teams are guaranteed 11 games which take place during the course of three weekends. Please review the general information on the EWPL page for specific details including costs, league rules and competition dates.

Lions WP Shines in First Pacific Coast League Weekend

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Lions Water Polo head coach John Loughran and his squad made a definitive point to roar out of the gates on the opening weekend of the Pacific Coast League hosted by the University of California-San Diego on June 4-5.

The Lions, who are comprised largely of the Loyola Marymount University varsity team, opened the Southern Division competition with a 3-0 mark as the squad downed Long Beach Water Polo (11-10 W), Pepperdine (11-8 W) and Xtreme Water Polo (9-5 W).  Long Beach trumped Pepperdine (10-9 W) and Xtreme (13-8 W) to finish 2-1, while Pepperdine handled Xtreme (14-4 W) to conclude the weekend with a 1-2 mark.

Complete results of the weekend and the upcoming Pacific Coast League schedule are available by clicking here.

Competition will continue throughout the summer at Santiago High School (Riverside, Calif.), Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, Calif.), Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.), Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, Calif.), Long Beach State University (Long Beach, Calif.), California Baptist University (Riverside, Calif.), University of California (Berkeley, Calif.) and Pepperdine University (Malibu, Calif.).

Lions Water Polo Set to Roar in Pacific Coast League

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. - As the Pacific Coast League launches its inaugural season this weekend, Lion Water Polo head coach John Loughran sees the structure as a launching pad for his program's future success.

The head coach of the Loyola Marymount University men's water polo team, Loughran is no stranger to success having led the Lions to a combined 15 WWPA titles (7 for women, 8 for men) and 15 trips to the NCAA Championship as LMU has risen to become one of the top programs in the nation.

But, the success of the past meets the present day as LMU graduated eight players in 2011, and will turn to its returning players to add another title to Loughran's resume: Pacific Coast League champions.

Sponsored by American Water Polo, the new summer league provides the highest level of competitive opportunities for top level men's student-athletes and Master's athletes on the West Coast.

"This league structure provides things which we had to worry about in the past," notes Loughran.  "It provides an organized structure so we don't have to worry about team's not showing up for games.  The table will be staffed, and we do not have to worry about officials showing up and the quality of the officials that are assigned to our games."

"In the past, we played in whatever tournaments were scheduled.  Things were thrown together, but with the Pacific Coast League, all of those issues are taken care of."

Featuring many of the top teams and student-athletes in collegiate water polo, including squads from the University of California, Santa Clara University, the University of California-Davis, Stanford University, the University of California-Los Angeles, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Long Beach State University, along with the top Master's athletes in the state, the league will provide competitive opportunities for both current and past student-athletes in the minimal number of dates while maximizing developmental opportunities.

Teams are divided into North (Cal, Santa Clara, UC-Davis, Stanford, Olympic Club) and South (Xtreme, Loyola Marymount, UC-Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, UCLA, Long Beach) Divisions with both intra and inter regional competition taking place throughout the summer. All teams play each other at least once with additional games against opponents within their respective regions. At the close of the regular season, the top eight teams qualify for the championship at Pepperdine on July 30. Seeding at the championship is based on regular season won/loss records, as each goal, field block, save and game will matter during the course of the season to determine the championship seeds and pairings.

Competition begins on June 4-5 at UC-San Diego and will continue during the season along the entirety of the Pacific Coast at Santiago High School (Riverside, Calif.), Loyola Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.), Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.), Santa Clara (Santa Clara, Calif.), Long Beach State (Long Beach, Calif.), California Baptist University (Riverside, Calif.), Cal (Berkeley, Calif.) and Pepperdine (Malibu, Calif.).

But it is the opportunities and the meaning to the games which the league provides that will be of most benefit according to Loughran.

"Sometimes the practices during the summer can be a grind.  With the Pacific Coast League and the competition against players which we will see later during the (varsity) season, it adds meaning to all the games.  That will help our workouts because we know each game will either help or hurt us in the standings."

Leading the charge into the summer season is a quartet of returning veterans in senior Edgaras Asajavicius, junior Jon Colton and fifth year-seniors Max Schlegel and Charlie Horton.

Asajavicius, a 2009 Third Team and 2010 Honorable Mention Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America selection, will see his first summer action in the United States in the Pacific Coast League as a new generation of Lions assumes more prominent roles.

"After graduating eight guys this year, there is a new group that is taking over the leadership role on the team.  Edgaras is from Lithuania and this is the first summer he is not going home," noted Loughran.  "Max Schlegel and Charlie Horton are both fifth-year seniors, while Jon Colton has been having an outstanding spring and summer so far."   

In goal, the Lions will need to replace arguably the best goalie in the nation as All-America netminder Andy Stevens was lost to graduation.  Taking over the position as the last line of defense will be the tandem of Gavyn Wild and recent Golden West Community College player Kyle Testman.

In terms of whom Loughran expects to be the Lions chief competition, some familiar names remain near the top of the list.

"California and UCLA will be near or at the top. Besides them, one of the benefits of the league is the Olympic Club and the Masters clubs which are involved.  From a competition standpoint, it is a great experience for our guys to play against as many of the players that are or have been on the National Team."

 "As the league gets a foothold, I expect to see more Masters teams getting involved and the league really growing into something which provides a benefit well into the future."

Job Announcements from Around the Country

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- As a service to the league coaches and membership, thte following is a list of known open positions around the country for coaches.

Collegiate Varsity Positions

Connecticut College Assistant Water Polo Coach (June 2, 2011)

Connecticut College, a highly selective private liberal arts college in New London, CT, and a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), is accepting applications for the position of Athletics Intern in Men’s and Women’s Water Polo.  This is a two-year position reviewed for reappointed annually, beginning September 1, 2011.  Requirements include a bachelor’s degree, a valid U.S. driver’s license, and water polo playing and/or coaching experience.  The successful candidate will assist with all facets of the Division III men’s and women’s water polo programs, as well as facility supervision and home event management responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Athletics.  The successful candidate must have the highest ethical standards with regard to the NCAA and NESCAC rules.

Connecticut College educates students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society.  Located mid-way between New York and Boston, the College is notable for its strong academic programs and beautiful campus.  The College’s Board of Trustees, President, administration, faculty and staff share a commitment to diversity: we foster the values of equity, inclusion, and respect for all human differences, for these are essential to the fulfillment of our mission.  The College is also an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Compensation will include a stipend, a limited meal card, and tuition remission for coursework (if accepted as a Special Day Student). Interested candidates should forward a current resume and cover letter to: Head Coach JJ Addison at  jaddison@conncoll.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

Bucknell University Assistant Water Polo Coach (June 1, 2011)

Bucknell University seeks an assistant coach responsible for on-deck coaching and recruitment of academically-qualified student athletes for a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men's and Women's Water Polo programs, within the guidelines, rules and regulations of Bucknell University, the NCAA and the Conference.   

Duties include:

1. Lead training and practice sessions, ensuring that all appropriate safety guidelines and standards are maintained. Perform specific coaching responsibilities during athletic events. Attend coaches preparatory meetings and implement strategies resulting from these meetings.

2. Assigned responsibilities within the daily operations and overall administration of the sports program.

3. Develop a comprehensive and functional knowledge of the sport and maintain a thorough and continuing familiarity with all applicable University and NCAA regulations.

4. Scout and recruit quality student-athletes under the guidance and direction of the head coach and coordinate all recruiting activities with the head coach and with appropriate Departmental personnel. Be responsible to identify, cultivate and assess for a specific geographical area or position group

5. Serve as an Academic Enhancement staff member responsible for all facets of the sport specific academic program, including the monitoring of individual student-athletes academic progress as expressed by the faculty. Demonstrate an active interest in the academic progress of student-athletes. Work closely with all appropriate Departmental personnel to assure academic success of student-athletes.

6. Work with student-athletes to monitor adherence to rules and regulations regarding conduct, appearance and behavior. Provide individual counseling to student-athletes when appropriate and direct the student-athlete to professional staff when needed.

7. Work closely with the athletic training staff to insure the safety of all student-athletes.

8. Perform other duties as assigned.

9. Teach in Departmental wellness program as assigned.

10. Represents the sports program to various institutional programs and externally to the media, funding agencies, students, parents, faculty and the general public.

11. Maintain current CPR and First Aid Certifications. 

Minimum qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and student-athletes having a range of backgrounds, interests, and perspectives.  

Preferred qualifications include:

• Collegiate playing/coaching experience preferred.
  
• 
  
• Proven integrity, leadership, and a thorough knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations is essential.
  
• Candidate should possess a strong commitment and ability to motivate, teach, counsel, and recruit academically qualified student-athletes.  

Bucknell University values a diverse college community and is committed to excellence through diversity in its faculty, staff and students. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, Bucknell University especially welcomes applications from women and minority candidates.

To apply online, click here

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Men's Head Coach (May 27, 2011)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) seeks a part-time head men's water polo coach. 

Responsibilities include management of all facets of the men’s varsity water polo program to include but not limited to: administration, budget management, alumni stewardship, recruiting, scheduling of competitions, team travel, weekly practice sessions, counseling of students, and compliance with NCAA and conference rules and regulations.

Requirements include one to three years coaching experience preferably at the college/university level. A Bachelor's degree is required: a Masters degree is preferred. Proven experience in recruiting to a highly selective institution desirable. Administrative, interpersonal/communication skills and computer skills are essential. Appropriate certifications in First Aid, CPR, AED, and Biohazards are required within an appropriate time of hire and must be completed (per NCAA regulations) before the beginning of the competitive season. Employment is conditional upon successful completion of a background check.

Application deadline is June 15, 2011. Please submit cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references.

Apply electronically at: http://web.mit.edu/jobs/

MIT is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

The Institute is committed to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge, and to working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. MIT is dedicated to providing its students with an education that combines rigorous academic study and the excitement of discovery with the support and intellectual stimulation of a diverse campus community. We seek to develop in each member of the MIT community the ability and passion to work wisely, creatively, and effectively for the betterment of humankind.

University of Hawaii Women's Head Coach (May 20, 2011)

JOB SUMMARY: Under administrative direction, the Head Coach is responsible for planning, administering, and evaluating the overall operation of the NCAA Division I Women’s Water Polo Program to include, but not limited to, academic achievement of student-athletes, on deck coaching, recruitment of qualified prospects, supervision of assistant coaches and other staff assigned to the program, compliance, program management (eligibility, scheduling, travel, budget, equipment), and student-athlete welfare. The Head Coach assumes full responsibility for ensuring that team performance is competitive in the affiliated conference with the goal of achieving post-season competition. Additionally, the Head Coach must maintain collaborative working relationships with administrators and coaches in the department, other college offices, and appropriate members of the media, donors, and other individuals interested in the sports program. Reports to the Director of Athletics or designee.

1. Promote the institutional position on intercollegiate issues as determined under administrative policy and procedures adopted by the University, Conference or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

2. Provide leadership and oversight for the academic progress and eligibility status of student-athletes.

3. Organize and evaluate practices and intercollegiate competitions. Teach necessary skills from the basic fundamentals to the techniques and strategies of team play. Direct the conditioning and training of student-athletes to ensure proper preparation for intercollegiate athletic competition.

4. Plan and supervise the recruitment and selection of qualified prospects capable of competing in the classroom and on the deck. Recommend scholarship awards for student-athletes to the Athletics Director.

5. Evaluate, recruit, and select qualified prospects who have the ability to compete in the classroom and athletically. Actively seek out and encourage a diverse group of prospects and assist them through the application process. Work collaboratively with the Compliance, Student Affairs, Academics and the Admissions Office staff to qualify and process prospects in a timely and efficient manner. Make recurring contacts by telephone, written correspondence, off-campus visits and evaluations, and coordination of campus visits.

6. Promote the physical and mental welfare of all program participants.

7. Promote and foster a positive team environment, appropriate behavior, and sportsmanship by team members. Responsible for the conduct of team members both on and off the deck.

8. Recommend budget and administer approved allocation.

9. Oversee the selection, purchase, fitting, and upkeep of team equipment.

10. Exercise functional and administrative supervision for any assigned assistant coaches and other support staff, to include their compliance with NCAA, Conference, and University rules and policies which govern the conduct of the Intercollegiate Athletics program.

11. Prepare data and reports as necessary in support of University requirements.

12. Arrange a competitive competition schedule as approved and coordinate travel arrangements needed in support thereof.

13. Organize and participate in sports clinics, exhibitions, and camps as approved.

14. Recommend future schedules, personnel, financial and facilities requirements for the sports program to the Athletics Director.

15. Actively participates in fundraising, sports promotional activities, speaking engagements, and alumni events as requested or approved. Participate in public relations activities that strengthen the relationship between the University and the Community.

16. Know, recognize, and comply with the laws, policies, rules, and regulations governing the University of Hawai‘i and its employees, and the rules of the NCAA and affiliated conferences as now constituted or as may be amended in the future. Immediately advises the Director of Athletics or designee if there are reasonable cause to believe violations, whether by employees, students, or others, have occurred or will occur.

17. Perform other duties as assigned.

TO APPLY: Submit cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications, resume, Employment Application Form-UH Form 64 (Form can be found at(http://www.hawaii.edu/ohr/bor/forms/form64.pdf) and names of 3 professional references to the address below. Application can also be faxed to (808)956-4637 Attn: Human Resources.

ADDRESS: University of Hawaii Athletics Attn: Human Resources 1337 Lower Campus Rd Honolulu, HI 96822

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2011.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university.

Three (3) years experience coaching water polo at the college or university level.

Knowledge and ability to organize, implement, and develop a Water Polo Program as played at the intercollegiate level.

Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Successful Division I Water Polo coaching experience.

Demonstrated ability to coach and recruit the highly skilled student-athlete.

Brown University Assistant Water Polo Coach (May 19, 20011)

Brown University seeks an assistant men's and women's water polo coach. 

This position assists the Head Coach in all phases of the Men's and Women's Water Polo programs. This includes coaching, assisting in recruiting, and administrative responsibilities that include compiling and maintaining student-athlete participation and prospective-student recruiting logs and other NCAA/Ivy compliance information.

All department employees are required to demonstrate exemplary ethical conduct and conformance to NCAA rules and regulations; the duties of the position are to be performed in compliance with all NCAA, Ivy League and ECAC rules and regulations; and any rules violations on behalf of themselves or any knowledge of violations within the department are to be reported to the appropriate parties. Coaching positions are required to pass the NCAA Coaches Certification Test. 

The work schedule is established at July 16 - December 15 which then resumes from January 16 - May 15. Varied hours including early mornings, evenings and weekends. 

Job qualifications include:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Three to five years of coaching experience at the high school and/or collegiate playing experience; collegiate coaching experience preferred.
• 
  
• Ability to recruit within NCAA and Ivy League rules.
• 
  
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, oral communication, and computer skills.
• 
  
• Commitment to the student-athlete, passion for the game, and ability to coach and motivate.
• 
  
• Support all decisions made by the Head Coach.
• 
  
• The successful candidate for this position will be required to complete a criminal background and DMV checks satisfactory to Brown University prior to commencing employment.
• 
  
• More information, including salary data and all pertinent contact information for the Brown University Human Resources Department, is available at https://careers.brown.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1306416951886

Whittier College Swimming/Water Polo Assistant Coach (April 11, 2011)

Whittier College, a NCAA Division III institution and member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in Whittier, CA seeks an Assistant Coach for its Aquatic program. 

This is a full-time, 10-month, benefited position.  Reporting to the Director of Aquatics, the assistant coach will be responsible for assisting the head coach in organizing, developing and administering the men’s & women’s water polo and swimming programs plus the supervision of two graduate assistants, recruiting and retaining student athletes and daily instruction in practice.  Must be dedicated to building a successful, respected program and exhibit a strong commitment toward adhering to Whittier College policies and guidelines.  

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required. Previous experience in coaching is essential, preferably at the college level.  The ability to relate well to the college community, including students, faculty and alumni, as well as the general public and media is expected as is dedication to the full educational development of the student athletes in the program.  The candidate must possess a thorough understanding and working knowledge of NCAA Division III regulations.  Background check will be conducted: a valid driver’s license and good driving record required.  

How to Apply:  Mail or email a letter of application and resume including the names and telephone numbers of three references to: Director of Athletics, Robert J. Coleman, 13847 Earlham Drive, Whittier, CA 90602; rcoleman@whittier.edu.

Collegiate Club Positions

Michigan State University Seeks Head Men's Club Coach

The three-time National Champion (2000, 2006, 2008) Michigan State University men's water polo is in need of a head coach. All applicants should:

• Have prior coaching and playing experience, preferably at the collegiate level
• 
  
• Understand the priorities of a club program (may be discussed on interview)
• 
  
• Have strong interpersonal communication skills
• 
  
• Be able to engineer a season with specific goals and checkpoints to meet the team's ultimate goal of being as competitive as possible
• 
  
• Be able to present and explain past season's workouts designed by them

University of Pennsylvania Seeks Head Women's Club Coach

The University of Pennsylvania’s Recreation Department invites applications for the position of Women’s club water polo head coach.

Penn’s Club Sports program is designed to enhance the experience of members of the student body by providing an outlet to compete in sport with local schools, develop leadership skills and promote lifelong fitness. The position requires a competent understanding of the technical aspects of the sport, knowledge and compliance of all Conference/National rules, and the ability to successfully recruit quality student-athletes at the Club Sport level. The Women’s Head Coach is required to provide a positive experience for each student-athlete under his/her supervision.

Status:Part-time
Start date: Mid-January
Salary: Stipend

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Know, understand, and be responsible for all compliance with rules and regulations of the various conferences, and the University of Pennsylvania.
• Responsible for report of potential violations, eligibility problems, rules infractions, or disciplinary action of student-athletes immediately to the Associate Director of Structured Sports.
• Create a positive environment for student-athletes by communicating clearly and fairly with each student athlete on matters, which affect his/her, development including academic, physical, social, and athletic issues.
• Direct the organization of all aspects of an athlete’s development, including practice sessions, and preparation for contests.
• Communicate and cooperate with the Associate Director of Structured Sports on a regular basis on all developments with public relations potential.
• Active involvement in outreach and fund development activities as directed by the Associate Director of Structured Sports.

For interested candidates please send letter of interest and resume to: Michael Reno, Associate Director of Structured Sports, University of Pennsylvania, 3701 Walnut St. Philadelphia PA 19104.  Email mreno@pobox.upenn.edu. AA/EOE

La Salle University Seeks Head Club Coach

La Salle University’s Recreation Department invites applications for the position of club water polo head caoch.

La Salle’s Club Sports program is designed to enhance the experience of members of the La Salle’s student body by providing an outlet to compete in sport with local schools, develop leadership skills and promote lifelong fitness.

The position requires a competent understanding of the technical aspects of the sport, knowledge and compliance of all Conference/National rules, and the ability to successfully recruit quality student-athletes at the Club Sport level. The Head Coach is required to provide a positive experience for each student-athlete under his/her supervision.

Status: Part-time
Start date: September 2010
Salary: $3,000 (annual)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Know, understand, and be responsible for all compliance with rules, regulations, and philosophies of the various conferences, and La Salle University, including La Salle rules, regulations, polices procedures, handbooks and manuals, applicable to the program and to the students and athletes at La Salle.
• Recruitment of quality student-athletes who are qualified to compete successfully both academically and athletically at the club sport level.
• Recommendation of appointment/dismissal of Assistant Coaches in compliance with University employment policies; responsible for outlining their duties and responsibilities, orientation training, and evaluation; responsible for supervising their conduct as representatives of the University and for annual evaluation of
their job performance to the Athletic Director.
• Responsible for report of potential (violations), eligibility problems, rules infractions, or disciplinary action of student-athletes immediately to the Director of Recreation and the Associate Athletic Director.
• Create a positive environment for student-athletes by communicating clearly and fairly with each student athlete on matters, which affect his/her, development including academic, physical, social, spiritual, and athletic issues.
• Direct the organization of all aspects of an athlete’s development, including practice sessions, and preparation for contests.
• Communicate and cooperate with Director of Recreation on a regular basis on all developments with public relations potential, report anything controversial that may attract media attention. Respond appropriately with the media so as not to demean student-athletes, the University, the Conference and all parties connected.
• Accept no speaking engagement for money, endorsements, or any other outside employment at any time without prior approval of the Director of Recreation.
• Maintain expense reports for all scouting, recruiting and travel expenses.
• Active involvement in outreach and fund development activities as directed by the Director of Recreation or his/her designee.
• Assist in preparation of the annual budget requests and management of the approved program budget in collaboration with the Director of Recreation and club sport officers.
• Assist in ordering all equipment, uniforms, and supplies. Assist with the issue, care and return of all equipment.
• Assist in scheduling of contests and in planning and organizing itineraries for “away” contests.

La Salle University is a Roman Catholic university in the tradition of the De La Salle Christian Brothers and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds who can contribute to our unique educational mission. For a complete mission statement, please visit our website at www.lasalle.edu. Send letter of interest and resume to: Matt Gionta, Director of Recreation, La Salle University, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19141. Phone 215.951.1560, Fax 215.951.1694, Email gionta@lasalle.edu. AA/EOE

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Seeks Head Coach

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Water Polo Club invites applications for the part-time position of Head Coach. Direct report of the Head Coach is made to the Associate Athletic Director and the Club’s Executive Council. His/her duties will include, but are not limited to: developing and leading the implementation of a clear goal for the Club; conducting practices; and scheduling team matches, all with the aid of the club’s Executive Council.

Qualifications:

• At least two (2) years of coaching and/or four (4) years of playing experience.
• Proficiency with word-processing software and database management.
• Strong interpersonal skills- able to communicate effectively with a diverse community of students, faculty, coaches, administrators, and staff.
• 
  
• Ability to represent the Department and the College to off-campus constituencies, including alumni, friends, corporate partners, and donors.
• 
  
• Strong organizational skills.
• 
  
• Team-oriented individual with ability to take initiative

Salary is $500 per two-month period (September-October, March-April). There also exists the possibility of assisting the Varsity Swim Team- this post carries its own remuneration.

Kindly contact Alford Green (Club President), acgreen@wpi.edu for more information.

Saint Mary's College (Calif.) Seeks Head Men's Coach

Saint Mary's College invites applications for a part-time, ten (10) month (August-May) Head Coach, Men's Club Water Polo. Reporting to the Director of Club Sports, the Head Coach is responsible for planning, developing, administering, and evaluating the overall operation of the Men's Water Polo team; including team performance, supporting the academic achievement of club athletes, recruiting and program management (eligibility certification, event management, scheduling, travel planning, budget management, equipment, athletic training, etc.). The Head Coach is expected to participate in College and community service, supervise assistant coaches and program personnel, and ensure compliance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's Degree preferred and three (3) to five (5) years of relevant experience as a head or assistant coach at the College level.
• 
  
• Proficiency with word-processing software and database management.
• 
  
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to effectively communicate with a diverse community of students, faculty, coaches, administrators, and staff.
• 
  
• Ability to represent the Department and the College to off-campus constituencies, including alumni, friends, corporate partners, and donors.
• 
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion.
• 
  
• Strong organizational skills with ability to handle multiple, competing tasks, and priorities.
• 
  
• Team-oriented individual with ability to take initiative.
• 
  
• Understanding and supportive of the values and ideals of the Lasallian, Catholic, and liberal arts tradition.
• 
  
• Salary and benefits are competitive and subject to the availability of funding sources.

Please visit our website at http://jobs.stmarys-ca.edu for complete job details and application details (Recruitment #2010-6836).

This position is open until filled.

Saint Mary's College of California is an equal opportunity employer.

www.stmarys-ca.edu

Saint Mary's College (Calif.) Seeks Head Women's Coach

Saint Mary's College invites applications for a part-time, ten (10) month (August-May) Head Coach, Women's Club Water Polo.

The Head Coach is responsible for working with Athletics and Recreational Sports department personnel in planning, developing, administering, and evaluating the overall operation of the Women's Water Polo team. This includes, but is not limited to, team performance, supporting the academic achievement of club athletes, student leadership development, recruiting, program management (eligibility certification, event management, scheduling, travel planning, budget management, equipment, athletic training, etc.), College and community service, supervision of assistant coaches and program personnel, and compliance. The head coach is responsible for ensuring that team performance is competitive within their league with the goal of qualifying for postseason competition. The part-time, 10 month position reports to the Assistant Director of Athletics for Recreational Sports

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's Degree preferred.
• 
  
• Three to five years of relevant experience as a head or assistant coach at the College level preferred.
• 
  
• Proficiency with word-processing software and database management.
• 
  
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to effectively communicate with a diverse community of students, faculty, coaches, administrators, and staff.
• 
  
• Ability to represent the Department and the College to off-campus constituencies, including alumni, friends, corporate partners, and donors.
• 
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion.
• 
  
• Strong organizational skills with ability to handle multiple, competing tasks, and priorities. Team-oriented individual with ability to take initiative.
• 
  
• Understanding and supportive of the values and ideals of the Lasallian, Catholic, and liberal arts tradition.

Salary and benefits are competitive and subject to the availability of funding sources.

Please visit our website at http://jobs.stmarys-ca.edu for complete job details and application details (Recruitment #2010-6835).

This position is open until filled.

Saint Mary's College of California is an equal opportunity employer.

www.stmarys-ca.edu

EWPL Information Posted

Entering into its 24th season, the league offers summer competition for senior level teams throughout the Northeast and features some of the top collegiate and master athletes east of the Mississippi River. 

This season the EWPL will feature both a Senior "A" and "B" Divisions to help maintain equitable competition for all participants. The "B" Division will also be open to high school age teams.

All games will be played at Villanova University located northwest of Philadelphia, PA. Competition will take place during two regular season weekends, June 25&26th and July 16&17th, and will culminate with the championship on August 6&7th.

The deadline to enter your team is set for Friday, June 10th. Visit the Eastern Water Polo League webpage located under the Eastern Region of the Schedules or click on the below links for more specific information.

EWPL 2011: Team Registration Form
EWPL 2011: Senior Division Information   
EWPL 2011: League Hotel and Pool Directions 

For more information regarding competition available for athletes of all ages, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.

Souderton High School Seeks Head Water Polo Coach

SOUDERTON, Pa. -- The Souderton Area High School recently finds itself in need of a new Head Water Polo coach.
 
Infomation regarding this open position and how to apply can be found at:
 
http://www.soudertonsd.org/district/employment/coaching/index.cfm?jobSectionID=4
 
This is a new high school with state-of-the-art facilities, a great reputation and history of quality Water Polo and Swimming programs, and a strong parent supported Aquatic Booster organization!  This Water Polo team has developed into a state championship level organization, and is in desparate need of a new head coach with similar qualities and experience to continue to build this program.

Applicants should supply a complete application packet, consisting of the following, to be considered for the position:

1. * Completed Coaching Application (PDF)

2. * Letter of interest

3. * Current resume

Complete package should be mailed to:
Tom Quintois, Athletic Director
Souderton Senior High School
41 N. School Lane
Souderton, PA 18964

Complete Results of Cutino Cup

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. --  The University of San Francisco Masters, Bay Area Masters and the Olympic Club captured the 20+, 30+ and 50+ divisions of the inaugural Peter J. Cutino Cup hosted by Tri-Valley Water Polo on May 21-22 at at Campolindo High School (Main Site) Soda Aquatic Center in Moraga, Calif.

In the 20+ division, the University of San Francisco finished the weekend 3-1 to edge out Bay Area Masters (2-2), Contra Costa Masters (2-2) and the Open Masters (2-2) to claim the title. 

In the other divisions, the Bay Area Masters 30+ squad captured their division with a 3-1 mark as the team knocked off East Bay (2-2), Contra Costa (1-3) and Napa Valley (0-4), while the Olympic Club (4-0) was the sole undefeated team during the weekend downing Santa Barbara (2-2), Tri-Valley 50 (1-3) and Tri-Valley 55 (1-3) to capture the 50+ division.

Complete standings and results from each division are available by clicking on the links below:

• Standings
• 20+ Scores & Results
• 30+ Scores & Results
• 50+ Scores & Results

Cutino Cup Set for this Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – For Tri-Valley Water Polo coach Jeff Roy, the Peter J. Cutino Cup is about passion – a love for the game and a commitment to remember one of the fathers of the sport, longtime University of California-Berkeley head coach Pete Cutino.

“The idea of the Cutino Cup came about during a brain-storming session with American Water Polo’s Dan Sharadin and Tom Tracey as we were looking for ways to create better Masters level events than what was currently being hosted”, recalls Roy.

For Roy, Sharadin and Tracey, the idea gelled into the Cutino Cup, an event on May 21-22 hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo at Campolindo High School (Main Site) Soda Aquatic Center in Moraga, Calif.   The unique event will feature 12 teams in three levels of competition for men’s teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30/40 & Over and 50 & Over divisions. 

Like any event in its first year, plans are for the Cutino Cup to grow and include women’s competition in 2012.

Named for one of the sport of water polo’s greatest coaches, the 2011 Peter J. Cutino Cup offers more than premier water polo competition at an affordable price, but a well-organized event featuring an incredible social atmosphere for interested teams, fans and aficionados of the sport of water polo.

The inaugural event of the American Water Polo Masters Cup Series, “This event provides an opportunity for Masters’ athletes to play against competition at their age-level (20+, 30/40+ and 50+).  The only other time this occurs is at Masters Nationals,” Roy notes, “so this is a very unique event for the sport.”

For American Water Polo and the water polo family, the Cutino Cup is the first step on a journey to create bigger and better events for Masters’ athletes; an idea which Roy feels is long overdue.

“This event will grow in time, and being as special as it is, will provide opportunities that never existed before.  This is a stepping stone to create more events to showcase Masters athletes, and to remember those that paved the way for today’s game.”

More than the administrator for the event, Roy is also involved both on deck as a coach and in the water as a player with Tri-Valley Water Polo, a club program which covers the area around Pleasanton and San Ramon.

Started in 1997, Tri-Valley now features over 200 members, including former high school, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and AAU champions, in addition former Olympians and active Masters level athletes that play the sport for one reason – passion for the game.

“Most of our players are from outside the immediate area around the club,” he adds. 

“We include people that played at Cal (University of California), Davis (University of California-Davis) and Stanford (Stanford University), and many other collegiate programs, in addition to ones that went on to play on the National level.  But we are more than just former college athletes, as the club covers a wide range of ages, from 14 and up.  We have had guys as old as 67 play for us.”

Roy’s involvement with the Cutino Cup also goes beyond just being the host club for the event.

He remembers and sees daily the impact that Coach Cutino had on the game.

“They call Cutino the ‘Godfather of Water Polo’ for all he did to grow the sport and bring us to where we are now.  One man touched the lives of thousands of people, and we want to acknowledge his contribution with an event of this caliber.”

In part, the Cutino Cup is more than a two-day event to offer a playing opportunity to Masters players – it is also about honoring the past and building for the future.

“One of the things we are hoping to do is to put together an album of the past players – guys that were the first NCAA champions and played on the AAU teams from which they selected the Olympic teams in the 1970’s.  It is an important goal of the event to remember their contributions, and the contributions of all the guys that played back when the sport was coming up.”

The event comes full circle as the Cutino Cup will also honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition as all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the host site to benefit the local youth water polo community.

A legendary coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

Cutino also served as a US National and 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.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives,” according to University of California head men’s water polo coach Kirk Everist. “Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute.”

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino’s legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

Although gone, Cutino’s spirit and name continues on to inspire a passion for the game now and in the future through events like the one that carries his name, the Peter J. Cutino Cup.

For more information on the Cutino Cup, visit the official website at www.CutinoCup.com

Update on AWP Director Dan Sharadin

American Water Polo Director Dan Sharadin underwent surgery on the morning of May 5 to donate a kidney to his wife, Danna. The surgery was successful and both he and Danna were released last Sunday evening, May 8th. The recovery process will still take some time as neither will be able to drive for a period of three weeks.

The Director wishes to express his thanks to everyone that called, emailed, and or contacted the office. While he will be unable to respond to everyone, the outpouring of kindness has been really appreciated.

The doctors have not established a time when he can come back to the office as of yet, but the Director hopes to begin limited correspondence next week by email and telephone.

A Note from AWP Director Dan Sharadin

Many of you have requested information about the recovery process and the details.

To help clear up what has taken place thus far, as well as what we expect in the next few weeks, I’ve been asked to give some additional information.

My wife and I will be married 30 years this November and throughout most of that time Danna has had a disease called IGA Nephropathy. Essentially the disease is a slow acting one that eventually destroys the kidney’s function, which is designed to remove poisons from your body. Without your kidneys your body has no means to rid itself of toxins.

Three years ago it became clear she was digressing more rapidly and was placed on an active transplant list. Her condition remained stable for a while until this past April. During that time I was tested and found to be a match, which was not only unusual, but a tremendous blessing for a number of reasons.  While we could have waited for a cadaver kidney from someone that had passed away, the incidence of rejection, life expectancy afterwards, and associated problems all escalate under these circumstances. The best chance for my wife’s survival was a transplant from a live donor that had been pre-matched.

The surgery took place on May 5 and lasted about five hours. They removed my left kidney and added it to my wife’s barely functioning two kidneys. They actually do not replace any of her kidneys since they want to maintain as much kidney function as possible.

Following the operation they perform a number of different tests to ensure the kidneys are functioning and they begin giving my wife special drugs to reduce the chance that her body will reject the donated kidney. Unfortunately these drugs also can eliminate her resistance to infections and viruses, so it is important she be kept in relative isolation at this time.

The time spent in the hospital was really a blur. In fact, since the operation, the longest I have been awake is four hours and I usually average 2-3 hours at a time.

My day is simply spent sleeping, eating, and taking some medicine. I have not even watched a full Sports Center yet, although that has to change soon. I have had very limited contact with anyone, so please do not be offended if I do not respond to you for a few weeks. The reality is that I am simply sleeping all of the time in 2-3 hour naps, 24 hours a day. The duration is due to the cycle for taking medication.

The pain can be challenging and the drugs used to lessen the effects are narcotics, so I am attempting to minimize my usage as much as possible. I am trying to balance the amount of pain I can tolerate and still be able to eat and sleep. Recently I tried to go too far off the pain meds too soon and paid for it over the last three days in discomfort, loss of appetite, and sleep. However, things seem to be improving today and I am hopefully back on track.

While the operation was fairly routine and extremely safe in comparison to most operations, because of the location of the kidney and the number of organs that must be moved to perform the surgery, recovery takes a very long time. Ironically, the donor has a much slower and more painful time that the recipient. The reason is due to the fact that the recipient has been functioning on death’s doorstep for some time and then gets a brand new kidney, improving filtering immediately. For all my doctor friends, Danna’s Creatinine went from 5.5 to .9 in a day.

The donor on the other hand goes from a healthy lifestyle to 50% filtering, as well as dealing with the side effects associated with major surgery.  This means the donor’s body goes into a kind of shock trying to recover while the recipient gets a new lease on life. Consequently, the time out of commission is greater for the donor than that of the recipient. That is the biggest surprise for those involved since prior to the surgery they have seen the recipient’s health steadily failing and naturally assume their recovery will take longer than the healthy donor.

I am not sure what this will mean for me. I’ve been told very clearly from all of the surgeons and kidney doctors that there is no way to shorten the time. Everyone responds differently. All I can do is rest and hope that my body heals quickly.

As for my wife, the difference is truly amazing. She looks 10 years younger and already has more energy now than she did before the surgery. I am so thankful to be able to have been a part of this for her.

I hope this summary has given you some insights into what has happened and I’ll try to let you know if anything significant changes in the process described here.

I want to thank you again for your prayer support and kind words and please know that I read everything that has been sent. As I begin to get back involved I’ll let you know my status.

AWP to Launch Pacific Coast Water Polo League on June 4

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- American Water Polo is proud to announce the formation of a new summer league to provide the highest level of competitive opportunities for top level men’s student-athletes and Master’s athletes on the West Coast, the Pacific Coast Water Polo League.

Featuring many of the top teams and student-athletes in collegiate water polo, including squads from the University of California, Santa Clara University, the University of California-Davis, Stanford University, the University of California-Los Angeles, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Long Beach State University, along with the top Master’s athletes in the state, the league will provide competitive opportunities for both current and past student-athletes in the minimal number of dates while maximizing developmental opportunities.

Teams are divided into North (Cal, Santa Clara, UC-Davis, Stanford, Olympic Club) and South (Extreme, Loyola Marymount, UC-Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, UCLA, Long Beach, Costa Masters) Divisions with both intra and inter regional competition taking place throughout the summer. All teams play each other at least once with additional games against opponents within their respective regions. At the close of the regular season, the top eight teams qualify for the championship at Pepperdine on July 30. Seeding at the championship is based on regular season won/loss records, as each goal, field block, save and game will matter during the course of the season to determine the championship seeds and pairings.

Competition begins on June 4-5 at UC-San Diego and will continue during the season along the entirety of the Pacific Coast at Santiago High School (Riverside, Calif.), Loyola Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.), Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.), Santa Clara (Santa Clara, Calif.), Long Beach State (Long Beach, Calif.), California Baptist University (Riverside, Calif.), Cal (Berkeley, Calif.) and Pepperdine (Malibu, Calif.).

A complete schedule of game and competition start times is available on the American Water Polo website by clicking here.

2011 Junior Pan-America Games Information Released

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Information for the 2011 Pan America Games was released today for the championships on August 3-14 in Puerto Rico.

UNION AMERICANA DE NATACIÕN SUMMONS
XVI U.A.N.A. PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR MENS WATER POLO (17U) CHAMPIONSHIP
X U.A.N.A. PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR WOMENS WATER POLO (17U) CHAMPIONSHIP

I.  PARTICIPATING TEAMS

There can be a maximum of 12 teams in each category, men and women, representing the four zones of the Americas.  Teams will be composed of athletes born in 1994 or later.  The qualifying teams for Junior Pan American Championship will be: the first three teams on the standing from the previous Championships; the host team; one team from each zone; and teams selected by a rotation between Zone II and Zone I (in that order) until the maximum of 12 teams is achieved.  Teams from Canada, United States, and Brasil in women, and Canada, United States and Brasil in men have already qualified due to their standing in the last Junior Pan American Championships held in Florida, United States of America.

The teams qualifying for these Championships are as follows;

a.    ZONE I - CONSANAT

Men:            Brasil and four teams to be nominated by CONSANAT

Women:       Brasil and four teams to be nominated by CONSANAT

b.  ZONE II - CCCAN

Men:            Puerto Rico and four teams to be nominated by CCCAN

Women:       Puerto Rico and four teams to be nominated by CCCAN

c. ZONE III - UNITED STATES

Men:            UNITED STATES

Women:       UNITED STATES

d.  ZONE IV-CANADA

Men:            CANADA

Women:       CANADA

These Championships are classification tournaments for the Junior World Championships to be held in 2012 for both men and women.  Number of teams qualifying for the Junior World Championships will be determined by FINA rules:  the current number is four or five (4 or 5) men and four (4) women, but of course, this is subject to change by FINA.

II.  COMPETITION PROGRAM

The schedule of activities for these Championships from August 4 -August 13, 2011 is the following:

Thursday, August 4               Arrival of Teams Delegations

Friday, August 5            Scheduled team practices

• 2:00 pm    U.A.N.A. TWPC Meeting

• 6:00 pm    Technical Congress

• 8:00 pm    Referees Clinic                                

Saturday August 6        Qualification games in both categories

Sunday, August 7         Qualification games in both categories

Monday, August 8         Qualification games in both categories

Tuesday, August 9        Qualification games in both categories

Wednesday, August 10 Qualification games in both categories

Thursday, August 11     Semifinal games in both categories

Friday, August 12          Final games in both categories

                                     Awards & Closing Ceremonies

Saturday, August 13     Departures of Team Delegations

The final competition schedule for both categories, men and women, shall be determined by the number of participating teams and will be prepared at the Technical Congress to be held at 6:00 pm on August 5, 2011 on the facilities designated by the Organizing Committee.  All team’s delegates and referees must be present at the Technical Congress.

III. TEAM DELEGATION

The Organizing Committee will guarantee room and board to a maximum of 18 persons for each team delegation in categories, men and women.  Each delegation shall consist of 13 players and 5 supporting personnel, out of which one must be a referee. 

Each delegation must comply with the required room and board fees as specified in section VIII of this Summons.

All delegations must make all the necessary arrangements for the arrival in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The Organizing Committee shall provide ground transportation from the Luis Muñoz Martin International Airport (SIU) to the hotel and returning. 

IV.  REGISTRATION

All teams must be properly registered before May 15, 2011, by sending the numerical entry for the categories (men and/or women) in which they will participate and the remaining number of the supporting personnel for the delegation (see Annex “A”).

The final submission of the following documents must occur before July 1, 2011:

(b) Arrival and departure information (see annex “C”)

(c) Individual information with two photographs of each delegation member (see Annex “D”).

(d) Team photograph for the program.

All mailings must be sent to the following address:

Original to:                       

SWIMMING FEDERATION OF PUERTO RICO
Jorge Torres – Director Water Polo Technical Committee
Email: jrpanamericano2011pr@gmail.com
Phone: 1-787-505-4153
FAX:  1-787-250-1901

Copy to:   

Eldon Godfrey - President of U.A.N.A.
Email: ecg@godfrey-godfrey.ca
Phone: 1-403-681-5693/288-5693
FAX:  1-403-270-3094

William J. Shaw – U.A.N.A. Executive Committee
Email: bshaw@mcdougallgauley.com
Phone: 1-306-665-5426
Fax: 1-306-652-1323

Those countries with final entries which later do not participate in the competition will be fined in the amount of $1,000 US dollars.  Each delegation is responsible for securing their required visas from the proper Government Institutions.

V.    REFEREES

VI.    FACILITIES
San Juan Natatorium, San Juan Central Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The hotel for the teams are:

• The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel
• Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel San Juan

The hotel for the referees & delegates will be:

• Sheraton Old San Juan

The Organizing Committee will provide ground transportation required for official delegations from the hotel to the venues from August 5 through August 13, 2011.

VII.   TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

An electronic timing system will be utilized.  The official playing ball shall comply with all the requirements of FINA regulations.  All participating teams will be informed about the adopted system after the Organizing Committee receives the numerical entries.

Teams must bring their own playing caps for the games, in compliance with FINA regulations, and must also provide their own practice balls.  The Organizing Committee will provide official game balls.                                                                                                          

VIII.  COSTS

The official delegations from each visiting country participating in these Championships will pay the Organizing Committee an amount of $100.00 U.S. dollars per person per day.  Payment shall be made in United States dollars. 

Information as to the Bank Account to wire(bank transfer) your deposit is as follows:

Name of Bank: Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Name of Account: Federacion Puertorriqueña de Natación Polo

Jr. Panamericano

Routing/Transit Number: 021502011

Swift Code: BPPRPRSX

Referees that are not members of any official delegation participating in these Championships must make arrangements with the Organizing Committee.  Referees that are members of official delegation will be required to stay separate from their teams.  They will be notified as to the location/costs of this accommodation.

Delegations arriving earlier than August 4, 2011, or departing after August 13, 2011, must make their own arrangements with the Organizing Committee.

IX.  CLINICS

If possible, there will be referees’ clinics prior and during the Championships.

FINA will sponsor the clinic and will nominate the lecturer.

X.  COMPETITION FORMAT

For these Junior Pan American Championships one of the following formats will be used depending on the number of participating teams.

(a)  9 to 12 teams:

Two groups will be established (A and B).  The teams will be seeded according to the standing of the last Pan American Junior Championship.  Each group will play a single qualification round robin to establish a standing.  In the final round one semifinal game will be played between first place from group A and group B with the second place in group B and group A respectively.  The winners will play for the gold medal and losers for the bronze medal.

(b)  5 to 8 teams

A single qualification round robin will be played among all the teams.  In the final round, there will be semifinals games between teams in the first and fourth position and between teams in the second and third positions of the standing.  The winners will play for the gold and silver; the losers will play for the bronze.  The remaining final standings for position 5^th to 8^th will be decided in the same manner.

A double round robin will be played among all teams.

XI.  AWARDS

There will be trophies for the teams in first three positions of the final standing of the Championships in each category; men and women.

All registered players in the teams arriving in the first three positions of the final standing of the Championships for each category (men and women), will receive medals in gold, silver and bronze colors.

Friars Win HS Boys Red Division

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

This past weekend, eight of the eleven age group divisions competed at either Villanova University or Souderton Area High School. This was the thirteenth weekend of games part of the 2011 Main Line League. This year’s league is comprised of over ninety-five squads ranging from 12&under novice to senior men and women.   

The High School Boys Red Division completed their spring season and saw the Friars (Malvern Prep) claim this year’s championship. With the win, the Friars finished as the first undefeated squad of the league. The team went into the championship as the top seed and faced the fourth seed PV Valhalla and rolled to a 15-8 victory. In the other semi-final game, the second seed Spartan White (Springfield High School) went head-to-head with the third seed Colonials (Plymouth Whitemarsh High School) in a game that went right down to the wire. The first time these two teams met up this season saw Spartan White falling two goals short of a tie with the Colonials. In this meeting, the Spartans fell one goal short (6-7) as both teams relied heavily on good team defense to keep the match close. But it was the strong play of Alex Chialastri in cage for the Colonials that helped them move on to the championship game.

The Friars and Colonials only played against each other one time during the season and it was the Friars who were victorious in the 14-12 win. This time the Friars were able to give themselves a little more cushion as they did a better job of team defensive play compared to the first meeting. The Friars were only able to put eleven goals on the board but held the Colonials to scoring only seven of their own. This was the Friars second lowest scoring total but enough to give them the 2011 Red Division Championship and a perfect season.

The Light Blue Division was the other high school boys‘ group competing over the weekend. There were three teams who went undefeated in the two games. The first two squads were Greater Philly Orange and  Spartan Blue (LaSalle College High School) who both competed on Saturday at Villanova University. Each team earned their victories against the Warriors (Hazelton and Wyoming Valley West High Schools) and the Crimson AC (Pottsville High School). The third perfect team was the CV Eagles (Cumberland Valley High School) who played Sunday at Souderton High School and defeated Rebel Polo (Souderton High School) and the Kingfish Bulldogs (Wilson High School).

The 15&Under Boys Yellow Division also had three teams win each of their two games. The CV Eagles continue to dominate the division as they boast a perfect 4-0 record with two games remaining on their schedule. Greater Philly (3-1) and the Kingfish Bulldogs (2-2) also were strong and were the two additional perfect squads during the weekend. 

One of the more impressive weekends came from the YPro program out of Brooklyn, NY. This team is both young in its existence as a club program, third season competing in the Main Line League, and young in its average player’s age. Coached by Yevgeniy Prokhin, YPro competes in only two divisions: the 15&Under Boys Orange and the 12&Under Coed Experienced Divisions. On Sunday, the team started their day competing at Souderton High School on the 15&under boys side and walked away with two victories over Hudson Valley (9-8) and Perkasie Pirates (14-5). Immediately following their second match, the coach and several players made their way down to Villanova University to play in their 12&under games. The additional trip was worth the time, as YPro outscored both Kingfish (13-8) and Stingrays (14-8) to complete an undefeated day for the entire club program.

Main Line League action continues in two weekends since no games are scheduled during the Easter Holiday. Competition will take place at North Penn High School and Villanova University over the course of the April 30th and May 1st weekend. There will be seven of the remaining nine divisions competing since both the High School Boys Red and the 12&Under Coed Novice Divisions have completed their spring season.

For more information regarding competition available for athletes of all ages, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.

Several MLL Teams Boasting Perfect Records

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

Athletes in the Northeast are hanging up their goggles and replacing them with their water polo caps as the 2011 AWP Main Line League prepares to enter the third weekend of high school and age group action. Teams are travelling from several states including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, to compete in their respective age groups. There are over nine-hundred athletes eighteen years of age and younger participating in this year’s league.

The twenty-three high school boys teams are divided into three different divisions. The Red Division currently has two teams leading the pack as both the Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials and the Malvern Friars won their first two games of the season. The Light Blue Division saw the Cumberland Valley Eagles walk away with a perfect record after outscoring the competitors 24-9 and defeating both the Greater Philly Orange and Spartan Blue – LaSalle squads. K&M White and the Princeton Tigers are the only two remaining boys high school teams that are undefeated as both sit tied on top of the Navy Division with 2-0 record.

There are two divisions on the high school girls side splitting the fourteen squads evenly based upon each programs availability. Greater Philly Navy leads the way in the Aqua Division as the only undefeated program, while the Lady Muhls and Greater Philly Orange both boast perfect records in the Pink Division. Several programs will be competing for the first time this weekend and have the ability to move into leading roles for their divisions.  

The twenty-five 15&Under squads are divided into three divisions: Boys Orange Division, Boys/Coed Yellow Division, Girls Purple Division. Although the majority of the programs have not competed in their first games to date, K&M and CV Eagles raced out to a pair of victories in the Yellow Division. The maidens of K&M also proved they are ready to play as they claimed an early control of the Purple Division with an undefeated mark. The Orange Division begins play this weekend with competition at Villanova University.

In the youngest age bracket, and arguably the most entertaining, the 12&Under programs are divided into both the Experienced and Novice Divisions. Winning is secondary for each program as many coaches use the competition as an opportunity to help their athletes develop skills in a fun environment. Some programs, such as Hudson Valley, are showing the experience of a number of their players who have now competed in the league for several seasons. This is a great sign for where our sport is headed as more athletes are starting at an earlier age and developing improved skills. In addition, athletes are showing a better understanding of the rules, as well as their ability to set up on the offensive and defensive ends of the pool. Since the first year the division was added in 2003 with only four club programs participating, the competitive level of this age group has dramatically improved. 

Main Line League action continues this weekend with games at Villanova University, North Penn High School and Souderton Area High School. For directions to each location visit the Main Line League Competition page under the Eastern Region of the Schedules page or click on this Direction Link. 

For more information regarding competition available for athletes of all ages, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.

Main Line League in Full Swing

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

The High School and Age Group Divisions of the Main Line League are in full swing. Competition began this past weekend at Villanova University with teams competing in the 12&Under Experienced and Novice Divisions along with the High School Boys Red Division and High School Girls Pink Division.

The Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials and the Malvern Friars started strong in the High School Boys Red Division, each winning their first two games. The Colonials had close matches against the Perkasie Pirates (15-13) and the Springfield Spartan White squad (13-11) while the Friars rolled in their game against Muhl Polo (10-2) but had a close call with the PV Valhallas (14-10). The Valhallas, Spartan White and Wissahickon Trojans each walked away with one victory and split their weekend (1-1). 

The High School Girls Pink Division watched the Greater Philly Orange squad show some early dominance defeating both PV Valhalla (10-4) and Spartan Water Polo (12-2) with strong defense and team work. The Lady Muhls of Muhlenburg High School also started the season with two big wins over the Spartans (12-11) and the Valhallas (13-7).

On the youngest levels of competition, the 12&Under Experienced and Novice Divisions, athletes showed their competitive side as several teams finished the day winning one game but falling in their second. Only two squads walked away with a perfect record 0f 2-0. Hudson Valley controlled both of their matches overcoming the Princeton Tigers (14-10) and Kingfish (16-5) on the experienced side while Greater Philly outlasted Rebel Polo (17-15) and K&M (17-13) on the novice. 

Main Line League action continues this weekend with games being played at both Villanova University in Villanova, PA and North Penn High School located at 1340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA.

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.

All-Comers Clinic in Annapolis, MD

The Navy Aquatic Club is offering an All-Comers Clinic and Competition at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. The event will take place on Saturday, March 26th in the Scott Natatorium, Macdonough Hall, from 10:30AM until 2:30PM. Athletes of all ages and both genders are invited to participate. The younger players will be finished before 2:30PM.

The goal for the day is to provide every athlete a chance to play in three games during the day. In addition, there will be several sessions focusing on individual skills and game tactics. This should be a great learning experience for everyone involved.

Individual athletes will be assigned to a team at the beginning of the day. The cost per athlete is $15 for the four hour opportunity. A small snack bar will be set up pool side but all players should still plan on bringing a lunch and drinks.

Teams are welcome to participate but need to immediately contact the Navy AC in order to plan the game schedule. Coaches are encouraged to attend at no charge.

Parking passes will not be distributed this weekend. Anyone with Department of Defense stickers or Navy AC parking passes on their vehicles will be permitted to drive on to campus. A shuttle will be available from gate 8 located by the baseball field. The shuttle will run between the gate and the pool. To request a shuttle simply call 410-293-5558. Everyone will need to have picture identification in order to be permitted on the campus.

Those parties who can not drive on campus will find parking immediately outside of gate 8. The lot is located in front of Halligan Hall which is on the right side of the road when driving in towards, but before, gate 8. You can park in this lot and walk in if you desire so long as you have a current photo ID.    

For more information regarding the Navy AC All-Comers Clinic and Competition, contact Mike Schofield at 410-293-5558 or schofield@usna.edu

Main Line League HS & AG Schedules Posted

(Photo of K&M's home facility, North Penn High School, in Lansdale, PA)

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

GP Wins Fourth Straight Title

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

Tied 5-5 at halftime, Greater Philadelphia used a four –goal scoring spurt to open up a 9-5 lead and outlast a furious Kingfish Vets comeback bid to hold on for a 10-8 victory in the championship game of the 2011 Senior “A” Division Main Line League.

In a battle of scoring runs with the Kingfish Vets opening a 5-2 lead in the first half before Greater Philly lobbed home three markers before the halftime horn to knot the damage at five-all, Greater Philadelphia needed an All-Star caliber performance by goalie Max Kelly down the stretch to hang on for the victory.

Kelly, who held the Kingfish Vets to single digits in scoring for only the second time during the season, anchored a defense which held the Vets down when it mattered most to claim Greater Philly’s fourth consecutive Main Line League crown.

The game was the better of the first meeting between the two programs as Greater Philly and Kingfish Vets clawed to a six-to-six tie during the regular season. Their second match during the season had the Vets hammering Greater Philly (15-7) and sending a message that their opponent needed to step up its game.  

In the title tilt, Greater Philadelphia jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead two minutes into the game, but the Vets responded nearly immediately to knot the score and appear to shift the momentum.

However, neither team was able to take control of their offense with multiple offensive calls leading to the other squads counterattack scoring opportunities.

Following an exchange of strikes to set the scoreboard at 2-2, the Vets began taking advantage of their speed racing down the tank to bury three markers and put the defending Main Line League champions on the ropes at 5-2 with only 5:39 remaining in the first half.

Needing an offensive explosion to stifle the Vets scoring run, Greater Philly went to work chipping away at the deficit while Kelly and the GP defense stiffened to keep Kingfish at bay for the remainder of the first half.

Tied at intermission, Greater Philly turned to Mike Gartner who ripped home shots at set to account for half of his team’s four-goal string to open the second half and stake GP to its first lead since a 2-1 advantage in the dawning moments of the contest.

Down four with time ticking away on the clock, the Vets attempted to counter Greater Philly’s run with one of their own by pouring in their sixth strike of the day, but it was immediately answered to keep the lead at four (10-6) with the clock winding down.

Kingfish received an opportunity to climb back into the contest, but the Greater Philly defense erased several man-advantage bids to force the top seeded team to call their final timeout with three minutes remaining on the scoreboard.

The extra-time appeared to reinvigorate the Vets’ shooters as they dented the cage with a pair of rockets, but Greater Philly’s lead proved to be too much to overcome.

Leading the way for the Kingfish Vets was Chad Arnold, who tallied a game-high three scores, while five Greater Philadelphia players each chipped in pairs of markers.

A key to the game was Greater Philly’s ability to convert on its man-up bids as the team cashed in on four-of-eight opportunities, while holding Kingfish Vets to a two-of-seven performance, to account for the final margin of victory.

In the third place game featuring the Princeton Tigers versus Villanova University, speed and guile overcame numbers for a 14-6 Tigers’ victory.  Princeton, forced to play ironman water polo with only seven players, used their quickness and outside scoring opportunities to claw Villanova’s Wildcats for an eight goal victory. Leading the way for Princeton was Mike Carter who buried six goals to account for nearly half the Tigers’ scoring in the game.

Potentially the most unexpected performance occurred among the final four teams competing for fifth place.  Drexel University, which entered the championship as the seventh-seed, upended sixth-seed Rutgers (16-13 W), while fifth-seed HAWCS stopped eighth-seed YOE Polo (14-8 W) to set up a Dragons-YOE throwdown for fifth place.

In a see-saw contest that saw both teams have a chance to put the other away and roll to victory, Drexel used timely scoring and defensive pressure to outlast HAWCS by a 12-7 final score. Although seeded two places higher entering the championship, HAWCS fell to Drexel for the second time in two weeks.  In the previous meeting between the two clubs, the Dragons victory knocked terminated HAWCS chance at a Top Three finish in the Main Line League as the loss dropped the program out of the Top Four teams by a single point.

Main Line League action does not stop as the conclusion of the Senior “A” Division Main Line League marks the start of the High School and Age Group competition. With local Pennsylvania teams completing their swim season this week at the state championship, the young athletes will be diving right back into the water on Sunday to play for their water polo clubs as part of the spring league.

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.

CutinoCup.com Launches

www.CutinoCup.com

BERKELEY, Calif. – American Water Polo and the Peter J. Cutino Cup organizing committee are proud to announce the launch of the official tournament site, www.CutinoCup.com

The online home for an event that will feature Masters’ level teams competing for a championship cup named after a championship coach, the Peter J. Cutino CupTM website provides the latest information on the inaugural event scheduled for May 21-22 in the East Bay area of Northern California.

Named for one of the sport of water polo’s greatest coaches, the 2011 Peter J. Cutino Cup offers more than premier water polo competition at an affordable price, but a well-organized event featuring an incredible social atmosphere for interested teams, fans and affificiandos of the sport of water polo.

The inaugural event of the American Water Polo Masters Cup Series, the premier Cutino Cup will occur at four sites:

•    Campolindo High School (Main Site) Soda Aquatic Center, Moraga, Calif.
•    Steve Heaston Aquatic Center, Acalanes High School, Lafayette, Calif.
•    Las Lomas High School Pool, Las Lomas High School, Walnut Creek, Calif.
•    Bill Brown Aquatic Center, Miramonte High School, Orinda, Calif.

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men’s and women’s teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division.  

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of four games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo. 

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites to benefit the local youth water polo community.

A legendary coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

Cutino also served as a US National and 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.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives,” according to University of California head men’s water polo coach Kirk Everist. “Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute.”

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino’s legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

To Register for the Cutino Cup
Teams interested in registering for the Peter J. Cutino Cup can register by visiting the tournament website at:

www.CutinoCup.com

If you still need more information, you can contact the tournament host directly at:

Jeff Roy, Tri Valley Water Polo, 925-337-6706 (cell), jroy2845@yahoo.com

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, contact Tom Tracey, Director of Membership, at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org

Seedings Set for Senior “A” Division Champs

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

On Sunday, March 13th, the Senior “A” Division squads will compete for the 2011 Main Line League Championship at Villanova University. The top four teams play semi-final games where winners move on to the title match and losers compete for third place. The next four teams compete in a similar format for the right to play in the fifth and seventh place games. 

The Kingfish Vets come into the weekend undefeated after tying their first game of the season against Greater Philly (6-6) and winning the remaining seven. The Vets outscored their opponents by 84 goals; scoring 116 points while goalie and team leader, Ryan Keiser, only allowed 32 to get behind him in net. Clearly the favorite for winning the championship, the Kingfish Vets have not won the title since the 2004 season when they defeated Greater Philly (12-7). The top seed will face the fourth seed Villanova University in the first game on Sunday. The Wildcats had to wait for the results of this past weekend’s matches to see if their record would hold up for them to make the top four positions and have a chance to play for the championship crown.  

The other two teams rounding out the top four are Greater Philly (second seed) and Princeton Tigers (third seed). These two teams squared off once in their final game of the regular season where Greater Philly emerged the victor by a 12-5 final. The Tigers will seek their revenge as Princeton lost only three games this winter. The remaining two losses were at the hands of the Kingfish Vets (1-13) and the HAWCS (7-14) during a weekend where the Tigers did not have their entire starting squad. Meanwhile, Greater Philly is looking for its fourth title in a row and its sixth in nine years.

The other final four teams competing in the Senior “A” Division include the HAWCS (fifth seed), Rutgers (sixth seed), Drexel University (seventh seed) and YOE Polo (eight seed). The HAWCS had a tough loss at the hands of Drexel (9-10) in the last weekend of regular season competition. A victory in the game would have secured a top four finish for the HAWCS, who instead fell one point shy of the fourth seed. Seeking to defend their fifth seed against YOE Polo in their first game of the playoffs, the HAWCS strive to move to 2-0 against YOE after defeating the eight seeded team during the last weekend of competition (15-11).

The winner of the previous game will get the winner of the Rutgers and Drexel match. These two squads haven’t seen each other since the first weekend of competition when the Scarlet Knights slayed the Dragons (15-11). But this is a much improved Drexel squad which has given all of the top four teams spirited battles. This match has the makings of being one of the toughest and highest scoring head-to-head games on the weekend.

The conclusion of the Senior “A” Division Main Line League also marks the start of the High School and Age Group competition. With local teams completing their swim season, the young athletes will be diving right back into the water as they begin playing for their water polo clubs in the spring league.

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.

USA Olympians Offer PA & NJ Camps

USA Olympian, Genai Kerr, is offering two clinics to athletes local to the Philadelphia area at the end of March. The clinics are being run through the 5meter Water Polo Camps and hosted by two age group programs. The Stingrays Water Polo Club will offer one clinic on Saturday, March 26th at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. And on Sunday, March 27th, the Perkasie Pirates Water Polo Club will host the second clinic at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, PA.

The 5meter Water Polo Camps feature several USA Olympians and is designed by the top coaches and athletes in the country. The camps provide in-water instruction focused to make an immediate impact on any athlete’s game. Young athletes will have the opportunity to learn first hand how Olympic Athletes train, meet their nutritional needs and balance their lives.

“This is a great opportunity for our younger athletes to meet, learn and work with USA Olympians,” stated Andy Sichet, head coach of Stingrays. “When we were contacted by Genai we immediately wanted to get involved.”

The 5meter Camp at Lawrenceville is broken into two sessions; fourteen year olds and younger from 9AM-12PM and current high school athletes from 1PM-4PM. The camp at Pennridge will run from 9AM-4PM for any athletes who currently compete on the high school level. Both clinics will be limited to 35 athletes in order to have a better camp experience. The following flyers offer additional details.

5meter Camp – Lawrenceville, NJ on March 26, 2011

5meter Camp – Perkasie, PA on March 27, 2011
 
Registering for each individual clinic can be completed by visiting the camp website at www.5meter.com. Be sure to view the flyers to receive an additional 10% discount code for the clinic you would like to attend.  

For more information regarding the 5meter Water Polo Camp contact Genai Kerr at 949-385-6282 or info@5meter.com.

Inaugural Cutino Cup Set for May 21-22

To honor and continue the legacy of a Hall of Fame coach, American Water Polo announces the Peter J. Cutino Cup for Masters level athletes.

The inaugural event of the American Water Polo Masters Cup Series, the premier Cutino Cup will take place on May 21-22, 2011 at four sites in the East Bay area of Northern California:

·         Campolindo High School (Main Site)
          Soda Aquatic Center
          Moraga, Calif.

·         Steve Heaston Aquatic Center
          Acalanes High School
          Lafayette, Calif.

·         Las Lomas High School Pool
          Las Lomas High School
          Walnut Creek, Calif.

·         Bill Brown Aquatic Center
          Miramonte High School
          Orinda, Calif.

Hosted by Tri Valley Water Polo, the event will feature five levels of competition for both men's and women's teams as independent competition will occur for athletes in 20 & Over, 30 & Over, 40 & Over, 50 & Over and 55 & Over divisions.  Due to the breadth of the tournament, the host reserves the right to combine age groups if less than three teams enter and will give the option for a team to compete in the next lower age division.   

Each team is guaranteed a minimum of four games during the two-day event that offers a high quality water polo experience for Masters Water Polo.  The event will also benefit the local youth water polo community. 

As the event is intended to honor more than just the name Pete Cutino, but the legacy he created and the vision he left for what water polo can be at all levels of competition, all proceeds from the tournament will remain at the four host sites. 

To achieve this goal, local club teams will help set-up the course and run the desk at each age group pool.  In addition to the learning experience of helping out at an event of this caliber and meeting many great players of the game who will be in attendance, the local clubs will be raising funds for their efforts and assist in growing the sport of water polo in the local area - a region in which Cutino made his name and consistently gave back to the community.

About Pete Cutino
A legendary California coach and educator in swimming and water polo for over 40 years, during his 26-year tenure as the head coach of the University of California-Berkeley Cutino won eight NCAA titles and compiled a 519-172-10 career  record to rank among the all-time victory leaders in the history of water polo in the United States.

"The ability to name the Cup after an icon in water polo like Coach Cutino is a way we can honor those who have provided so much to the sport. Pete Cutino is undeniably one of the greatest and we are excited to honor him by naming the inaugural event in the Masters Cup Series in his honor," states Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo.

Cutino also served as a US National and 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.

"Pete was an instrumental part of so many lives," according to University of California head men's water polo coach Kirk Everist. "Those of us lucky enough to have been able to call him "Coach" know that our lives where forever impacted by his presence, his teachings and his never ending pursuit to bring out the best in all of us. Remembering his legacy with Masters competition is a perfect tribute."

A member of six Hall of Fames, Cutino's legacy is also remembered by the San Francisco Olympic Club which in 1999 established the Peter J. Cutino Award, the Heisman Award equivalent presented to the top male and female collegiate water polo players each year.

In September of 2004, Peter J. Cutino Sr. passed away, a loss felt by all the athletes, coaches and fellow aquatic enthusiasts who came into contact with him over his years on deck.

"Pete made all of us love the sport of Water Polo and because of that many of his "boys" still love to play the game and the Peter J. Cutino Cup will be a fitting way to honor Pete's sizable impact on each and every one of us," adds Everist.

To Register for the Cutino Cup

Teams interested in registering for the Peter J. Cutino Cup can contact the tournament host directly at:

                  Jeff Roy, Tri Valley Water Polo, 925-337-6706 (cell) / jroy2845@yahoo.com

Additional information and registration forms for the tournament are available on the Cutino Cup website at http://www.cutinocup.com. 

All athletes on a team will need to be registered as a member of American Water Polo to compete.  To minimize costs to the athletes, a discounted membership fee is available for current USA Water Polo athletes.

For additional information on the Masters Cup Series and the benefits of American Water Polo membership, access the AWP website at: http://www.americanwaterpolo.org or contact Tom Tracey, Director of Membership, at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org

About American Water Polo
Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Water Polo (AWP) is among the leaders in a new generation of scholastic and Masters sports organizations whose purpose is to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to enjoy the sport of water polo.

More than just an administrative service, AWP's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages to be involved in the sport of water polo and to provide its members with the highest degree of customer satisfaction at an affordable price.

Focused on giving unrivaled service to its members, American Water Polo offers insurance coverage and competitive opportunities for teams at an affordable rate by operating leagues and competitions, as well as providing assistance for individual teams to do so independent of the national office.

VA Tech Wins State Title

Collegiate and Masters teams clashed on February 26^th & 27^th, as the Greater Richmond Water Polo Club hosted the first ever Virginia State Water Polo Championship at the NOVA Aquatic Center in Richmond, VA. The colleges were represented by the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison University and William & Mary College while the Masters squads included Greater Richmond and Hampton Roads Water Polo Club. Each team played four games over the course of two days.

As the weekend progressed, it became clear that UVA and Virginia Tech would be the teams to beat. Hampton Roads, a Masters club from Virginia Beach comprised of current and former Navy personnel, gave both college teams competitive games but fell short in handing either program a loss. The host club, Greater Richmond, played UVA to the wire losing by only three goals while taking the eventual State Champion Virginia Tech to a 2-1 score early in the fourth quarter before losing 7-2 after giving up several key fast-break opportunities.

On Sunday morning, JMU almost pulled off the upset of the tournament when they lost to the UVA Wahoos by a goal. With thirty seconds remaining in regulation, UVA regained possession of the ball and buried the eventual game winner for an 11-10 victory over JMU. The win gave UVA their fourth victory and a spot in the championship game versus the Hokies of Virginia Tech.

The last time these two teams faced each other was during the fall season of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Atlantic Division regular season competition. In that contest, it was the Hokies outlasting the Wahoos by a 9-8 final score. This meeting resulted in another closely fought match. Tech blew things open in the last quarter to gain a 12-7 victory and the state title. Virginia Tech’s win over UVA was highlighted by brilliant performances from Daniel Straight and Braxton Vinson, each with three goals, as well as strong two-meter play from UVA’s Daniel Sunday.

As an added bonus to the event, an All Tournament Team was selected and was comprised of the strongest players during the weekend:

Kurt Clauss, James Madison
John Covant, Hampton Roads
John Rogers, Hampton Roads
Daniel Sunday, UVA
Braxton Vinson, Virginia Tech
Alex Zykov, UVA
Peter Ollis, Virginia Tech (goalie)

Each member of the All Tournament Team received individual trophies to mark their accomplishment.

The inaugural Virginia State Championship was successful beyond great competition. The event provided a great experience for every participant. Every game ran on time and teams were given ample opportunities to properly warm-up. Championship shirts were available as well as an official program listing the game schedule and rosters. 

“This was a really great tournament and we appreciated how well it was run,” expressed Peter Ollis, president of Virginia Tech Water Polo. “We want to help anyway we can to ensure this becomes an annual event.”

The success of any event is also due to the efforts of the officials working hard to call the games consistently. Head Referee David Jacobs and Rodolfo Samayoa took on that responsibility all weekend and provided the host program additional support in assisting the scoring table to operate properly.   

“It was a pleasure working the tournament and my hat is off to all those involved in the planning and administration,” stated Jacobs. “I know it’s a great deal of work to ensure a well-attended, smooth and official tournament and I think they (GRWP) did a great job.”

The tournament also showcased the effort to grow water polo in the state and highlighted several younger programs still in their first few years of development. One such team is William & Mary College from Williamsburg, VA. Only in existence since the fall of 2007, the team has moved from being an intramural sport to competing against other squads. William & Mary practices three nights a week and invites anyone interested to participate even those with no previous experience.

“We (GRWP) played William & Mary in their first match back in January of 2008,” remembered Martin. “Its incredible to see how much they have come along as a program but, more importantly, how they continue to provide an opportunity for students at their school to learn an awesome sport.”  

Greater Richmond Water Polo will be hosting the Second Annual Virginia State Water Polo Championship again next year during the weekend of February 25-26, 2012. If your team is from Virginia and interested in participating, please contact Tim Martin, president of GRWP at membership@grwp.org or visit the team website at http://www.grwp.org/.  

Several of the above photos were provided by Mike Francher. Feel free to browse additional photos from the championship by visiting: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51544722@N04/sets/72157626045505769/with/5486975125/.

Pats MLL Senior “B” Champs

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

This past Sunday, competition reached a high level of intensity during the championship game of the Senior “B” Main Line League at Villanova University. The game pitted the top two teams from the regular season who had a combined record of 15-1. K&M went into the championship game undefeated while the Patriots lost only one game by one goal to the Knights & Maidens (10-11) back on January 23rd.

It was the Patriots who jumped on the scoring opportunities early thanks in large part to a game high five-goal performance by Chadd Crump. K&M finally got on the scoreboard well into the first half after the Pats had already extended their lead by four. But K&M didn’t give up and continued to work their way back into the game with every chance that presented itself.

The second half action started slow as both teams showed fatigue. Although the Patriots never gave K&M too many chances to get back into the contest, the atmosphere was filled with tension. In the end, the Patriots walked away with the 2011 Senior “B” Main Line League Championship by a final score 10-6. This accomplishment was reached in the Pats second year of existence as they continue to grow in numbers and ability.    

To reach the title match, K&M defeated GP Franklins (11-6) while the Patriots outlasted Lehigh University (17-12) in a high scoring offense show. The two losing teams faced off in the consolation game. The tough shooting of Lehigh turned out to be too much for the Franklins who fell to the Mountain Hawks (8-12). The victory in the 3rd place game was Lehigh University’s best finish in nine years. 

The three remaining teams competed in a round robin format to determine their final standings. The University of Delaware entered the weekend as the seventh seed but the Blue Hens handily defeated both the Drexel Dragons (12-6) and Franklin & Marshall College (15-1) to claim fifth place. The Dragons were able to outlast F&M in the final game of the weekend scoring three goals in the last minute and a half of action to win 11-8 and earn sixth place.

In addition, the Main Line League 12 & Under Experienced and Novice Divisions began their competition on Sunday in conjunction with the Senior "B" games. These two divisions focus on education and fun while introducing the sport of water polo to younger athletes. The teams play with youth size balls and the new Kap7 inflatable Junior Goals. The Novice course is 20-yards by four lanes, while the Experienced squads play 25-yards.  

While size was a big advantage for the Greater Philly Team in the Novice Division, both K&M and Rebel Polo impressed the crowd by the number younger athletes involved. The youngest player in the Novice Division was six-years old and the average age was nine. Starting their athletes at such an early age in a fun learning environment will only help solidify their programs into the future. In the Experienced Division, the teams all proved to be competitive with each other but focused on giving every athlete a chance to play equal time.

“From what I watched, all the coaches were doing a fantastic job of making the game fun for their athletes,” stated Chris McKay, who officiated the majority of the 12 & under games during the day.    

This Sunday, March 6, the Senior “A” Division continues with the final weekend of regular season games. The Kingfish Vets look to hold on to their top seed going into the championships, while Greater Philly, Princeton and the HAWCS play to fill the final three spots of the top group. Villanova University currently sits in the third position but will have to wait to see if they will remain in the top four after concluding their final regular season game last week.
 
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.

Greater Philly Moves into Second with Win

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

Senior "B" Championship Seeds Set

Senior “B” Top Teams Seeded

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

The Main Line League Senior “B” Division completed its final weekend of regular season competition at Villanova University. With only one regular season game remaining this Wednesday, February 23rd, University of Delaware versus Franklin & Marshall College, the remaining teams start their preparation for the championships. 

K&M is the only team in the division to go undefeated. The Dragons gave K&M one of their best games of the season and had one final opportunity to tie the match after K&M turned the ball over with only 15 seconds on the clock. Fortunately for K&M, a huge save by Chris Simcox in cage extinguished the Dragon’s last effort. Their two wins over the Drexel Dragons (8-7) and Lehigh University (14-9) secured the top seed. K&M will face the fourth seeded GP Franklins in the first round of the championship. The Franklins won their last three games, including a 10-9 thriller over Delaware, to finish the season with four wins and four losses.    

The Patriots continued to march forward with victories over Franklin & Marshall (17-5) and Delaware (13-9). The wins locked the Patriots into the second seed for the championship. Their only loss of the season was against K&M who defeated the Patriots 11-10 in the second weekend of competition. The Patriots look to avenge their loss but will need to go through the third seeded Lehigh University who has proven to be getting stronger every game. 

The final three seeds for the division will be decided Wednesday following the outcome of the match between Delaware versus Franklin & Marshall. If Delaware wins they will be the fifth seed, while Drexel will move into the sixth seed and F&M the seventh seed. If F&M pulls out the victory, Drexel will remain the fifth seed, while F&M moves into the sixth seed and Delaware the seventh seed. In any case, these three teams will play a round robin format during the championship to determine the final placing. 

The Main Line League Senior “B” Division Championship is scheduled for Sunday, February 27th at Villanova. The top four teams play semi-final games where winners move on to the title match and losers compete for third place.

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.

GP Takes Both Matches

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

On Thursday, both Greater Philadelphia Senior squads were in action as part of the Main Line League competition at Villanova University in Villanova, Pa. The games were part of a doubleheader involving teams from the Senior “A” and “B” Divisions.

The first game of the evening featured the home team GP Franklins versus the University of Delaware. While the Delaware Blue Hens were still looking for their first victory of the season, they continue to prove to be one of the most competitive squads in the league. Of their three previously played games, the Hens were outscored 30 to 22 with two of the games being a two-goal margin. The GP Franklins, with only two victories on the season, were looking to move into the top four teams of the Senior “B” Division.

From the first whistle, the game was a battle as one team worked hard to maintain a slim lead, while the other continued to threaten to take control. The Franklins scored first, but throughout the first half the Blue Hens never trailed by more than one goal. The second half proved to be a slightly different story as the Franklins rallied for a small run to take a four-goal advantage with only three minutes remaining on the clock. Delaware netted a pair of quick goals within a sixty-second window to edge within two strikes, but the clock and another mark by the Franklins combined for an 8-5 victory.

The second game of the doubleheader was part of the Senior “A” Division pitting the much improved Drexel University versus the host and 2010 champions, Greater Philadelphia squad. The game started off physical, but the home team was able to get on the scoreboard first thanks largely to the strong play of Greater Philly’s Jerry Mujica. Similar to the first game, the contest went back and fourth for the remainder of the first half as Drexel continued to stay close by providing an answer for every goal scored by Greater Philly.

In the second half, Greater Philly began to settle down into a team rhythm and took advantage of its man-up opportunities. Their aggressive style of attacking the cage provided more scoring opportunities and proved to be the difference in the game. Drexel never gave up as they too continued to shoot aggressively, but the Dragons struggled to get the ball behind the strong play of Max Kelly in cage as Greater Philly walked away with the 12-6 win.     

The Main Line League continues this Sunday, February 20th at Villanova with Senior “B” Division competition. This will be the last weekend of regular season games and will determine the final seeds for the championship action taking place on Sunday, February 27th at Villanova. 

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.

GRWP Set to Host State Champs

On the weekend of February 26th & 27th, the Greater Richmond Water Polo Club will host the Inaugural Virginia State Water Polo Championship for collegiate and Masters level athletes. The event will be held at the NOVA Aquatic Center in Richmond, VA and will feature squads representing the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary College, James Madison University, Hampton Roads Water Polo Club and Greater Richmond. The tournament will give one of these six Virginia based clubs a chance to call themselves state champions.

Each of the teams participating are guaranteed four games. Teams will play three games on Saturday and one game on Sunday. The two teams with the best record will compete in a fifth and final game on Sunday to claim the championship trophy.   

“American Water Polo is excited about Greater Richmond running this championship and their desire to host it as an annual event,” stated Tom Tracey, AWP Director of Membership Development. “We foresee this helping seed more Master programs, as well as give collegiate teams an opportunity to play during their off-season, and we will continue to see water polo grow in Virginia.”

Three of the six programs participating in the championship are current members of American Water Polo. The event is being sanctioned through AWP at no cost to the host since this is an additional perk for AWP club teams.

“We want to support our club teams and make it as easy as possible to offer more events for their area,” added Tracey. “That’s why we made sure our insurance allows our members to play against even non-members and still receive their coverage.”

“Its one of the reasons why clubs like Greater Richmond can continue to grow in areas with a limited number of programs since we do not restrict them from hosting other programs who carry their own insurance.”

Greater Richmond Water Polo is a young club formed in the Spring of 2007 with a purpose of giving local players a chance to continue beyond the collegiate years. Today, the program is comprised of twenty active players whose experiences range from international play and all the way down to first-timers. This is evident in the club motto “all abilities and experiences welcomed!” located on the homepage of their website.

The last two fall seasons, GRWP offered a tournament but many of the collegiate men’s clubs couldn’t participate because they were heavily into their collegiate competition schedules. So the team decided to move their tournament to a time of the year when everyone was available. They also wanted to offer something different that would attract teams back every year. And that’s when the Virginia State Water Polo Championship was born. The event will feature championship shirts, programs and an All-Tournament Team voted on by the coaches.        

But the state championship weekend won’t be the end of the season for the Greater Richmond athletes. They will continue to practice and play games throughout the year. They will continue to offer anyone who has a passion or desire to play water an opportunity to get into the pool. And Most importantly, they will continue to grow as a club.

“For anyone interested in playing, please come to a few practices and see if you have fun,” expressed Tim Martin, GRWP Club President. “All we ask is that you be a competent enough swimmer ready to enjoy yourself.”

Visit the Greater Richmond Water Polo website at www.grwp.org for complete information regarding practice times, locations and fees.

For more information regarding the Virginia State Water Polo Championship, or if you are interested in becoming a club program and member of American Water Polo, contact Tom Tracey at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.

K&M Continues to Role in MLL

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

The role through the “B” Division of the Main Line League continued this past weekend for the undefeated K&M senior coed squad. Strong counterattacking proved too much for their opponents as K&M outscored Franklin & Marshall (13-2) and the University of Delaware (10-6). K&M currently sits on top of the standings with 12 points.

The Patriots also had another day of solid play winning against Delaware (10-8) and GP Franklins (11-7). The two wins help the Pats hold onto the second seed just ahead of Lehigh University who had moved into the third spot after winning all three of their games during the weekend.

Lehigh proved to be the most aggressive team all weekend. Their first match against the Drexel Dragons (12-11) went down to the waning minutes. Lehigh knotted the game at 11 goals with 30 second remaining and moved ahead with only ten seconds on the clock. This victory helped the squad relax and gain confidence in their ability to play as a team. Lehigh completed their perfect weekend with wins over Franklin & Marshall (14-4) and Delaware (10-8). 

The Main Line League continues this Thursday night, February 17th at Villanova with GP Franklins facing off against the University of Delaware in “B” Division competition and Greater Philadelphia matching up against Drexel University in “A” Division competition. The “B” Division also plays in its last weekend of regular season games on Sunday, February 20th before championships.

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.

HAWCS Fly at Main Line League

2011 Main Line League Schedules and Results

The Kingfish Vets are proving they are the team to beat in the Main Line League Senior “A” Division after defeating Greater Philly (15-7) and the Princeton Tigers (13-1) to be the last club with an undefeated record. These two victories give the Vets a 5-0-1 record and 11 points in the standings to take hold of the one spot.

The HAWCS also came on strong this weekend with victories over the Princeton Tigers (14-7) and Drexel University (12-11) to move up into fourth place overall with six points. Although an off weekend for Princeton, they only dropped to the third place in the standings and are still expected to hold on for a chance to compete for the championship.

The “B” Division saw limited action over the weekend along with two weeknight games. K&M continues to role as well as the Patriots. Lehigh University competed for the first time, losing to the GP Franklins (8-11) and the Patriots (12-20) but defeating the Drexel Dragons (15-11) to start with a 1-2-0 record.  

The Main Line League continues this Sunday, February 13th at Villanova with “B” Division Competition. Several teams will be competing for the first time this season while others look to hold their spots on top in the standings.

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.

Illinois Water Polo Announces 2011 High School All-Star Games

Illinois Water Polo is proud to announce its Second Annual High School All Star Games for Illinois boys and girls.

Last year's games were very well attended by fans, coaches and athletes. 

The event will again take place at Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. on Sunday June 5 (approximately two weeks after the state championships). 

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information.

For more information bc11jones@comcast.net or rshopiro@earthlink.net

Main Line League Information Now Available

The 2011 AWP Main Line League information is now available for the Age Group Divisions. Specific competition dates and costs can be found by visiting the link located on the Eastern Region under Schedules.

The Main Line Water Polo League is played in the Northeast 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 11:00a.m. and 9:00p.m. with every effort made to prevent younger age groups from competing past 7:00p.m. on school nights.

Please use the following forms for general information as well as to register for the season:

MLL 2011: Age Group Divisions Information                
MLL 2011: Team Registration Form

Competition is offered to all age levels, genders and abilities. The age group levels are broken down into the following divisions:

12&Under Experienced Division (Feb. – May)
Registration Deadline: February 11^th  
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 11^th   
For the starting 12&Under Teams who are just learning the game and want to focus more on the athletes learning the game vs. 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.   

15&Under Boys Divisions (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: March 1^st 
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: March 1^st 
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.

High School Boys Divisions (Mar. – May)
Registration Deadline: March 1^st   
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: March 1^st 
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.

For more information on the 2011 Main Line League, or if you have interest in hosting a Main Line League competition at your pool, feel free to contact Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development, at tracey@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787. 

Princeton Tigers and Kingfish Vets Hold Pace

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.

Tigers Pounce on Senior “A” Competition

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.

AWP Opens 2011 with Series of Events

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.

AWP Honors One of the Greats

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, or if you have interest in hosting a Masters Cup Series Tournament in your area, feel free to contact Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development, at Tracey@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787. 

Main Line League Information Posted

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.  Senior Divisions registration date is no later than Monday, January 3, 2011. 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.

For more information on the 2011 Main Line League, or if you have interest in hosting a Main Line League competition at your pool, feel free to contact Alex Bond, AWP Membership Services, at Bond@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787. 

High School All-Star Game Makes Waves

The Pennsylvania All-Stars battled back from a 7-3 halftime deficit against the East Coast All-Stars to win the game by one with a final score of 11-10. The 2010 Men's CWPA Eastern Championship High School All-Star game was bursting with excitement and set the stage for the second round of the varsity championship. Both the Pennsylvania and the East Coast All-Star teams played with exceptional sportsmanship and epitomized the characteristics of an All-Star.

The Eastern's All-Star game was held in conjunction with the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Eastern Championship scheduled at Bucknell University on Saturday, November 20^th. This championship hosts the top eight teams on the East Coast with the winner advancing to the Men's Final Four hosted at the University of California's Spieker Aquatics Complex on December 3^rd and 4^th.

The All-Star game featured the top 14 athletes from the state of Pennsylvania and the East Coast. "The game was excellent to say the least.  I was very impressed with the level of play on both ends of the pool.  It is clear that the athletes are committing to a year round training regimen that allows them to play at a high level in 30 meter water.  I am sure this has a lot to do with many of the players crossing over into swimming in the off-season.  Great job to everyone who competed you all have a very bright Collegiate career," said two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Co-Founder of Kap7, Inc Brad Schumacher.

For many of the All-Stars this was their first high level competition in a 30 meter tank. In spite of this obstacle the game's pace was up tempo and did not cease until the final whistle. It could be characterized by momentum swing, with 8 of the Pennsylvania All-Stars' 11 goals coming in the second half of play, splitting 4 goals a quarter. While the East Coast All-Stars scored 7 of their 10 total goals in the first half.

At the end of the day the final score will eventually fade in the memories of these athletes, however their experiences of competing at an event of this magnitude will remain robust. For some it was their first time playing in 30 meters, playing in an all-star game, or competing against high level opponents. "I thought it was a great chance for me to compete on a team full of kids who are on my level, against a team of other players who are also on my level.  It made my perception of the game alot different," said Carl Dowzicky (Jr., Pennsylvania All-Star/Germantown Academy, Pa) when asked of his experience.

If you are interested in watching the High School All-Star game or any of CWPA Men's Eastern Championship games, please visit the Collegiate Water Polo Association's website (www.collegiatewaterpolo.org) and follow the link "2009-2010 Web Streaming Archive."

East Coast Goals: Sam Butler (2), Steve Roberts (2), Kevin Schofield, Mike Carter, Fred Sutter, McClatchy Ruskin, Patrick Reyes, Timmy Barry

Pennsylvania Goals: Jake Lloyd (3), Alberto Munarriz (3), Seth Coldren (2), Ian Thompson, Wes Hopkins, Carl Dowzicky

Exclusions: East Coast - 8, Pennsylvania - 6

Advantage Opportunities: East Coast - 5-for-6, Pennsylvania - 4-for-8

AWP Offers Masters Something More

Masters Cup Series Information Brochure (PDF)

American Water Polo wants to be at the forefront of offering the Master Level Athlete an opportunity to participate in great events, as well as grow the number of athletes who participate beyond the college years.  

“We are really excited about the chance to provide something for Masters athletes that has never been done before,” expressed Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo. “The Masters Cup Series is going to be a number of great tournaments, providing a lot of chances for teams to compete, while at the same time offering some significant prize money for those clubs trying to win several Cups over the course of a year.”

Teams can enter as many, or as few tournaments as they want. There are no limitations or minimum participation requirements. Each Masters Cup tournament will have awards for the top teams during that weekend in each age group and gender. In addition, each club program will accumulate points based on their teams finish during each of the Masters Cup Tournaments. At the end of the year, the club program with the highest accumulated points will win the overall Masters Cup Series along with $1,000 prize money.

“The concept is not original to the sporting world but it is new to water polo,” points out Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development. “We came up with the idea after seeing the excitement based around the recent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and thought ‘wouldn’t that be a great format for Masters water polo and those teams that like to enter numerous tournaments throughout the year.”

In addition, the Masters Cup Series doesn’t punish a team from wanting to only attend one event since they still have the chance to win that particular tournament’s age bracket.

The idea was shared with a number of Master Teams during two conference calls that discussed how American Water Polo can work with Master Level Athletes to offer things that they want.

“Masters have been under-appreciated for their value to the sport,” added Tracey. “They shouldn’t be treated like they are just another dollar. They are the coaches, the referees and the individuals who in some cases played on every level of the game. They have so much to offer to the sport and we know there are so many more out there that would love to get back in just to play!”

Jeff Roy of Tri Valley Master added “We look forward to a great relationship with AWP and their events.  They provide individual and team insurance coverage, lower membership fees, and allow teams to participate without a lot of red tape! It is a growing membership and I am sure this will foster better team events locally and nationally!”

American Water Polo is currently developing a section on the organization’s website that will focus on the Master Athlete. This area will provide competition information as well as stories, standings and results for the Masters Cup Series.   

For more information on the Masters Cup Series, or if you have interest in hosting a Master Cup in your area, feel free to contact Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development, at Tracey@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787. 

High School All-Star Team Selected

American Water Polo is proud to inform you of the 2010 Eastern Championship High School All-Star Team selections. The Eastern's All-Star game is held in conjunction with the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Eastern Championship scheduled at Bucknell University on Saturday, November 20^th. This year the Pennsylvania All-Stars and the East Coast All-Stars are set to meet at 11:30 a.m., just after the conclusion of the Brad Schumacher Water Polo Clinic.

This marks American Water Polo's fourth high school All-Star game held in conjunction with the CWPA's Eastern Championship. We believe this event to be a great opportunity to showcase the East Coast's premier high school talent.

 "We are excited to see the high school all-star game and clinic take place during the CWPA Eastern Championship and believe it to be a great benefit for the development of the sport. The athletes get a chance to play in front of several college coaches and then have the opportunity to stay and watch some great collegiate water polo.  Those participating in the clinic get the chance to work with a past Olympian as well. It should be a fantastic experience for all involved," said the Commissioner of the CWPA Dan Sharadin.

East Coast All-Stars

Pennsylvania All-Stars

Boston Water Polo Begins Second Season!

This past spring nearly 70 players with water polo experience ranging from high school to National team competed during eight Sunday nights at Harvard University's Blodgett Pool in Boston, Massachusetts. Building on this amazing turn-out, Boston Water Polo will begin its second season of co-ed water polo play this fall. Due to the limited availability of pool time at competition-ready facilities, they will host a short season consisting of two nights at Boston University's Fitness and Recreation Center. They expect to form four teams who will be guaranteed three games per night.

For more information or to register, contact Brett Marinelli at brett.marinelli@gmail.com.

Date:

Saturday, December 4^th, 6 - 9 PM

The registration fee is $100, to register please click on the link below:

www.bostonwaterpolo.com/node/2

All participants must have an active membership with American Water Polo.

(www.americanwaterpolo.org/membership)

ECMSL Final Weekend of Competition

The 2010 East Coast Middle School Water Polo League enters its last weekend of competition with the championship round at North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pa. Teams started competing in September to determine the seeding for this final event. On Sunday, October 24th, a champion will be crowned in the boys’ and girls’ divisions.   

The league started several years ago as the Pennsylvania Middle School League but changed its name after several non-Pennsylvania programs joined. To better represent the clubs involved, the league was renamed the East Coast Middle School League. The mission has always been to provide middle school-aged athletes an opportunity to play water polo in a fun and educational environment. All the officiating, and a majority of the coaching, is provided on a volunteer basis. 

“Our purpose was to help promote age group development in the sport,” states Veronica Coyle, coordinator of the league. “A majority of the teams in the East play water polo as a fall activity on the high school level and it is important to the growth of the sport that teams offer similar fall competition at the developmental level.”  

This year’s league involved 15 programs and close to 200 age group athletes currently in 5th to 8th grade. Teams competed in two games consisting of 12 minute halves on each of the five Sundays. Those programs travelling a longer distance were given the opportunity to play in at least three games on each date.

Coyle expressed how pleased she was with the attitude of all the coaches. “They did a fantastic job of adhering to the mission of the league and ensured every athlete, regardless of ability, had a great experience each weekend.”  

Coyle, who completed her fourth year as the volunteer coordinator, has watched the league not only grow in size but improve on a competitive level as well.

“Although scores don’t really matter, games were a lot closer this season which makes the atmosphere much more exciting for the kids and the parents.”

The environment has been key in the development of the league. Much of the thanks go to the efforts of the host sites like North Penn, Governor Mifflin, Cumberland Valley, Pennridge and Pittsburgh, who have volunteers running their scorers table and concessions. In most cases, the volunteers are parents and several high school athletes who at one point also participated in the league.
 
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching a lot of the middle school athletes move on to their high school team and have an immediate impact,” stated Coyle. “It’s great knowing that our league played a role in their development.”

Games will be played between Noon and 5:30 p.m. this Sunday, October 24th at North Penn High School, 1340 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, Pa.

For more information on the East Coast Middle School League, or other water polo activities throughout the year for age group athletes, contact Tom Tracey, American Water Polo, at 610-277-6787 or tracey@americanwaterpolo.org.     

Villanova University Orphan Invite

This past weekend Villanova University hosted their annual Orphan Invite tournament. Since its commencement in 1998 this tournament has raised over $16,000 to go towards children with out a family. Founded by Dan Sharadin, Head Coach at Villanova and Director of American Water Polo, the invite helps raise awareness for the plight of orphans.

This event is run completely by volunteers and donations. Villanova University donated the use of the pool and volunteers agreed to officiate for free. This permits 100% of the proceeds to be directed towards the children.

Dan Sharadin has a strong passion for kids in this situation, having adopted 5 children of his own. "It is really great to be able to create a win-win situation. Athletes have fun playing water polo and at the same time they are helping kids that have a difficult time in life through no fault of their own. The Orphan Invite has been a wonderful way to assist children that don't have anything close to the advantages of the typical collegiate athlete, while still providing some great competition for teams throughout the region," said Dan Sharadin.

The tournament ran smoothly with plenty of stiff competition. There were a wide range of teams involved; such as high school, senior men, and men's collegiate club teams.

A 17 - 14 overtime win for Drexel University over the Patriots kicked off the tournament on Friday night, with an impressive showing from Marc Felgoise in cage for the Patriots.

Play continued to be tight moving into Saturday with a close game between Georgetown University and Penn State University, ending with Georgetown as the victor in a 6 - 5 finish. Penn State rallied from that loss with an intense 11 - 10 win over Villanova University to close out Saturdays play.

All in all, the 2010 Villanova Orphan Invite was a tremendous success with great competition and $2100 raised for charity.

Bloodshot Tops Greater Philly

Bloodshot took on Greater Philly for the second straight year in the finals of the Eastern Water  Polo League, winning the title again in an exciting finish.

It what was one of the best games of the season, Bloodshot jumped to an early lead, only to see Greater Philly tie the score at four. The teams traded goals throughout the second half until the final minute, when Bloodshot scored with 24 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession Greater Philly had their chances, shooting with only seconds remaining and having it hit the crossbar. The ball was scooped up and into the high corner with four seconds remaining to force overtime. 

Overtime provided payback for Bloodshot as the final goal was scored when Grreater Philly was ejected, giving Bloodshot a man advantage. As time was about to expire, JJ Addison took a shot which was blocked by Max Kelly, only to rebound into the hands of Brandon Yoshimura who buried the goal to win the game.

Surf Polo Tournament

3rd Annual Peter Cole Invitational Surfboard Polo Tourney at Waimea Bay

by Aukai Ferguson

Surf Legend Peter Cole was honored Sunday at the 3rd Annual Peter Cole Invitational Surfboard Polo Tourney.   The surf water polo event was a fitting tribute to Peter, as he himself was a top collegiate swimmer and water polo player prior to becoming a pioneering big wave surfer. The event was held at Waimea Bay from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Surfboard polo is water polo played on surfboards.   It is a fast moving sport that is as fun to watch, as it is to play.    It was played with great enthusiasm in Waikiki during  the 1930’s and the 1940’s, and the Kahanamoku brothers were avid participants.

This year featured a repeat of the past two year’s finals between Paumalu Surf Polo Club and Team Wahoo's. Craig Watson of Paumalu took the lead 1-0 in the first half with a fierce shot from outside the 7 meter mark.  The game was a defensive battle, and the only other score was by Bruce Black of Team Wahoo's to tie it up with less than 2 minutes left in the game. With the score tied at the final whistle, the game went into a shootout. Team Wahoo's prevailed 5-4 for the championship.  Bruce Black was awarded MVP for the tournament.

In addition to honoring Peter Cole, all entry fees from this event were donated to the Surfrider Foundation-Oahu Chapter.  The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.

For more information contact Aukai Ferguson at aukai5@yahoo.com, 551-6830 or Doug Cole dougcole@hawaii.rr.com, 497-0036 or Paul Javier 232-1233.

Photos: PaulJavier.com

Philly Tops San Diego 15-8

GREATER PHILADELPHIA MANAGES GREATER SAN DIEGO 15-8

CORONADO, Calif. -- Maura McGinley scored five goals to key Greater Philadelphia to a 15-8 victory over Greater San Diego in the 2010 National State Challenge 18-and-under girls’ division.

Tied 7-7 with 4:35 left in the third period, Greater Philadelphia ripped off four goals to end the period as Jade Lawson (4:23), McGinley (2:48, 1:47) and Meg Royer (2:16) slipped through the San Diego for scores to carry an 11-7 lead into the fourth period.

The margin was too much for Greater San Diego as the teams traded goals to open the fourth period before Greater Philadelphia tacked on three consecutive goals over the final 2:44 of the fourth period for the 15-8 final.

Navy Boys Win National State Challenge

CORONADO, Calif. – Archie Warren scored three times to lead Navy-AC to an 11-5 victory over Hawaii-Iolani, the National State Challenge boys' 18-and-under title and a $1,000 check from American Water Polo.

The $1,000 check is presented to both the boys' and girls' 18-and-under champions for capturing the national title.

Navy never trailed in the game as the Blue & Gold opened up a 9-1 lead with 5:47 left in the fourth period to cruise to the six-goal victory.

Tucker Creevy, Sam Butler and Erich Schwamb each added pairs of goals as six different Navy players scored in the game. Fred Sutter and Taylor Bernhardt chipped in solo goals for the Blue & Gold as Navy posted four goals in the first, two in the second, two in the third and three goals in the fourth period.

For Iolani, Connor Grune netted two goals, while Chris Nichols, David Lim and Tom Hartwell notched solo scores to account for one goal in the first and four more in the fourth periods.

2010 National State Challenge All-Tournament Team
First Team
Austin Strong (Goalie) - Hawaii-Iolani
Chris Nichols - Hawaii-Iolani
Sam Butler - Navy AC
Archie Warren - Navy AC
Tim Greer - Greater Philadelphia
Zach Presto - Pittsburgh
Bryan Bigornia - Greater San Diego

Second Team
Ned Doetsch (Goalie) - Navy AC
Tucker Creevy - Navy AC
Jake Eaton - North Beach
Mathew Del Rio - Greater Philadelphia
David Lim - Hawaii-Iolani
Connor Grue - Hawaii - Iolani
Konrad Karandy - Annapolis

MVP - Sam Butler (Navy AC)

Navy Girls Win National State Challenge

CORONADO, Calif. – Denise Hager scored four times, hitting for single goals in the first, second, third and fourth periods, to power Navy AC to a 7-4 victory over Carlsbad in the girls' 18-and-under National State Challenge title game at the Coronado High School's Brian Bent Memorial Aquatics Center.

Carlsbad jumped out to an early lead in the game as Nika Sedghi connected on a shot at the 2:44 mark of the first period. However, Navy stormed into the lead before the end of the period thanks to scores by Hager (1:27) and Francis del Valle (00:03).

The margin expanded to two goals to open the second period on a catch-and-shoot score by Hager (5:07), but Carlsbad answered at the 4:55 mark to make it 3-2.

Navy then pulled away for good as Leigh Auth blasted a penalty shot at 1:48 and tacked on a natural goal with five seconds remaining in the period for a 5-2 Navy lead at the break.

The margin expanded one more time to four goals at the 4:36 mark of the third period on a scoring shot by Hager to complete a hat-trick. However, Carlsbad shaved the lead back down to three goals courtesy another tally by Sedghi at the 22 second mark to make it 6-3.

Both teams added goals in the fourth period as Hager recorded her game high fourth tally of the contest, while Carlsbad heaved a shot at the cage as the clock expired which drew nothing but net for the 7-4 final score.

2010 National State Challenge All-Tournament Team
First Team
Rebecca Mount (Goalie) - Greater Philadelphia
Kelsey Tarzia- Greater Philadelphia
Casey Reid - Carlsbad
Kaitlin Mackle - Carlsbad
Mackenzie Edwards - Navy AC
Leigh Auth - Navy AC
Denise Hager - Navy AC

Second Team
Danielle Tata (Goalie) - Carlsbad
Gena Wendt- Windy City
Cassidy Wiley - Coronado
Isabelle Baneux - North Beach
Madison Andres - Princeton
Sophie Monaghan - Princeton
Vanessa de los Reyes - Greater San Diego

MVP - Mackenze Edwards (Navy AC)

Eastern Water Polo League

Ocean Pride looks to redeem their 8th Place finish in 2009 by starting off this season undefeated. After winning the league in 2008, the team fell on tough times, losing nearly all of their contests last year. The change of fates was a combination of taking the competition too lightly and an increase in the competitiveness of the league. This year the team has taken a new approach and they are once again in the hunt for the title.

Last year's  champion Bloodshot is close behind in second place with the home town Greater Philly squad playing .500.