National Team
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USA WATER POLO NATIONAL TEAM 2009 MEDIA GUIDE Special Thanks to USA Water Polo Sponsors Table of Contents 2009 Men’s & Women’s Outlook . 2-5 QUICK faCTs 2009 World Championships Draw . 6-7 U.S. MEN’S WATER POLO Team USA at a Glance . .8-9 HEAD COACH . Terry. Schroeder 2nd Year (Pepperdine) ASST COACHES . .Ryan Brown 3rd year (Pacific), ALL-TIME Finishes & Rosters . .10-13 Robert Lynn 2nd Year (Long Beach State) Men’s Team . 14-43 TEAM LEADER . Rick McKee (Anderson) Coaching Staff . .16-17 TRAINING FACILITIES Roster . 18-19 California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA Bios . .20-43 Oaks Christian High School, Thousand Oaks, CA OLYMPIC APPEARANCES . 20. Women’s Team . .44-81 . Coaching Staff . .46-47 . BEST OLYMPIC FINISH . Gold. Medal Roster . .48-49 . (1904 St . Louis, Missouri) Bios . .50-81 BEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH . 4th Place (1990) Intro to Water Polo . .82-83 HIGHEST WORLD RANKING . 2nd. Most Recently (Present) Understanding Water Polo . 84-85. ROSTER BREAKDOWN Glossary of Terms . .86-87 . Goalkeepers . 2 Utility . .2 About USA Water Polo . 88-94 Attacker . 5 Defender . .4 Center . .4 U.S. WOMEN’S Water Polo HEAD COACH . Adam. Krikorian 1st Year (UCLA) ASST COACHES . Coralie. Simmons 1st Year (UCLA) Brandon Brooks 1st Year (UCLA) Aaron Chaney 1st Year (UC - Santa Barbara) MEDIA INFORMATION www .usawaterpolo .org Team Leader . Serela Kay (UCLA) MEDIA CONTACT ALTERNATE MEDIA CONTACT TRAINING FACILITY Greg Mescall Christine Bird USA Water Polo National Training Center gmescall@usawaterpolo org. cbird@usawaterpolo org. 11360 Valley Forge Avenue (p) 714-500-5455 (p) 714-500-5438 Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (m) 732-895-1833 (m) 415-272-7337 OLYMPIC APPEARANCES . 3. (2000, 2004 & 2008) (f) 714-960-2431 (f) 714-960-2431 USA WATER POLO OFFICES BEST OLYMPIC FINISH . Silver. Medal 2124 Main Street, Suite 210 (2000 Sydney, Australia and 2008 Beijing, China) Huntington Beach, CA 92648 BEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH . .Gold Medal (2003 and 2007) This media guide was assembled and edited by Greg Mescall HIGHEST WORLD RANKING . 1st with assistance from Christine Bird, Jennifer Ross, Most Recently(2007-August 2008) Eric Velazquez, and Rick Fillmon ROSTER BREAKDOWN Photos courtesy of Jeff Shewmon, Sandie Orias, Kirby Lee, Keith Simon, UCLA Sports Information Goalkeepers . 3 and Pepperdine Sports Information Utility . .3 Attacker . 9 Proofreading and Copy Editing courtesy of Dave Urbanski Defender . .2 Media Guide Design and Layout by Adrenalin, Inc . Center . .3 1 2009 MEN’S OUTLOOK “A Return to the Podium” became Terry With Brandon Brooks retiring after Olympic runs in 2004 and Schroeder’s mantra shortly after he took 2008 and UCLA’s Chay Lapin remaining on the sidelines for the reigns as head coach of the Men’s 2009 after training with the National Team in 2008, Team USA turns to veteran Genai Kerr (Imperial Beach, CA/UC-Irvine). Senior National Team in the summer of A 2004 Olympian and fixture on the Men’s Senior National 2007. At the time–with his team saddled in Team for many years Kerr provides much needed depth a ninth-place world ranking–few beyond between the pipes for the United States. the team itself believed such a proclamation was possible. But all Schroeder did from DEFENDERS that point on was guide the men through The group specializing in defense brings a solid core to Team an amazing 2008 run that saw USA, as most of the players have prior Olympic experience. improvement at every turn. Leading the way are Layne Beaubien (Coronado, CA/Stanford) and Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA/UC-Irvine). Beaubien is a Heads were officially turned with an exhibition victory over solid defender but also a big offensive threat for USA. Boasting then top-ranked Croatia on May 31 in Thousand Oaks, CA. More a great deal of international experience, he was an Olympian eyes opened with a first-ever trip to the medal round of the in 2004 and again in 2008. Currently playing in France, he’s FINA World League Super as the squad claimed the Silver. Their a pure shooter who’ll keep defenses honest when he’s in the run came to completion on a podium in Beijing, China, as Team game. Powers, another two=time Olympian, is a versatile USA was awarded Silver Medals following a hard-fought loss in player who’ll also see time at center and utility, boasting the a Gold Medal match with the Hungarians. It was the men’s first strongest shot on the team. At 6’7” he adds good size to the Olympic medal of any color in 20 years. pool and is also playing in Europe currently. But Schroeder & Co. enter 2009 intent on making sure that One of the rising stars in this group is Jesse Smith (Coronado, another 20 years don’t go by before another medal is won. CA/Pepperdine). Smith, who plays professionally in Croatia, The team and coaching staff returns largely intact. Schroeder, has developed into a prototypical international player. tactical assistant Robert Lynn, goalkeeping expert Ryan As versatile as they come, Smith can play any position outside Brown, and team leader Rick McKee are all back. of goalkeeper and possesses a powerful shot that has led him to Olympic competition in 2004 and 2008. Team captain Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA) leads the group toward Rome, Italy, and the FINA World Championships— Tim Hutten (Seal Beach, CA/UC-Irvine) concludes the former an event the men’s team has never medaled. Arguably one Olympians among the defenders. Hutten’s physical presence of the world’s best water polo players, Azevedo furthered helped to overwhelm opposing offenses. that status with a medal in China and—after proclaiming his Brian Alexander (Cambria, CA/UC-Santa Barbara) served as intentions to play in London and beyond—looks to build on one of two alternates for the Olympics in 2008 but remains a the Team USA legacy. stalwart in the National Team picture. Meanwhile Jeff Tyrell (Granite Bay, CA/UC-Berkeley) was one of the later cuts in GOALKEEPERS 2008 and is back again in 2009 looking to build from a stellar The men guarding the cage bring a host of experience as well collegiate career at Cal. and a great deal of potential for the future. Incumbent starter Justin Johnson (Mission Viejo, CA/UCLA) rounds out the group Merrill Moses (Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine) has as a new addition to the Senior Team in 2009. At 6’7” he brings anchored the net for the USA in recent competition, including great size to the position and collegiate experience. all the major tournaments in 2007 and 2008—not to mention the Beijing Olympics—and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team. Blessed with quick instincts and a solid feel for the game, Moses provides a solid last line of defense. 2 CENTERS An outstanding shooter Azevedo participated in the 2000 and Team USA holds a wealth of talent and experience at the center 2004 Olympics and was the team’s leading scorer at the 2008 position. Also known as “two-meter,” this position is anchored Olympic Games where he was tapped for the Olympic All-Star by Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/UC-Irvine), the team’s elder Team. Boasting nearly a decade of international experience, statesman. Bailey has taken part in the last three Olympics Azevedo will be called upon once again to lead the USA offense (2000, 2004, and 2008) and has developed into a leader for come summer. the red, white, and blue. A key on offense he’s currently playing Far from a one-man offensive band, USA also looks to veteran professionally in Serbia. Adam Wright (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA) to provide a scoring JW Krumpholz (Santa Ana, CA/USC) served as Bailey’s backup punch. An Olympian in 2004 and 2008 he logged the second in Beijing and did so quite successfully. Without the same size most minutes for Team USA during its run in Athens and was as many of his counterparts, Krumpholz uses quickness and clutch in Beijing. A leader both in and out of the pool, Wright relentless energy to subdue the opponent. He’s coming off his continues to improve his game as the years roll on. Lefty junior season with the Trojans where he helped lead the squad Peter Varellas (Moraga, CA/Stanford), another 2008 Olympian, to an NCAA Championship. returns to help stretch the defense and provide key scoring opportunities in the 6x5 game. John Mann (Newport Beach, CA/UC-Berkeley) was the other alternate for the 2008 Olympics and reenters training in a fight With 2008 Olympian Rick Merlo retiring, Schroeder will look for a spot at two meters. A standout at Cal, Mann was a key upon others to step up and fill the void. Juan Delgadillo (Los part of the U.S. run toward clinching a berth in Beijing at the Angeles, CA/USC) and Thomas Hopkins (Coronado, CA/Stanford) 2007 Pan American Games. round out the attackers. Delgadillo trained with the Senior Team for most of 2008 and has a college title under his belt. ATTACKERS/UTILITY Meanwhile Hopkins gained invaluable experience subbing for an injured Brett Ormsby during the summer of 2007 and was While everyone in the water is capable of putting the ball in a big scorer at the Pan American Games. the cage, the drivers or attackers specialize in doing just that. Arguably the best Team USA has to offer is Tony Azevedo Regardless of how the final 14 shake down for Schroeder, (Long Beach, CA/Stanford). Azevedo burst onto the Olympic the goal remains the same for Team USA—building on scene back in 2000 just a few months removed from his senior 2008 and proving its run to Beijing was no flash in the pan.