The Water Polo Scene in Missouri Developed Over the Last 10 Illinois, Georgia and Missouri Years, and What Can Be Done to Continue Growth? on Our Team
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF USA WATER POLO COMING UP ROSES! Rose Bowl Sweeps Champions Cup In Hawaii VOLUME 32, NUMBER 1, SPRING 2017 UDOVICIC /KRIKORIAN RE-SIGN THROUGH 2020 p. 20 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF USA WATER POLO VOL. 32, NUM. 1, Spring 2017 What’s Inside... USA WATER POLO NATIONAL OFFICE COMINGRose Bowl Sweeps UP Champions Cup ROSES!In Hawaii ON THE COVER . 2124 Main Street, Suite 240, Rose Bowl Water Polo Inside Water ...................2 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 celebrates after double (714) 500-5445 business • (714) 500-5449 membership • (714) 960-2431 fax Turbo 5 Meters .................4 USA WATER POLO NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER gold at Champions Cup. 11360 Valley Forge Ave., Photo by Kristen Collat Los Alamitos, CA 90720 KRIKORIAN/UDOVICIC RE-SIGN Water Polo Times ..............8 THROUGH WEB SITE 2020 p. 20 www.usawaterpolo.org A Day in the Life ...............26 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Christopher Ramsey CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Water Polo Scene ..............27 Marty Samuels CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jim Callahan From the Deck ................28 CHIEF MEMBERSHIP & ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Stephanie London Krogius CHIEF HIGH PERFORMANCE OFFICER Lob Shots ....................33 John Abdou DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Greg Mescall Hot Shots ....................36 DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Christy Medigovich DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Scott Aubin ReCaps DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Joni Walbring HIGH PERFORMANCE MANAGER 2016 Golf Tournament . 14 Anne Laurence MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER pg10 ReCaps Kayla Heath FINA Youth FINANCE MANAGER World Championsip . 17 Fay Hu Rock-tober 2016 TEXAS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Joe Linehan Three squads claim gold in Arizona TRAVEL MANAGER Samantha Schuring Also In This Issue MARKETING COORDINATOR Annalece Montgomery DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR National Team Yiyon Lee HIGH PERFORMANCE COORDINATOR Coaches . 20 Kathryn Manderino VIDEO PRODUCER Sherie Key Expanding College EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO Mai Lam Programs . 22 RECEPTIONIST Bryson Walker BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Graff (Chairman), Rudy Baldoni, Look Ahead... Richard Esterkin, Houston Hall, Ray Kennedy, Kay Krill, Jeremy Laster, Sheldon Pang, Walt Price, Alfonso Pulido, Steve Rodosky, Bill Smith, Jessica Steffens, Robert Sternfels, Next Issue Peter Varellas, Brenda Villa > National League Year 3 EDITOR Greg Mescall CONTRIBUTORS Jim Cullingham, Kelley Casey, Kelley L. Cox, Angela Kraus, Paul Ciaravino, Jonathan Moore, Matt Szabo, Michael Randazzo, Dave Williamson, Naresh Rao, Brian Alexander, Chris Ramsey PRINTING pg16 ReCaps Quad Graphics, 555 South 108th Street, West Allis, WI 53214 CREATIVE > 2017 Junior Olympics Preview Adrenalin, Inc., 54 West 11th Ave., Denver, CO 80204 303-454-8888 • goadrenalin.com Dare To Dream Second edition proves to be as fun as the first USA Water Polo Skip Shot Magazine (ISSN# 15507580) is published four times per year by United States Water Polo, Inc., located at 2124 Main Street, Suite 240, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Periodicals postage is paid at Huntington Beach, CA 92648 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Skip Shot Magazine, United States Water usawaterpolo.org 1 Polo, Inc., 2124 Main Street, Suite 240, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 INSIDE WATER letter from the CEO, Christopher Ramsey USA WATER POLO Water polo is growing in California and expanding even faster in other regions of the country. New data from der—increased more than 9 percent in 2016 YOY, State University brought back men’s water polo USA Water Polo from 15,388 to 16,819, suggesting that increased after decades without a team while La Salle Uni- (USAWP) and the youth water polo play will fuel further high school versity in Philadelphia and McKendree University National Federation growth in the years ahead. outside of St. Louis added both men’s and women’s of High School As programs. Wagner College in New York added a - The trend in water polo is counter to a larger na- men’s water polo squad—joining an existing wom sociations (NFHS) tionwide crisis of physical inactivity, according - shared a strong positive trend line. NFHS re - to Forbes magazine. In 2014, inactivity among en’s team—and started play last fall. Saint Francis ported that women’s high school water polo grew children approached 20 percent and—in 2015— University in Loretto, Pennsylvania and California 7.9 percent while men’s water polo increased 5.5 increased to 37.1 percent, according to the Sports State University, Fresno both recently added wom- percent during the five years from 2011/12 to & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). The SFIA en’s water polo programs that will compete for the 2015/16. During this period, mainstream high estimates that 81.6 million people were inactive first time in 2017 and 2018 respectively. school sports such as football, soccer, wrestling, in 2015, contributing to a sedentary culture and While the profile of USA Water Polo on the Olym- field hockey, volleyball, and basketball registered nationwide obesity trend. The SIFA posits that pic and International level reached new highs declines in varsity participation. the rush for kids to specialize in a specific sport at in 2016 with the women winning their second The NFHS data is mirrored by membership trends younger and younger ages has alienated a section consecutive Olympic Gold medal, preparations here at USAWP. In the last five years, nationwide of the youth population, with some experts esti- for the Tokyo Games in 2020 have already begun. membership jumped 25 percent—from 35,750 mating that 70 percent of young people quit youth The USA Women look to repeat as FINA World in 2011 to 44,773 in 2016. In the last eight years, sports by age 13. Champions this summer in Budapest, and the membership rose nearly 67 percent, from 26,873 USA Men aim for their first-ever medal at a World Texas is another example of where the University in 2008 to the current number, which is an all- Championship tournament after winning their Interscholastic League (UIL) will consider state- time high. first major FINA medal in eight years last summer. wide varsity status for water polo in the fall of 2017. The women’s and men’s programs are bolstered by Water polo as a club sport is surging in states like The move could create hundreds of new water polo the return of Head Coaches Adam Krikorian and Utah, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, and Oregon. Its programs across the Lone Star State, which also is Dejan Udovicic, both of whom recently signed club status means these states aren’t reflected in recognized as a swimming powerhouse. the aforementioned NFHS numbers. According new four-year contracts through the quadrennial. to USAWP records, high school-aged federation Growth hasn’t been limited to the high school and club ranks, either. So get your swagger on! membership (15-18) jumped from some 17,000 Water polo is the place to be. participants in 2012 to 19,099 in 2016, an increase According to the NCAA, varsity water polo par- of more than 12 percent. ticipation has remained essentially stable during the past five years, including 104 varsity men’s The fastest growing water polo region in America and women’s programs nationwide. The number is the Midwest, which jumped 42 percent year over of varsity water polo programs is projected to year (YOY) to 1,960 members. USAWP member increase in the next two years. Recently San Jose Chris players not yet of high school age—13 and un- Stay current with USA Water Polo by visiting USAWaterPolo.org or joining our social media community! www.facebook.com/usawp www.youtube.com/usawp www.twitter.com/usawp snapchat www.instragram.com/usawp Follow “USAWP” If you have a comment or question concerning Skip Shot magazine, send in a letter to the editor. LETTERS TO You can write to Skip Shot Magazine: THE EDITOR c/o USA Water Polo, 2124 Main Street, Suite 240, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 or 2 send an email to: [email protected] Stop by Sea Air Federal Credit Union’s booth for information about our exclusive package designed to support our student-aged savers and learn about our youth programs for great saving opportunities. 888.732.2471 Colorado Time Systems is pleased to announce the introduction of a completely wireless timing and scoring solution for water polo. The portable scoreboard can be moved within your facility to accomodate the best viewing for your audience (caddy sold separately). Game and shot time are displayed in an all-new ruggedized polyethylene molded plastic enclosure. All components are controlled with a 2.4GHz wireless controller. WATER POLO CLOCK – 10” LED digits display shot time, 5” LED digits display game time – Integrated horn – performs separate shot and game tones – Integrated batteries SCOREBOARD – 5” LED digits – External horn – Integrated batteries WIRELESS – 2.4GHz wireless Call us today to get additional information and be the first in line to receive this exciting solution. www.coloradotime.com 1551 E 11th St. | Loveland, CO 80537 800.279.0111 | 970.667.1000 Colorado Time Systems is proud to be the Official Timing & Scoring Partner of 5 METERS Quick Shots from USA Water Polo USA WATER POLO WATER POLO Five Questions with... DAVE MILLER, Lindenwood University (MO) collegiate level, but the financial, family, and business commitments Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Head Coach prevented it. At first I told my family that the drive was too far from home…I was too old…I really didn’t think I wanted to work full time SKIPSHOT: The Lindenwood men just again, etc. In short, I made up excuses as to why I couldn’t apply for won their third straight collegiate the position. That’s when my wife and sons encouraged me to apply, as cup crown. What has made this they knew it was basically a bucket list job for me. So I applied—never program so successful? thinking I’d be hired.