Super Summer Recaps of All the Great Action

Super Summer Recaps Of All The Great Action

VOLUME 35,23, NUMBER 33, FALL 2008

Terry SchroederAcademic Leads All-American the Men’s List National Inside Team to Gold. What’s Inside...

VOL. 23, NUM. 3, FALL 2008 SWEET SHOT! USA Water Polo National Office United States’ Brittany Hayes re ects on winning ON THE cover . . 2124 Main Street, Suite 210 the gold in Beijing. Huntington Beach, CA 92648 A collage of all the Inside Water...... 2 (714) 500-5445 business summer action Score (714) 500-5449 membership Super SummerRecaps Of All The Great Action Cover photos courtesy of (714) 960-2431 fax US Presswire/MAC Photo Design/ George Stransky/Simone La Pay National Team Update ...... 6 USA WATER POLO NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER with funky 11360 Valley Forge Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 , NUMBER 3 VOLUME 35 In the Club...... 18 (562) 799-8506 business ® (562) 799-8508 fax Terry SchroederAcademic LeadsAll-American the Men’s List National Inside Team to Gold. Flipturns ! WEB SITE 5 Meters...... 21 www.usawaterpolo.org Chief Executive Officer Christopher Ramsey In the Area...... 26 Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Chelsea Johnson Calendar of Events...... 28 Controller Ulises Sam Director of Planning and Administration Susan Warner Hopkins Also In This Issue... Director of Marketing and Communications Christine Bird Director of OLYMPIC Development Academic All-Americans. . . 4 Guy Baker Media Relations Manager S&R Junior Olympics. . . . 12 Greg Mescall Director of Regional Sport Development (East) Liz Grimes Hot Shots...... 20 States include: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, 2008 Olympic Games Summary Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Director of Regional Sport Development (Central) Joe Linehan Beijing ‘08 States include: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. pg National Teams Manager Re-Cap 8 Nikki Jost Membership Services Coordinator Drew Willems Look Ahead... Board of Directors Bradford Bowlus, Michael Graff (Chairman), Lynn Kachmarik, Jeremy Laster, Ed Reynolds, Rachel Scott, William Smith Next Issue >Speedo Cup: An Inside Look EDITOR Greg Mescall Contributors Darcy Couch, Paulo Cesar, Todd Clapper, Chris Oeding, >Speedo Top 40 Review Jason Lynch, Mary Sprague, Jim Cullingham, Mary Pat Robinson, Joan Gould, Ed Haas, Greg Mitre, Lisa Reyes, Carroll Vaughan, James Lathrop, Summit Photography, Sally Olds, Jeff Shewmon, Tracy Birdsell, Kevin Burke, Anderson Family, Pete Snyder, Fotos FPN, Fotos Hugo Rocha, Mirko Seifert, Rise Wendt, Michael Duffy, Holy Kiki, Gwen Golub, Michael Machnik, George Stransky, Mike Miller, Stan Schwimer, Allen Lorentzen, Karina Cordisco, Stuart Sheldon, Mark Lefkow, Simone La Pay PRINTING Publication Printers 2001 S. Platte River Dr., Denver, CO 80223 | 303-936-0303 CREATIVE Adrenalin, Inc. Masters 54 West 11th Ave., Denver, CO 80204 303-454-8888 | goadrenalin.com 2008Moments Summary of Masters Tournament

USA Water Polo Skip Shot Magazine (ISSN# 00431311) is published four times per year by United States Water Polo, Inc., located at 2124 Main Street, Suite 210, LAUREN WENGER / 2008 Olympian in Palm Daze / Orchid Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Periodicals postage is paid at pg Colorado Springs, CO 80901-9998 and additional mailing offices. 16 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Skip Shot Magazine, United States Water Polo, Inc., 2124 Main Street, Suite 210, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 usawaterpolo.org 1

60248_USAWPOLO.1.indd 1 8/14/08 3:38:20 PM letter from the CEO, Christopher Ramsey

USA WATER POLO INSIDE WATER

Olympic Achievements Aplenty

This was the summer that USA Water Polo made history. Prior And although we lost to Hungary in the Gold Medal game, we played to the summer Games in Beijing, no nation had ever done more them even for much of the game. All in all, the Olympics represented one than combine for a Silver and Bronze medal in both men’s and of the most inspiring performances ever by our men. women’s water polo in the same Olympics. With Silver medal Our women led by veteran Brenda Villa continued their incredible play performances by both our men’s and women’s teams, we estab- earning once again a trip to the Olympic Games gold medal match. Dur- lished a new level of achievement in international water polo. ing the eight years that women’s water polo has been an Olympic sport, no team has played at a high level more consistently than our women. There were plenty of subplots. Would 80’s Olympic captain Terry Schroeder, now in the role of head coach, be able to guide the men’s This Olympics boasted more of the same, the team won their group team to their first medal in 20 years? Would the women, the 2007 World posting an undefeated record in three games as they dispatched of China, Champions and under the guidance of Guy Baker, be able to fulfill their dueled to a draw with Italy, and trounced the once pre-Olympic favorite quest and win an Olympic gold medal? in Russia. From there it was on to the semi-finals where rival Australia was waiting and in their greatest win of these Games the United States The men’s journey was in many ways the most intriguing, because they pulled out a last second victory over the ladies from down under. had the furthest to ascend. Finishing the 2007 year ranked ninth in the world, a new coaching staff led by Schroeder emphasized sound In the end, we came up short to the Netherlands by the sliver of a last- fundamentals, superior conditioning and an uncompromising commit- minute goal. Still, we earned our third straight Olympic medal, some- ment to team defense. During the course of the year leading up to the thing no other nation has achieved in women’s water polo. Games, Schroeder emphasized training against the world’s best, singling One water polo enthusiast wrote to me shortly after the Games concluded, out Serbia, Croatia and Hungary, as well as an up-and-coming Australian summing up what I hope many of us felt: national team. This strategy, coupled with a relentlessly positive message and emphasis on teamwork, showed early signs of success at the FINA “This sport that we love has been defibrillated and you are all directly World League Championships in Italy, where we won a silver medal. But responsible! could we do it in the world’s biggest arena? New athletes and fans have been intrigued and brought to the door and During the Games, our men had to confront one nemesis after another. current disciples have been validated and rejuvenated. We adopted and Who can forget the early game against Italy, which we pulled out in the cheered your teams, cursed their opponents, scrutinized the officials, and final minute? Or the rematch with Radko Rudic and his 2007 World cried every type of tear imaginable - right along with them. Championship team from Croatia, which we beat 7-5 to signal that our We’re proud of you, and because of you, we can all be proud of our own team was indeed a genuine threat to win a medal. Still, the Croatia win efforts to support the growth of our sport. Please pass these thoughts led to Germany, whose brilliant goaltender, Alexander Tchigir, had frus- to your athletes as they ponder their experiences - the impact of their trated USA hopes many times before. With one of our most consistent examples is more far-reaching than they can possibly comprehend.” performances, we moved past Germany 8-7 to advance directly to the medal round by winning our bracket. Having already lost to Serbia 4-2 in the preliminary round and not having beaten them for many years in international competition, Team USA would have a chance for revenge in the semi-finals. The USA beat Serbia going away in arguably our best game of the tournament—if not the last 20 years of men’s Olympic water polo. Merrill Moses played like a goalkeeper possessed, swatting away everything in sight, and offensive contributions came from everyone on the team. It was an unforgettable moment in our history.

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Meanwhile the USA Women’s Senior National “B” “B” National Women’s USA Senior the Meanwhile Canada. and Australia, American Games proved to be its most costly as the squad fell to Canada Canada to fell squad the as costly most its be to proved Games American Wo Wo 37 n h G the in 13-7 14-4, tied Canada 4-4, and earned victories over Puerto Rico 8-5, Brazil Brazil 8-5, Rico Puerto 9-2. 11-5, Mexico over and victories earned and 4-4, Canada tied 14-4, Team cruised the competition en route to winning the Championships. the winning to route en competition the Team cruised 8-8. Canada against series the of game first its in tie a off Team pulled qualified for the 2009 FINA thefor2009 Women’squalified as Junior WorldChampionships drawing to within 7-6, but then Team USA ripped off three straight goals goals straight three off ripped USA Team then but 7-6, within to drawing game was tied at 2-2 after the first. the at2-2 after tied was game goals and blanking the Aussies. Following halftime, Australia battled back back battled Australia halftime, Following Aussies. the blanking and goals three posting offense, its asserted USA Team quarter second the In goals. Junior Worlds, made noticeable improvements as a team, and gained gained and team, a as improvements noticeable made Worlds, Junior ships last summer in two locations, traveling first to Brisbane, Australia, Australia, Brisbane, to first traveling locations, two in summer last ships Kate Baldoni was named Most Outstanding Goalkeeper of the series. the of Goalkeeper Outstanding Most named was Baldoni Kate a run of seven straight victories to close out tournament play. Goalkeeper play.Goalkeeper tournament out close to victories straight seven of run a over the remaining quarters. Team USA jumped out to an early 2-0 2-0 early an to out jumped USA Team quarters. remaining the over team Canadian experienced an into ran then but tournament entire Los Alamitos, CA. Alamitos, Los valuable international experience.” international valuable many of the goals we set for this tournament. Although we were un were we Although tournament. this for set we goals the of many Schroeder led Team USA with two goals while Ashleigh Johnson went Johnson Ashleigh while goals led Teamtwo USA with Schroeder same for Canada in the third and fourth quarters as it continued to to continued it as quarters fourth and third the in Canada for same about about his group at “I’m the conclusion of with pleased the tournament. finish. Silver-medal of their a result able to bring home a Gold medal, we successfully qualified for the the for qualified successfully we medal, Gold a home bring to able a 5-2 lead and then expanded to 7-3 by halftime. It was more of the the of more was It halftime. by 7-3 to expanded then and lead 5-2 a National “B” Team for competition. Playing up an age group, the Junior Junior the group, age an up Playing competition. for Team “B” National the progress and performance of this young team. We accomplished accomplished We team. young this of performance and progress the team the loss the Despite shots. 12 halting net, the in way whole the that erased an early USA lead and systematically built their advantage advantage their built systematically USAand lead early an erased that the crown at the Born-in-’90 Global Championships in Brisbane, Austra Brisbane, in Championships Global Born-in-’90 the at crown the to lead 10-6 at the end of the third quarter. third the of end the at 10-6 lead to lead but that was quickly answered by two scores from Canada and the by answered two from scores Canada lead but was quickly that keep Team USA at bay, finishing off the game with a 13-7 win. Tiera Tiera win. 13-7 a with game the off finishing bay, at USA Team keep for the Born-in-1990 edition and then hosting the Born-in-1988 event in in event Born-in-1988 the hosting then and edition Born-in-1990 the for lia. The team picked up a 10-8 win over Australia to claim the title, capping capping thetitle, The to up picked lia. team claim awin over 10-8 Australia After that it was dealt losses at the hands of American Senior “B” “B” Senior Team, American of hands the at losses dealt was it that After After an opening day loss it was smooth sailing as Team USA rolled to rolled USA as Team sailing smooth was it loss day opening an After The game was tight in the first quarter with each team notching two notching team each with quarter first the in tight was game The The Women’s Junior National Team competed in the Global Champion Global the in The competed Women’sTeam National Junior Pan Junior the at loss first Team’s National Women’s Youth USA The Team USA Head Coach Chris Oeding had only positives to say say to positives only had Oeding Chris Coach Head USA Team In games heading up to the title match match title the to up heading games In take to goals straight three off ran Canada quarter second the In Into the fourth Australia tried to put together one more run and closed closed and one run more put to together tried Australia fourth the Into m m en’s Junio en’s youth national T

l mdl ae Te il pae u a iiin o the for division a up played girls The game. medal old Photo courtesy of Kyle Utsumi Kyle of courtesy Photo Australia ’90. Australia ships where it was joined by it where Women’sjoined the ships was Senior tts o te oni-98 lbl Champion Global Born-in-1988 the for States tories against New Zealand, Australia ’91, and and ’91, Australia Zealand, New against tories they were perfect on man-up opportunities, go opportunities, man-up on perfect were they h gp o 08 bt t ant nuh Domin enough. wasn’t it but 10-8, to gap the ing 4/4, while Baldoni posted 11 saves. posted Baldoni while 4/4, ing ique Sardo led the team with three goals while while goals three with team the led Sardo ique 1. USA 2. AUS ’’90. 3. AUS AUS1. NZL ’’91. 2. USA 4. ’’90. - vic up picked team the run their Throughout From there the group returned to the United United the to returned group the there From Standings: Final r N ational tea Team USA defeated Brazil Brazil defeated USA Team ea m m ------92 n 19 fr riig te poedd o oten aiona for California Northern to proceeded then training, for 1993 and 1992 White said. “This has been a great experience.” great a been has “This said. White - lead advantage, the with early off started Canada mix. the in USA Team competition in the U.S. Club Championships. There the Australian squad squad Australian the There Championships. Club U.S. the in competition continue to prepare for any potential competitions later this year. this later competitions potential forany prepare to continue out Canada’s last chance. last Canada’s out ers from the training roster named from the ODP Championships, took took Championships, ODP the from named roster training the from ers offset the cost of travel from Los Alamitos to Northern California, along along California, Northern to Alamitos Los from travel of cost the offset money to donate helped that clubs by other part large in aided was onships they as group for the experience and were a opportunity and good onships on Hoversten’s tally following a drawn exclusion by White. White led the the led White White. by exclusion drawn a following tally Hoversten’s on inn ga wt js 21 just with goal winning were members its and win www.usclubchampionships.com. travel. team with along go that expenses other the all with Gillespie made a steal to snuff snuff to steal a made Gillespie was stellar in the 6x5 game, going 5/7 and finished the tournament with a with tournament the finished and 5/7 going game, 6x5 the in stellar was served as a replacement for the discontinued National Age Group Champi National discontinued for the a as replacement served seconds remaining to break break to remaining seconds a 12-12 tie. From there Jessie Jessie there From tie. 12-12 a Peabody said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these young men.” The team team The men.” young these of proud more be couldn’t “I said. Peabody Head Coach Doug Peabody. Peabody. Doug Coach Head Los Alamitos, CA, from Monday, June 23 through Thursday, June 26. 26. June Thursday, through Monday, 23 June from CA, Alamitos, Los - vic the was USA Team night man of the week as he continued to pile up goals at a ridiculous pace. In In pace. ridiculous a at goals up pile to continued he as week the of man the scoring hour, the of man Nick Hoversten was the the was Hoversten Nick h gop o ly oe ult gms Te lb hminhp have Championships Club The games. quality some play to for group venue the available best the were Championships Club the summer, this teams were even at four goals apiece, and the score was 10-9 in favor of of favor in 10-9 was Americans. the score the and apiece, the goals quarter four at third even were the In teams intermission. at 6-5 led and quarter second the keep to half second the in goals his of five all scored White contest this under time straight third the for recipients medal Gold the nailbiting 13-12 a with tor this On Canada. of form the competition serious some into ran Team National Junior Men’s USA the played in the 18U division while several members of the USA Youth team Youthteam USA the of members several while 18U division the in played at camp the USA in Waterin a Center part training Polo Training National perfect 6-0 record. 6-0 perfect championship,” a win and adversity some overcome to games two last heart the of lot a showed team Our able me. needed was team I the that when happy contribute “I’m to goals: 27 hefty a with scoring in tournament ing 2-1 after the first quarter, but Team USA came back with five goals in goals five with back came USA but Team quarter, first the 2-1after ing Games—in American Pan Junior 2008 the at match medal Gold the in ing, but the United States roared back to tie the game and then went ahead went ahead then and game the to tie back roared States United but the ing, letes played forTeam USA. played letes mEN mEN broke off to play with their own clubs in competition. The remaining ath remaining The competition. in clubs own their with play to off broke “The effort these boys put out over the last two nights was incredible,” incredible,” was nights two last the over out put boys these effort “The After several games where the outcome was decided before halftime, halftime, before decided was outcome the where games several After The Youth Team’s inclusion along with Australia in the Club Champi Club the in Australia with along inclusion Team’s Youth The The final quarter saw the Canadians go up 12-11 with just 2:41 remain The team then welcomed a mixed squad of Australian players born in born players Australian of squad mixed a welcomed then team The Without any scheduled competitions available for the U.S. Youth U.S. Team forthe available competitions scheduled any Without Jason Lynch, USA Lynch, Jason Men’s play YouthTeamthe and coach, head National For more information on the Club Championships, visit visit Championships, Club the on information more For f oese ws h mn f h hu, hn rfi Wie a the was White Griffin then hour, the of man the was Hoversten If ’ ’ S YOUTH NATIONAL TEA S J UNIO

R NATIONAL TEA Photo courtesy of Dan Klatt Dan of courtesy Photo M M - - - - -

by Greg Mescall The 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, will easily go down as the most successful ever in the history of USA Water Polo. Olympic Squads Find From the women’s team earning its second silver medal and third “We brought some honor back to USA overall medal in the last three Olympics to the men’s team defying Water Polo,” said Jeff Powers, “so it was a the odds and returning to the medal platform for the first time in great feeling that we did all that.”. 20 years, it certainly will be a summer to remember. For the women’s team, a trip to the Silver Lining In medal round was expected, as they came Head Coach Terry Schroeder and the into the Beijing games holding the number- men’s water polo team entered the Olym- one ranking in the world and had a resume Jesse Smith pics admittedly as underdogs. They carried showing two Olympic medals thus far. Silver a ninth-place ranking into the Games along medalists in Sydney and Bronze medalists Greatest Combined with a history of not finishing better than in Athens, this squad had its sights set on sixth in any of the last three games. Then completing a medal trifecta with Gold in Beijing. all they did was become one of the feel good > > > stories of the Olympics, staging an improb- able run that left no doubt: Men’s water Finish Ever polo in the United States is back. After the winning their group competition with a 4-1 record, momentum started to build as the U.S. men claimed victories over Germany and number-one ranked Croatia, which clinched them a bye into the semi- Xxxxxxxx finals. Then there was the magical win against Serbia—a team the U.S. men hadn’t defeated in long time— and it was on to the Gold Medal match. With no worse than a Silver medal secured, the men’s team had completed their journey ‘back to the podium’ a mantra that was hatched following the 2004 games and became a calling card after each big win in 2008. While the Gold medal game didn’t go as in- tended—Hungary, a perennial world power, triumphed—the leaps and bounds the U.S. men had taken won’t soon be forgotten. Veterans Tony Azevedo and Ryan Bailey (both of Long Beach, CA) Peter Hudnut anchored a squad that did what many outside the United States believed im- possible. The world rankings will reset following Beijing, and it will show the U.S. men among the elite, something that hasn’t been the case since the early 1990s. “I think it’s huge for USA Wa- ter Polo,” said coach Schroeder, US Olympic Teams celebrate in Beijing “As the weeks and the months go on, All Olympic Photos courtesy of US Pressswire Merrill Moses they’re going to realize what a huge ac- complishment this is. They bested some great teams along the way to get here.”

USA Fans turned out in force in China

8 usawaterpolo.org 9 As it often did many times before, the USA Water Polo’s Silver Medal Winning Squads Clockwise – Head Coach Guy Baker, Lauren Wenger, Betsey team methodically worked its way through Armstrong and Alison Gregorka, Brenda Villa, and Heather Petri the tournament, ticking off one step after the next. First it was beating a fast improv- ing Chinese team to open the Games. Then it was claiming their group competition, having not lost a game. From there it was a bye and on to the semi-finals where arch- rival Australia was waiting. This was the third-straight Olympics in which these countries met. The U.S. women were victorious and advanced to the Gold medal game where an upstart Netherlands took an early lead. But the U.S. women staged a dramatic rally, erasing the deficit, yet the Netherlands eventually emerged victorious. It’s a sign of dominance when an Olympic medal creates tears of sadness; but while the goal of Gold wasn’t realized, the accomplishments of the women’s team won’t soon be overlooked. “We’ve come out on top on some of those [games], it just didn’t happen to be at the Olympics,” said team captain Brenda Vil- la. “You can’t pick and choose which times you do come out on top. If we could, we’d have three Gold medals.” Led by three-time Olympians Villa (Com- merce, CA) and Heather Petri (Orinda, CA), the U.S. women became the first squad to medal in all three Olympic games featuring women’s water polo. Head coach Guy Baker has presided over one of the most dominating runs for women’s water polo over the last eight-plus years, and with 10 first-time Olympians on the roster, the future looks very bright for this group. While water polo is a national sport in some Euro- pean nations, the 2008 Olympic games may have shown the U.S. as the most complete nation in water

polo worldwide. Out of the OFFICIAL EAR few countries that even DROPS OF USA managed to boast of their WATER POLO men’s and women’s teams qualifying for the games, no Don’t be kept out of the country finished with men’s and women’s medals except water this summer! the United States. Add to this Do you need an earache solution that works as Gold and Silver this summer at hard as you do? Hyland’s Earache Drops relieve the Junior Pan American Games for the USA Men’s Junior and the pain, congestion, inﬂammation and irritability Women’s Youth National teams, of swimmer’s ear, commonly associated with and American water polo surely Relieves ear water sports. seems in a good spot. pain fast so you So, come on! Get back in the game With hopes that the success of all aren’t left on with Hyland’s Earache Drops. these groups can continue for years to come, it may very well be the 2008 Sumer the sidelines. Olympics in Beijing, China, that are refer- hylands.com | 800 624 9659 enced as the kick-start competition that launched excellence within every facet of Read and follow all label instructions U.S. water polo.

10 usawaterpolo.org 11 All team of MAC Photos courtesy Photo Design Biggest Junior Olympics Ever

Concludes; Passes 18U Platinum flight 1st Place So Cal Black 14U Gold Flight 1st Place Stanford Red 12U Gold Flight 1st Place Newport With Flying Colors

10-8 victory over San Diego Shores A. So- Cal came back from a deficit at the midway point to overtake the Shores and the game. In the third-place game, Stanford Red downed Lamorinda in a nailbiter, 6-5. The 18U Gold flight saw the Miami Whitecaps defeat United 10-2, while Clovis nipped Los 18U Gold Flight 1st Place Miami Whitecaps 12U Platinum Flight 1st Place United 12U Platinum Flight 1st Place CBU Lancers Angeles Water Polo Club Red in the Bronze medal game, 5-4. The 16U Platinum flight’s Gold medal match was a low-scoring affair with Stan- The 2008 S&R Sport Junior Olym- ford Red holding off Santa Barbara, 2-1. pics—the world’s largest water Prior to that contest, the Trojans marched polo tournament—was at its big- to victory with a convincing 8-1 win over Lamorinda. In the 16U Gold flight, the CBU gest ever this August with the addi- Lancers did the job against Newport, win- tion of another flight of action. The ning 7-5 to take the Gold medal. In the 2008 edition in Irvine, CA, saw clubs Bronze medal game, Riverside took out the split into Gold and Platinum flights Titans, 13-6. after the first day. In addition there The 14U age group had its share of close was a 10-and-under coed division, games in the Platinum flight. For the Gold 16U Platinum Flight 1st Place Stanford Red 12U Gold Flight 1st Place Rosebowl 14U Gold Flight 1st Place Los Alamitos making this year’s JOs perhaps the medal game, SET defeated SoCal, 7-4, while Laguna Beach edged LAWPC Red, 7-6, in most complete ever. the Bronze medal game. In the 14U Gold flight, Stanford Red defeated the CBU Lanc- “On behalf of the host, Irvine Youth Water ers, 7-5, for the Gold medal. That was pre- Polo Corporation, and as the tournament ceded by South Coast defeating Commerce, director for the 2008 USA Water Polo 12-8, to take the Bronze. National Junior Olympics,” said Nick Baba of Irvine Water Polo, “I would like to thank In the 12U Platinum flight, United was vic- wholeheartedly the venue hosts, staff, vol- torious over SoCal, 11-4, to take the Gold unteers, sponsors, vendors, coaches, par- medal. In the Bronze medal game, San Di- ents, athletes, and USA Water Polo for an ego Shores defeated Shore, 8-5. In the 12U enriching and memorable experience.” Gold flight, Rose Bowl took top billing over 680 Drivers with a 10-2 victory, claiming The boys kicked things off and their tour- the Gold. In the Bronze medal match, New- ney was four days of play that won’t soon 16U Gold Flight 1st Place CBU Lancers 10U Co-ed Gold Flight 1st Place Titans 14U Platinum Flight 1st Place Commerce Black port defeated the Titans, 13-11. be forgotten. An earthquake originating in Chino, CA that registered a 5.8 on the It was Championship Sunday in the girls Richter Scale made Championship Tuesday division with titles being awarded in five one for the history books. Once the bleach- different age groups in both the Platinum ers and pools were tremble free the action and Gold flights. The day got started with resumed at the Woollett Aquatic Center the newest addition to the Junior Olympics, and by nightfall champions were crowned in the 10-and-under co-ed division. In the Gold four different age groups in both the Gold flight it was the Titans defeating OC, 13-6, and Platinum Flights. to claim the Gold medal while Foothill up- ended the CBU Lancers, 15-5, in the Bronze The Gold medal game in the 18U Plati- medal contest. In the 10U coed Platinum num flight featured a jam-packed section flight, San Diego Shores pulled away from of bleachers as SoCal Black pulled off a Huntington Beach, 12-8, to earn the Gold > > > on page 14 12 14U Platinum Flight 1st Place SET 10U Co-ed Platinum Flight 1st Place San Diego Shores 16U Gold Flight 1st Place Greenwich usawaterpolo.org 13 SSPOR&RT SSPOR&RT

medal. Prior to that, Team Vegas/Hender- be, as both Gold and Bronze medal winners 6-5. In the Bronze medal game, Florida son edged Laguna Beach, 7-6, to take home resorted to shootouts to decide the win- Coast topped Riptides, 5-3, in an all-Florida K_\9\jkJ\c\Zk`fef]NXk\iGfcf>\Xi the Bronze medal. ners. In the Gold medal game, Commerce battle. In the Platinum flight, the Gold medal Black edged Santa Barbara, 8-7, while La- Game featured CHAWP against Los Ange- Moving on to the 12U Gold flight, New- guna Beach slid past SoCal Black, 3-2. les Water Polo Club, with CHAWP pulling port downed Cola, 11-9, to win the Gold C8I>F8CJF8C=FIPFLI?FD<#J:?FFCFI:CL9GFFC% :8CCFIGC8:<PFLIFI;

16U 14U Gold – Stanford Red Gold – Commerce Black Silver – Santa Barbara Silver – Santa Barbara Bronze – Trojan Bronze – Laguna Beach 16U Platinum Flight 1st Place Diablo 14U 16U JIJGFIKN8K

18U Gold Flight 1st Place Stanford White 16U 14U Gold – CBU Lancers Gold – Los Alamitos Silver – Newport Silver – Navy SALESALE JKF:B<;@E():FCFIJ Bronze – Riverside Bronze – Foothill 9cXZb I\[ EXmp >i\\e IfpXc DXiffe 9cXZb& 9cXZb& EXmp& EXmp& 9cXZb& 9cXZb& 14U 16U 8[aljkXYc\Xe^c\]filj\`efiflkf]k_\gffc% >fc[ I\[ >fc[ I\[ >fc[ >fc[ Gold – Stanford Red Gold – Greenwich Silver – CBU Lancers Silver – Los Angeles Water Polo White Bronze – South Coast Bronze – Stanford Red WIRELESS PRO-ELITE SYSTEM 12U 18U Gold – Rose Bowl Gold – Stanford White S&8CCEGenai Kerr led a younger team into Championships action at this year’s Masters Dean and Matthew of GeorgePhoto Stransky courtesy The National Championships were once again a great success in 2008 Men’s 45+: as they made their way to Moraga, With four teams, this bracket was played CA, and the SODA Aquatic Center A Great Timeby Andy BurkeFor with Greg All Mescall as a round-robin. The top seeds were the at Campolindo High School. Olympic Club and KAOS Bulmanians. When Men’s 20+: Both the men’s and women’s Mas- of Simone La PayPhoto courtesy the water stopped churning, the Olympic With 12 teams entere, this bracket was First up was the Men’s 20U National Champion- ters Nationals competition contin- Club defeated KAOS Bulmanians, 7-2, for played according to a normal schedule ships held from July 11 to 13. Stanford took the first place, and KAOS Blasters defeated ues to grow, and the 2008 action in with four groups of three teams each. The title this year, defeating Santa Barbara, 7-2, in the the Pittsburgh Renegades, 7-5, for third Northern California was no excep- top seeds were: 1. Sharks, 2. The Olym- championship game. 2007 Champion Lamorinda place. This Olympic Club squad also par- pic Club, 3. Sunset, and 4. Concord. The took third place, defeating San Diego Shores, tion. There were 23 women’s entries ticipated in the World Masters, finishing final results had the Olympic Club defeat- 7-6. Davis grabbed fifth place, sixth went to the (seven teams in 20+, five teams in in second place. ing Sharks, 7-5, for first place, and Con- CBU Lancers, Shore Aquatics took seventh, and 30+, seven teams in 40+, and four Princeton eighth. Diablo grabbed ninth with a cord defeating West Valley, 9-6, for third Men’s 50+: teams in 50+). On the men’s side, 13-6 victory over 680 Drivers, and SET came in place. With five teams, this bracket was played 11th place. there were 43 teams in the compe- as a round-robin. The top seeds were Men’s 30+: tition (12 in 20+, eight in 30+, six in KAOS Centurians and Santa Barbara, with The Women’s 20U Championships were held from With eight teams entered, this bracket 40+, four in 45+, five in 50+, six in The Oakland Grayhairs 20+ the Centurians defeating Santa Barbara, July 22 to 24. SET came away the winner this year was played in two groups of four teams 12-5, for first place and Tri-Valley defeat- after a closely contested 6-5 victory over Diablo. 55+, and two in 60+). This continued Women’s 30+: each. The top seeds were Sunset, the Tri-Valley had a strong showing once again in 2008 ing Lobo’s 50, 11-4, for third place. In the third place game it was another one-goal growth bodes well for the sport and With five teams entered, this bracket was Olympic Club, Bay Area Masters, and Bur- nailbiter with San Jose Splash edging Santa played as a round robin. The Olympic Club lingame. The Olympic Club took first place the spirit of the Master’s Nationals. Dean and Matthew of GeorgePhoto Stransky courtesy Barbara, 6-5. Defending-champion Stanford took women emerged victorious, winning all over Bay Area Masters, 6-3, and North sixth place, falling to Commerce, 10-8. American their games and defeating second-seeded Irvine Sting took third place over Burl- River nipped SOCAL, 13-12, for seventh place. Women’s 20+: Old Mission Bay, 8-3, in the final match. ingame, 9-8. As a side note, the Olympic The rest of the standings: With seven teams entered, this bracket The final placing: 1. The Olympic Club; 2. Club won the FINA World Masters Cham- was played in two groups, followed by cross- Old Mission Bay; 3. Sunset; 4. Peninsula pionship in Perth, Australia, last April, 9. Chawp White 10. LAWPC overs to determine first to fourth paces. In AC; 5. Menlo Mavens. with a big assist from fellow Americans, 11. El Rancho 12. Chawp Blue the semis Old Mission Bay defeated The Newport, which defeated a Russian team 13. Newport 14. Stanford White Olympic Club, 8-4, while the Grayhairs de- Women’s 40+: that had downed the Olympic Club team 15. Houston 16. Carlsbad feated the New York AC, 7-4, to advance to With seven teams entered, this bracket previously. 17. Marin 18. Pacific the finals. Later New York AC defeated The was played in two groups followed by 19. Greenwich 20. Diablo B Olympic Club, 7-4, for third place, and the crossovers to determine first to fourth Men’s 40+: Next was the Women’s Open National Cham- Grayhairs defeated Old Mission Bay, 3-1, to places. In the semis, Soda Moms defeat- With six teams, this bracket was played pionships held from July 25 to 27. Bruin was the settle first and second place, respectively. ed Calgary Splash, 11-8, while the Fighting in two groups of three teams each. The top finisher this year with an 8-4 victory over Flamingos defeated the Grayhairs, 10-1. top seeds were the Olympic Club, Sunset,

Photo courtesy of Simone La PayPhoto courtesy Diablo. This ended NYAC’s chances at a repeat as it In the finals, the Fighting Flamingos de- Central Valley, and Seattle. The Olympic grabbed fourth place after falling to Stanford, 6-5. feated the Soda Moms, 11-6, for first and Club defeated Bay Area Masters for first Santa Barbara edged SET, 9-8, for fifth place, and second place finishes, respectively, and place, 8-4, and Sunset defeated Seattle, Davis snagged seventh place after defeating Ameri- Calgary Splash defeated the Grayhairs, 9-4, for third place. This Olympic Club had can River, 13-11. The rest of the standings: 7-3, for third and fourth place finishes, also been at the World Masters, finishing Photo courtesy of George Stransky and Matthew Dean and Matthew of GeorgePhoto Stransky courtesy respectively. in third place. Men’s 55+: The rest of the standings: were as follows. This bracket featured three teams, so 9. San Jose Splash 10. San Diego Shores Women’s 50+: Photo courtesy of Simone La PayPhoto courtesy the format was a double round-robin. Af- 11. Chawp 12. Stanford White With 4 teams entered, this bracket was ter the first round the teams were re-or- 13. El Rancho 14. Sun Devil played as a round robin, and then the dered, and they played the second round in 15. Houston 16. NYAC “B” teams were re-ranked before playing that order. Tri-Valley Gold won this double crossovers to determine final placing. In The Men’s National Championships saw the round robin, with Old Mission Bay coming the semis, Menlo Mavens defeated Soda New York Athletic Club triumph again—the squad in second, and Tri-Valley Spartan in third. Moms, 10-7, and the Fighting Flamingos was the lone repeat champion, as it won Nationals defeated Peninsula AC, 12-4. In the finals Men’s 60+: in Moraga in the summer of 2007. This year it de- the Fighting Flamingos defeated Menlo There were only two 2 teams entered in feated Lamorinda, 11-7. In the third-place match- The Oakland Grayhairs 40+ Mavens, 13-3, for first and second place this bracketage group, with many of the up, Stanford just edged Trojan, 8-7. As for the rest finishes, respectively, and Peninsula AC players also clocking in double duty on- of the top eight, fifth place went to Waves, sixth to defeated Soda Moms, 13-10, for third- playing in the 55+ age group. This group Santa Barbara, seventh to the Olympic Club, and and fourth-place finishes, respectively. The Oakland Grayhairs 40+ squad huddles before eighth to Davis. a match was won by Tri-Valley Spartans triumphed over Tri-Valley, (8-5).

16 usawaterpolo.org 17 In The CLUB

American River Water Polo Club by Greg Mescall Photo courtesy of Rafael Ruano of Rafael Photo courtesy 8U noodle ballers to senior national team-age players. In addition it brought the game to the players, in a sense. Some clubs struggle with only a few facilities and travel issues for athletes, but American River uses six pools in five different Sacramento re- gions—meaning area folk are generally not traveling too far to practice. of the club. “We’ve spent a lot of time, energy, That become’s a huge and money developing a professional face to our The best success story of starting a water polo incentive to growing club—a Web site, logo, letterhead, and the like— club in the last decade may very well originate members and starting the kids younger and that leaves an impression on a parent and makes from the Sacramento area of Northern Califor- younger. “We realized that it was difficult to them feel good about entrusting their kid with nia. In 2001 Rafael Ruano and Mark Skvarla convince families to sign up young children for us,” he said. started the American River Water Polo Club as a water polo program if they had to drive more Beyond that American River hopes among an alternative to school-affiliated clubs in the than five to 10 minutes to get them to practices,” other things to become the premier youth orga- area. What began as 40 high school-age ath- says American River Director Rafael Ruano. “By nization in the Sacramento area, remain com- letes and about 15 youth age group players has running programs in multiple neighborhoods, petitive in all age groups and genders, as well as mushroomed into one of the largest clubs in the we’ve been able to grow our youth programs grow the sport of water polo. Perhaps the club’s United States with some 660 athletes competing tremendously and have also instituted regional loftiest goal is obtaining a water polo-specific in at least one facet of the club. programs for our high school athletes as well.” facility to serve as the club’s home base. More than 20 coaches mentor the many age Photo courtesy of Rafael Ruano of Rafael Photo courtesy levels of Ruano’s club with some of the senior These may seem like pipe dreams, but you staff, including his wife—former Senior National have to wonder considering all that American Team athlete Rachel Ruano—who heads up the River has accomplished thus far. Why should 18U, 20U, and Open division. Zac Koerner pilots anything be in doubt? For more information the 18U Boys and is the Head Men’s Coach, while visit www.arwpc.com. 2007 Top 40 Coach Chris Borasi leads the 16U girls and is the Senior Women’s Coach. Mark For Real? Jordan is in charge of the 14U boys, and Jenny Stephanopoulos heads up the 14U girls. In a statistical oddity, American River fielded a Girls 16U squad with two and a How the club develops in an ultimate sense half sets of twins on it—the one missing most likely depends on where the players go sibling played on another 16U squad for when they’re done with American River. While American River. Talk about the importance American River has given water polo playing many have stopped playing after the 18U age of cap numbers! opportunity to children all over Sacramento, CA group, a large number have gone on to play collegiately. In the last five years more than 50 What’s interesting about a club like American American River alumni played college water Ruano of Rafael Photo courtesy River is that it started up and immediately be- polo. Women of Troy Whitney Morgan and came competitive. Granted it was filling a need Kristen Dronberger came through the Ameri- for the area, but there’s something to be said for can River program while coaches Lauren Brun- coming out of the gate with qualifiers for the Ju- ner and Claire Buchanan play at Princeton and nior Olympics and keeping it up year after year. UC-Santa Barbara respectively. In 2008 the club sent 12 teams in eight different divisions for the S&R Sport Junior Olympics Hopes are high for continued growth and more homegrown college players; with a five- While being successful on the scoreboard is year plan in place, there’s no reason to think great news for the club, it’s become the prototype it can’t happen. Among the things already ac- for development as it supports age groups from complished by Ruano is the overall look and feel The youngest of the American River club, the noodle ballers learn the basics of water polo with a little help

18 5 METERS: Quick Shots From USA Water Polo

In order to get into the magazine, we need U.S. Olympic Men’s Water Polo Assistant Coach, high-quality digital photos (jpegs of 300 with... Robert Lynn Robert Lynn took some time to talk with Skip Shot Magazine about beach water polo. dpi or better) so that your brilliance is Coach Lynn is also the president of Shore Aquatics and , a 2000 Olympian who helped brought to life on our glossy pages. So get the sport off the ground in Long Beach, California this past summer. send in your masterpieces. Email all photos to: [email protected]. There is no assurance that your photos For those not in the know, They decided to do beach polo in all categories, and they made What is up next for beach water polo? will run in USA Skip Shot Magazine. what exactly is beach water it a professional outlet—I just wanted to introduce the sport The plans for next year include a major masters event, a two- Editorial decisions are made by the maga- polo, and where did it get to our city and have the kids realize that 3-on-3 just encourages day tournament with three courses in Long Beach. We’d like zine staff. Once we receive your photos, started? play. It’s an interesting sport—smaller ball, smaller numbers, to get a men’s and women’s open division with a cash prize. they become property of USA Water Polo smaller cage, the rules are different. It really is a players’ game, Beach water polo was invented in We want to get sponsors, and going forward we want to one as opposed to 6-on-6 where, if one individual makes a dynamic and may be used for print or publication. the 1990s, and it was an outlet of day have an international event in which Italians and Russians move, you can have help; but if the athlete is really gifted, he’s professional water polo started come over. We could have a series Americans qualify for and going to be one on one. If he gets an exclusion, it’s hard to help Welcome to Skip Shot Magazine’s Hot Shots page, featuring shots from your fingertips. The in the ports of Naples, Italy. The make it a cash tournament—you’d get a high-level game an automatic 3-2. person who submits each issue’s best HOT SHOT will receive a free Mikasa men’s or women’s people there wanted to present a new sport, and it was like going that way. We definitely would like to see everyone from water polo ball. For more information on Mikasa visit www.MikasaSports.com. an offspring of beach volleyball. People always did it in the This summer in Long Beach your club put on a beach the 18 and unders on down to the 10-year-old age group, and summer in Europe; in many places there are always these little water polo tournament; how was that set up, and how there would be little prizes for them. We’d definitely like this This issue’s winner is Daniel Verdugo >>>>>>> courses in the water, and they play polo for fun like we play bas- did it turn out? to grow and grow. ketball here in the United States. A referee goes out on a boat We entered the Long Beach Sea Festival. We tried to get with I know you can have a pretty good time with the masters and everyone just has fun, and these guys play all day long. the city to not only bring enthusiasm there, but to show them crowd from Masters Nationals alone, and we just want to keep Beach polo also gave some teams an outlet to play during the our sport and create interest. So we put on all age and gender the momentum going and host this next year and have USA summer, then they said, “Hey, let’s make it a professional sport.” categories, we had a few club teams join us— 16U boys, girls, water polo involved and get the interest in water polo grow- The whole idea is to enhance the game, make it a little more etc.—and then we invited LBPD v. LBFD/lifeguard for an exhi- ing. Maybe in the long run we could create something new for spectacular in the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, even in the bition match, and we just tried to get the whole city involved. It everyone and have a circuit in the summer. Maybe even college choppy waters; it was something they could provide for just went over really well; everyone is happy. Right now at Wilson teams could get involved and do a tour of some kind. people on the beach, encourage little kids to play without hav- High School the fire department is trying to rent the pool once Finally, why did you decide to bring beach water polo ing to go to a pool. Then it’s like, “If I= like this sport, I might a month so they can be better prepared for their next game. It to Long Beach? play some more.” Everything was done to attract interest. did what we wanted: To show them how exciting the sport is, increase memberships, and increase interest in water polo. I wanted to create something that very fun for me when I was For example, the Croatian Federation has allotted a portion of in Europe and something that could be great for the kids and its budget, through all the cities in Croatia installing courses With this sport being played at the beach, do you feel people of Long Beach. As I said we want it to grow and be stron- and goals that don’t have them, so they inspire young kids it might attract some non-water polo players, such as ger and have a good time with it. You start little by little and who’re getting in the water, “Here’s a ball—let’s go play!” surfers or regular beachgoers? maybe it turns out to be something where people want to do it As for as rules go, they differ somewhat depending on where Sure. The hard thing on the coast is surfing area; you have to in another city and continue this development of beach water you play, but in our game it’s 3-on-3 with a much shorter find places where there aren’t a lot of waves. The bays in Long polo in a different sort of venue. I think all that stuff encourages course. Exclusions are as fast as you can make it to the corner beach and Santa Barbara are ideal. As for surfers, a lot of them membership as well and can only make things better for USA and back, so a player advantage isn’t nearly as long as in regu- play water polo. In fact, the water polo stroke is like a surfing Water Polo. lar water polo. Also the ball is smaller, as are the cages. The first stroke. Surfers are athletes. If we could attract more people, Note: Other USA Water Polo Olympians such as Wolf one to five goals wins, and it’s scored like tennis, as it’s played such as surfers, that would be great. Wigo and Brad Schumacher have also taken up Beach Honorable mention to the remaining photo submissions. in sets, and it can be a very physical game, much like regular Water Polo in their respective areas. For more informa- water polo. Counter clockwise from the left: Jolly Hanson tion check out www.usabeachwaterpolo.com Bottom left: Valerie Brunmeier Bottom right: Jolly Hanson Xxxxxxxxxx Jesse Gillespie, USA Men’s Junior National Team

1 > Red Hot Chili Peppers – 4 > Jack Johnson –”Go On” “Strip My Mind” —“I like most all of Jack Johnson’s songs, so I pretty much —“The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been just picked one of them at random to throw on my top 5. a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. “Strip My One thing I did learn, is that his music is great for late night Mind” is great - It leaves me with a pretty calm composure flights -- definitely relaxing.” before games.” 5 > Notorious B.I.G. –”Big Papa” 2 > Kanye West – “Touch the Sky” — “For anyone who has seen the movie, “Hardball” ...ever —“This song is one of my favorites because it, essentially, since I saw this movie I’ve listened to “Big Papa” before says it all in the title. Basically you have to reach for the games to sort of get me pumped up and focused... this sky; in whatever it is you do - for me, it’s water polo and tradition started back when I played little league baseball, academics.” before I knew what the words water polo meant.” 3 > Guns n’ Roses–”Welcome to the Jungle” —“This song has always been one of my favorites... It’s a classic.” 20 usawaterpolo.org 20 usawaterpolo.org 21 22 USAUSA WATER WATER POLO POLO The first three parts are the building blocks for the system. The The system. the for blocks building the are parts three first The System Development of team play team of Development and all the players understand not only their responsibilities but but players. responsibilities other the all of their only responsibilities the also not understand players the all and challenging training sessions and games are amust. are games and sessions training challenging emotional show should Players play. of system the of derstanding cal, physical, and psychological standards required to implement implement to required standards psychological and physical, cal, the and fail will system the selfish, or unpredictable are actions world, the in skills and talent best the with individual an have can create an effective counter attack? What is the best system for for system best the is What attack? counter effective an create system. a implementing of process the to crucial are development What are the technical, physical, and psychological standards to to standards psychological and physical, technical, the are What offensive players, the defender to the perimeter defensive players, players, defensive perimeter the to defender the players, offensive understanding and implementing a system. Water Polo is a team team a is Polo Water system. a implementing and understanding stability when confronted with pressure situations. Demanding and Demanding situations. pressure with confronted when stability sport that requires all the players to be interdependent. A team team A interdependent. be to players the all requires that sport nects the defense to the counter attack to the offense and back to to and back offense the to attack counter the to defense the nects ut e ossety xoe t a riig n cmeiin en competition and training a to exposed consistently be must x. o eape Wa ae h tcncl pyia, n psycho and physical, technical, the are What example: For 5x6. physical, and psychological capabilities. They must have a have un must sound They capabilities. and psychological physical, vironment that challenges and broadens their technical, tactical, tactical, technical, their broadens and challenges that vironment physical, and psychological standards to attack a zone defense? defense? zone a attack to standards psychological and physical, fense to the 5x6. A system connects the center to the perimeter perimeter the to center the connects system A 5x6. the to fense who’s in charge. in who’s is created so every player has a role in every situation in the game, game, in the situation in every a has role player every so created is but if that player doesn’t play within the system, or if that player’s player’s that if or system, the within play doesn’t player that if but the support of teammates, and the guidance of their coach. They They coach. their of guidance the and teammates, of support the the goalkeeper to the 5x6 field players…and on and on. A system system A on. and on players…and field 5x6 the to goalkeeper the de 6x5 the and the to offense the connects A system defense. the the tactical system for defense, counter attack, offense, 6x5, and offense, attack, counter defense, for system tactical the lose. will team for foundation proper the have will player a have that so followed be progressions to psychological and physical, tactical, technical, the team? What is the team’s level of experience? A system con system A experience? of level team’s the is What team? the player of parts three first The system. a implementing start to This would be tem is the time everything. development during player late, and exude managerial know how—as well as leaving no doubt doubt no leaving as well how—as know managerial exude and late, logical standards to play a press defense? What are the technical, technical, the are What defense? press a play to standards logical The coach must be charismatic, experienced, up to date, articu date, to up experienced, charismatic, be must coach The Realization of player potential depends upon their own efforts, efforts, own their upon depends potential player of Realization Creating a successful system is very important today—the sys today—the important very is system successful a Creating But a system isn’t merely tactics. It’s the combination of techni of combination the It’s tactics. merely isn’t system a But 18 and under 18 under and Player Development ment Guy Baker will be a regular contributor contributor aregular be will Baker Guy ment the 18Uthe group. age This section. Techniques the in Shot Skip to USA Water Polo Director of Olympic Develop Olympic of Director Polo Water USA installment focuses on player development for for development player on focuses installment TECHNIQUES ------• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Tactical: Technical:

Psychological: Physical: environments situations. end-of-game pressure and competition. Having the ability to change and adapt adapt and change to ability the Having competition. and pressure to game dynamics, flow of the game, clock management, and and management, clock game, the of flow dynamics, game to Team games National and college watch to players Encourage mentality competitive and Training Goal-setting routines pre-game and pre-practice Establish game the for Respect Discipline responsibilities player and Leadership concentration Increased recovery and rest of Importance tournaments at and post-game and pre- diet Proper Nutrition: lower-body and upper- Training:Core, Strength Anaerobic and Training:Aerobic Swim warm-down and warm-up of Importance dynamic and Static Flexibility: movements polo water emphasizing ball the without Conditioning ball the without and with place take still should Conditioning Team: 5x6: 6x5: Offense: Attack: Counter Defense: de and center, attacker, positions; Position: specific play Players 4x4 and 3x3 group: Small everything is Technique technical the on emphasis There astrong be to has still competitive and up warm during Individual covered skills excellence demanding speed, game at practiced techniques All component component practice situations situations practice fender. Practices should be designed to include specific position position specific include to designed be should Practices fender. training, especially for the goalkeeper and the center. the and goalkeeper the for especially training, Individual: The majority of time spent in functional training training functional in spent time of majority The Individual: increased with making) decision (game speed tactical Increase – The ability to execute a game plan agame execute to ability – The – – – – 3x2 the attack and locate to how of understanding – Aclear – – – – – – – A clear understanding of the connection between between connection the of understanding Aclear A clear understanding of team tactics and roles and tactics team of understanding A clear offense and attack, counter defense, A clear understanding of how to defend a variety of 6x5 6x5 of avariety defend to how of understanding A clear shot-blocking and positional of understanding A clear A clear understanding of how to attack a variety of of avariety attack to how of understanding A clear A clear understanding of the importance of possession possession of importance the of understanding A clear of avariety attack to how of understanding A clear and secondary, primary, of understanding A clear defense apress from switching of understanding A clear defenses zone and press of understanding A clear center and area, player, ball, of understanding A clear defenses responsibilities attacks defenses and clock management clock and awareness transition counter attacks counter transition defense azone to -

5 METERS: (continued) REFerendum REFerendum From National Junior Olympic Championship Tournament ever, followed followed ever,by Tournament Championship Olympic Junior National successful the most and by many accounts, the largest, How about 2008… of Summer the and Polo Water More events. Championship Jahn numbers National our assist in record present and were to and competition Teamsworld training in their the traveled referees American Our 2008? of Summer the for bookmarks as Olympics Beijing to Gary John referees”: “lead and supervising of Holbrook staff Don outstanding our and Referees Montrella Head to thanks special very A done! well involved, all vine, the officiate Hull, Trutna. CA, a than fantastic referee’s domestically the Doug 100 the We largest Low, 2008 performances referees couldn’t point Mike crew S&R at of have a from view Reid, ever, number Sport done of (as across Shawn whistling our National always): it of without USA McBride, USA the National almost nation Junior In WITH JIMWITH CULLINGHAM Water you! celebration Dean Thanks were Olympics 2,000 Polo Teams Suazo, assigned National again games! of at in USA and the Ir to - for and individuals these for achievement and an honor quite referees, neutral as Tournaments to Qualification FINA Games by Olympic in selected participate were Chaney Aaron and Goldenberg Michael worldwide. referees American of credibility and exposure the increasing globe, the across events of Rotsart, On USA Games. American Pan Junior Peila Maretzki, mentioned, previously those Steve with along included, and Those Australia, Canada. Croatia, with contests including time, long a in soil trips honor! afantastic truly Olympics, second Aaron’s was This Games. atOlympic the Beijing by FINA to officiate selected was who Chaney, Aaron to congratulations sincere our finally, And Teams. National our of training and preparation the in play each the our and referees and Redding, international Federation. to Danielle whistled and officiate Alex also Amber Dabbaghian some Stankevitch. accompanied front, Aaron the FINA Drury, of USA was the were World officials best Hadi also My our the thanks League assigned, International Farid, National USA were to representatives Super Roque present all Teams along for usawaterpolo.org Games Finals, > onpage24 Roque, the at with on a role and number training on Steven at Mark they U.S. Joe the

23 5 METERS: (continued)

(continued) USA WATER POLO REFerendum Aaron was nominated by our Federation from a list of USA In closing, and as mentioned in this column before, what we’re International, (FINA), and rated referees, and then appointed by hoping to achieve here is a forum for you, the members of USA FINA to represent the Unites States at the Olympic Games. Aaron Water Polo, to get a look at the world of officiating the sport of has been a fixture on the International Water Polo scene for many water polo both in the United States and internationally. years and has done a tremendous job in promoting the positive perception and credibility of American referees worldwide. Again, If you have questions about rules, concerns about the game, or our thanks and sincere appreciation to Aaron for his contributions any comments, let us know. We would again like to encourage your to USA Water Polo. feedback via email to [email protected]. We look forward to your input.

Thanks again for your time.

Your thoughts on…

GABRIEL HEIBER – Rick Merlo – Five Meter Penalties – Five meters are really nice Bucknell University Men’s Driver – U.S. Olympic Men’s to get because then it is like an easy goal. But the Water Polo Water Polo Team bad thing about them is that if you miss your coach will be mad and you will be so embarrassed. The Jonas Brothers – Who are The Jonas Brothers – Not much Pancakes – Mmmmm I love pancakes. I like it when the Jonas Brothers??? of a comment there, don’t really my mom makes them and put chocolate chips in I-Phones – I dont want one; BlackBerries are much listen, I’m sure they’re great but them. It brings pancakes to a whole new level. not my style better. Shootouts in Water Polo – Shootouts can be very Five Meter Penalties – Always stare-down I-Phones – I think they are really cool, but they intense. Its like if you are selected to take a shot the goalie. are not compatible with my phone server, wish you better make it, because you don’t want to be I had one Pancakes – With whipped cream. No other way. the one to miss. Five Meter Penalties – Definitely add a lot more Shootouts in Water Polo – I have not been in one to the game, a lot harder to score, definitely an since I was 13. In any case, sudden death/golden JESSICA STEFFENS – uncertainty factor when it gets called, because the goal is more fair and exciting. Defender – U.S. Olympic goalie is more likely to block it (since change from Women’s Water Polo Team 4m to 5m) KIRK EVERIST – Pancakes – Love banana pancakes, one my favorite The Jonas Brothers – WooHoo…My Head Coach – University of breakfast foods family has a group too, but so far California Golden Bear Water no fame for our singing skills. Polo/Olympian ’92 and ‘96 Shootouts in Water Polo – Very exciting for the spectator, but to decide a game using a shootout is I-Phones – Possibly the greatest phone ever… The Jonas Brothers – Way after tough especially if you are on the losing end I unnecessarily use mine for everything! my time I’m more of a Doobie Five Meter Penalties – Surprisingly much harder Brothers guy. SHANNON HAAS – than the outdated 4 meter penalties…that 1 meter I-Phones – I’ve got the “crackberry” but my wife has Women’s Junior makes a big difference. the I-phone and the thing is awesome. National Team Pancakes– Only when served with shmokes…I love Five Meter Penalties – Love em when they’re called pancakes with lots of butter, syrup, and chocolate The Jonas Brothers – I like a few of for you. chips. So healthy. their songs but other than that I Pancakes – Lot’s of butter and swimming in Real never really listen to them. I am not a crazy fan like Shootouts in Water Polo – Shootouts are a tough Maple Syrup, add some Bacon, Eggs, the Sunday alot of people are. way to end a game regardless of the outcome, paper and an NFL game it sounds like the I much prefer to play it out in overtime. I-Phones – I wish I had an I-phone, but unfortu- perfect morning. nately I have Verizon and I-Phones are not made for Shootouts in Water Polo – Fun for the fans but re- Verizon. But they look so cool the way you can text ally not a great way to end a game. and go on the internet.

24 5 METERS (continued) PlaceholderIn The AREA Headline

5. San Antonio WPC-11 points appointed Torres said after the game. DWPC Morehouse. They put Bregman directly to work, 5. - Duke City, 6. - Colorado B Houston Summer Open Results: West Region Report 6.Cy Fair WPC-2 points scored on fewer than 20% of second-half extra continuing his duties as the point man for the 18/U GIRLS: 1. - Kearns, 2. - Colorado, The Sixth Annual Houston Summer Open man opportunities and missed its one penalty Central California PSW Fall Youth League. 3. - Murray was held July 19-20 at the FleetCenter in North- Midwest Zone shot. Despite this performance Dynamo held The zone had a great summer session. With 18/U BOYS: 1. - Kearns, 2. - Sierra Nevada, west Houston (hosted by the Houston Water The Midwest Zone is gearing up for the Spee- tough against an excellent Loyola AC team. teams participating from Bakersfield all the way Central Region Report 3. - Murray, 4. - Colorado, 5. - Duke City Polo Club, HWP). The tournament had three do Cup this fall. The Speedo Cup will be held to Sacramento in our Junior Olympic qualifying, divisions: Open, Women’s, and a B Division. All Mountain Zone SW Zone at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The “[Loyola AC player] Jerry Mujica helped start we showed an 18% increase in membership over games were very competitive from top to bot- host team will be Great Lakes Water Polo Club our club in 1991,” explained DWPC veteran Ed The MTN Zone this summer hosted two very The SW Zone saw three tournaments compete last year. Club administrators and coaches are tom. The Houston WPC A team, Dallas, and and the Midwest Zone Age Group League will Opalach. “When we played against Jerry and his successful tournaments and the Kearns Adult over the course of the summer. The first was the doing a fantastic job in promoting our sport in HOPS Blue played for the Open Championship. determine the Midwest Zone entry. The Midwest hometown Loyola AC at the Cinco de Mayo In- Water Polo League in Salt Lake City, UT. The Dennis Fosdick Memorial Tournament hosted the Central Valley region. As fall approaches, HOPS Blue placed first, HWP A came in second, Zone Age Group League has three divisions: 12U vitational in Tampa this May, we urged them to Kearns Age Group Tournament in late June by the San Antonio Water Polo Club in May fol- high school seasons for boys and girls is in full and Dallas finished third after the round-robin Coed, 14U Boys, and 14U Girls. The league become to the PowerBar. Of course we want to win had teams from five states competing under lowed by the traditional Dallas Summer Classic swing as well as leagues for the pre- high school championship round. In the Women’s Divi- gins in mid-September and concludes with the the PowerBar Cup, but Loyola AC is a solid team sunshine of Utah. In August, the Team Vegas/ in June and concluding with the Houston Sum- age athlete. sion the HWP 18s and HWP 16s played a tight 12U Championship from October 18-19 at Lyons that deserved the win. We hope to see them Henderson Masters Tournament again featured mer Open in July. All three tournaments are game in the final with the HWP 18s prevailing, High School in Chicago. The 14U divisions con- again in 2009.” teams from throughout the country compet- important in the Connor Cup Standings. Coastal California 11-9. The B Division saw back-and-forth games clude the following weekend, October 25-26, at News from here is about our players and ing in the two-day event. Also in Utah was the throughout the day. The HWP Blue team out- A special thanks to PowerBar for 16 years of Dennis Fosdick Memorial Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL. clubs and their successes in championships and eight-week-long Kearns Adult League featuring lasted the HWP Orange team for the champion- Dynamo Water Polo Club sponsorship. This is Tournament Results: as members of the national teams. To continue the best Masters and high school athletes from ship. Final standings for all three divisions are the 10th year as title sponsor of the PowerBar The 6th Annual Dennis Fosdick Memorial East Regional Report to develop both, the zone directors set a course in and around Salt Lake City. as follows: Cup tournament. Tournament was held in San Antonio on May to provide matching grants to clubs that invest Atlanta Loves Water Polo!!

Team Vegas/Henderson Masters 17-18 at Incarnate Word College. All teams in of Dynamo Photo courtesy WPC in growth targeted to 14U players. Inaugural Open Division: Women’s Division: Dynamo, Team USA both score Sunday Tournament Results: the tournament were from Texas (San Anto- meetings of separate Coach Advisory and Club B Division: silver! Twelve Masters teams met at the Henderson nio A and B, HOPS, Dallas WPC, and Austin Advisory bodies sets the stage for more active 1. HOPS Blue 1. HWP 18’s 1. One team played for the 2008 PowerBar Cup Multi-Generational Aquatic Center just outside WPC). All teams were evenly matched, and local leadership by those closest to the members HWP Blue in Atlanta, the other an Olympic Gold medal in of Las Vegas for some great competition on there were many close games throughout the we serve. 2. HWP A 2. HWP 16’s 2. Beijing. August 16t-17t. There were three teams from Ne- weekend. Final games weren’t decided until the HWP Orange With our partners Southern Pacific Zone, Dynamo Water Polo Club and Team USA vada, one from Denver, one from the East, one last minute of play. The Dallas WPC was unde- 3. Dallas 3. Dallas WPC 3. we’re busy now organizing the fall youth sea- both faced off against highly regarded interna- from Arizona, one from San Diego, three from feated throughout the tournament and won the HWP Women son and planning cross-zone play to end with a tional opponents on Sunday morning, August Southern California, one from Northern Cali- championship game against the Austin WPC, 4. Austin 4. Austin WPC 4. Southern California championship late in No- 24, with titles on the line. fornia, and one from Canada. Bruno defeated 12-9. San Antonio A edged HOPS 9-6 in the 3rd HWP Green vember. With that, more activity in high school Team Vegas/Henderson A, 14-8, in the Cham- Place Game. 5. HWP B 5. HWP Silver Twenty years after its last Olympic medal, the play, and plans for a 2009 Open Men’s league, we pionship Game while Denver Defeated Kaos, 9-7, 6. Cy Fair WPC 6. Gator Gals men of Team USA faced off against world-power have plenty planned for all our members. Look Dallas Summer Classic Results: to take third place. The following are the final 7. University of Texas Hungary for the gold medal at the 2008 Summer to stay informed with new Web pages for each, The 2008 Dallas Water Polo Summer Classic team standings for the event. 8. San Antonio Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Only hours currently under construction. was held from June 21 to 22 at the Southlake/ 1st - Bruno, 2nd - TVH A, 3rd - Denver, 9. HOPS White Carroll Aquatics Center with 10 teams entered: HEADS UP! Dynamo Water Polo Club goalie Kerry 4th - Kaos, 5th - Canada, 6th - Mid Valley, Kellogg locks onto a Loyola Athletic Club–Puerto Southern Pacific Miami White Caps, Dallas WPC (two teams), Connor Cup Standings: 7th - East Bay, 8th - San Diego, 9th - ASU, Rico shot in the championship game of the 2008 The summer of 2008 proved the busiest in HOPS (Houston Obsolete Polo Squad), San The Connor Cup (formerly known as the Texas 10th - Reno, 11th - Los Al, 12th - TVH B PowerBar Cup water polo tournament in Atlanta, Zone history, topped by the largest JOs ever. Antonio WPC (two teams), Austin WPC, and Cup) is an award given to the team that compiles GA, on Sunday, August 24. Loyola held off Congratulations to Irvine Water Polo and its 11th Annual Kearns Summer Houston WPC (three teams). Both the final and points based on placement and participation at later in Atlanta, DWPC and an experienced defending champs Dynamo, 6-5. partners for the amazing feat, smoothly and Tournament Results: the third-place games saw repeats of preliminary five Texas Open Tournaments: the Charles Dut- Loyola Athletic Club–Puerto Rico club battled > > > on page 28 efficiently hosting the new Gold and Platinum 14 teams from four states were in Kearns, games, as the first two teams in the B group won ton Memorial in Dallas (March), the Dennis for their own title: 2008 PowerBar Cup cham- format! The locally hosted competition that Utah, from June 26-29 to compete, improve, and their semi-final games over the first two teams Fosdick Memorial Tournament in San Antonio pions. Unlike Team USA, Dynamo looked to included some 900 games at 32 venues on the have fun. There were three divisions this year— in the A group. The results were also repeated in May, the Dallas Summer Classic in June, the defend its 2007 PowerBar title. weekend just before JOs. Look for changes to 18U Girls, 18U Boys, and 15U Coed. Thirty five with Dallas A beating Houston WPC A in the Houston Summer Open in July, and the Dallas Team USA played an amazing first half our sanctioning procedures to better manage games were played during the two and a half final, 9-8, and Miami victorious over Austin in Fall Invite in November. The award is named against Hungary. Led by captain Tony Azevedo the calendar and our resources in 2009. days, plus two more exhibition games Sunday the third place game, 14-10. In the final, Andres in honor of Frank Connor, an integral part of and a white-hot extra man, or “power play,” of- morning. In the 15U Coed Division, Kearns Rodriguez of Dallas was high scorer (4 goals) Texas water polo for more than 30 years. Besides We’d also like to congratulate the SoPac fense, Team USA trailed by one, 9-8, at the break. defeated Vegas/Henderson, 9-8, in a tightly and made many crucial defensive plays. Rodri- being a driving force behind the creation and teams that qualified, played, or medaled in Na- For Dynamo it was Manny Torres and a simi- fought championship game that was decided in guez didn’t even play on Saturday, as he has been development of the Dallas WPC he also played tional Championships. And we’re proud of the larly effective extra man offense that trailed a extra time. For the 18U Girls Division, Kearns severely hampered with a thumb injury from the competitively for the Chicago Athletic Club in many players and coaches so capably represent- quality Loyola club by one goal at the half. Eerily, defeated Colorado, 13-2, in the first-place game, National Masters Tournament two weeks earlier. the 1940s and 1950s. The following were the ing both SoPac and the USA on national teams, both teams’ extra man offense came apart in the avenging a defeat to them earlier in the day. In Zayne Belal (bound for the University of South- standings after four events for the Connor Cup. from youth to Olympic levels. second half. Hungary grabbed its third-straight the 18U boys Division, Kearns defeated Sierra- ern California in the fall) kept up his stellar play For a full description of the Connor Cup, please Olympic gold with a 14-10 win and Loyola– Pacific Southwest Nevada, 12-7, to sweep the three divisions. All throughout the tournament, scoring three goals visit www.southwestwaterpolo.com. Puerto Rico capped off its first PowerBar Cup The news here is refreshed leadership to move of the divisions’ final standings are listed for Houston WPC in the final. 1. Dallas WPC-24 points campaign with a 6-5 win over host Dynamo. ahead. The August zone meeting elected Sean as follows: 2. Houston WPC-16 points “Our special teams play, extra man, and Green as Zone Chair and a governing board that 15/U COED: 1. - Kearns, 2. - Vegas/ 2. Austin WPC-16 points penalty shots failed in the second half,” a dis- includes Robin Bregman, Gary Hull, and Bruce Henderson, 3. - Colorado A, 4. - Murray, 2. HOPS-16 points 26 usawaterpolo.org 27 In The AREA (continued)

Fall 2008 High School O & D Host Tournaments Underway Orlando and Dallas, not offense and defense, 2008 High school water polo in Atlanta has ex- are hosting men’s open tournaments this fall. panded to nine teams from four last year and two First up is Windermere Water Polo, which is CALENDAR OF the year before. The teams each have a 10-game hosting the Central Florida Halloween Men’s schedule and a championship tournament at the Open Tournament from October 18 to 19 at the EVENTS end of the fall season the weekend of October International Drive YMCA. Windermere Water 4-5, 2008. Various local players—including John Polo has restored its prominence in Central Speedo Top 40 Testa, Stuart Sheldon, Kasi David, Ed Opalach, Florida with this 12-team tournament. With the October 24-26, 2008 and Sean Fitzgerald—are serving as referees of quality of competition from teams such as The the burgeoning league. The league is guided by Trinidad and Tobago National Team, Loyola– Los Alamitos, CA last year’s four team coaches, Wheeler’s Richard Puerto Rico, Thunder Water Polo, Windermere Tavernaro, Pace Academy’s Jon Ague, St. Pius Water Polo, Riptides WPC, and Patriot Aquatics, X’s Father Dan Rogaczewski (who guided last the pools will be filled with FRIGHT! Speedo Cup year’s championship team), and Wesleyan’s For more information or to enter the tourna- November 7-9, 2008 Colin Creel. Dynamo masters club player Mark ment please contact Brian Martin at brianmar- Lefkow is serving as technical director of the [email protected] or (321) 945-6698. October is Ann Arbor, MI league. Participation has increased from 25 a great time of year in Florida. Hotel and attrac- players two years ago to well over 100. New tion discounts are available. teams include Collins Hill, Grady, Harrison, 6th Annual USA Water Polo Pope, and West Forsyth. The increased visibility Golf Tournament of the sport during the Olympics has greatly contributed to the rise of water polo in Atlanta December 12, 2008 high schools, and the teams hope to seek varsity status for water polo in the next two years. Mission Viejo, CA Kracken Water Polo League In the summer of 2008, the Georgia Water Polo Foundation reached the first of several new goals by putting together a U.S. League from Cobb County Georgia—Kraken Water Polo, just outside of Atlanta. Karina Cordisco, a suburban mom and former water polo player, handed the Wheeler High logo for the Central Florida Halloween Men’s Open School reigns over to Coach Tavanero after last The 21st Dallas Water Polo Fall Invitational is season so she could concentrate on building the being held in Southlake, Texas, from November sport over the summer—and build it she did. 10 through 12. The tournament will utilize one The Kracken Water Polo League had enough excellent pool, so the cap is on 12 teams. Frank players this summer to field three strong teams Conner, the tournament director, states, “Teams

Photo courtesy of GWPC Photo courtesy should expect to play five games, although it’s possible that a few teams may end up playing six games.” The Dallas Water Polo Club hosts three tournaments each year—in March, June, and November. Look for the 2009 tournament dates soon. For information on any of these tournaments or to enter the 21st Dallas Water Polo Fall Invitational, please contact Frank Connor [email protected] or George Fenton [email protected] Robert Hobbs and Kelsey Melito work for the ball in the Kracken Water Polo League.

and is looking to branch out even more next summer. “The tremendous growth of water polo in the greater Atlanta area can only come from a deep respect and love for a fantastic sport!” says Cordisco.

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