Sun Sets on ‘07 Competition Recaps of Speedo Top 40, Speedo Cup, and Holiday Cup Inside

VOLUME 22, NUMBER 3, DECEMBER 2007

A Masters Player’s Amazing Tale What’s Inside...

WATER POLO VOL. 22, NUM. 3, ® DECEMBER ‘07 FLIPTURNS USA National Office ON THE cover . . 2124 Main Street, Suite 210 ® Huntington Beach, CA 92648 The sun setting during Letter from the CEO...... 2 The new Water Polo Flipturns . It’s fl ippin’ awesome. (714) 500-5445 business the 2007 Speedo Top 40. (714) 500-5449 membership Cover photos by: Jeff Shewmon (714) 960-2431 fax Water Polo Times ...... 4 USA WATER POLO NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 11360 Valley Forge Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 National Team Update ...... 6 (562) 799-8506 business (562) 799-8508 fax WEB SITE 5 Meters...... 36 www.usawaterpolo.org Chief Executive Officer Christopher Ramsey In the Zone...... 42 Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Chelsea Johnson Calendar of Events...... 44 Director of Finance and Administration Marti Torres Director of Event Production and Promotion Susan Warner Hopkins Also In This Issue... Director of Marketing and Communications Christine Bird Speedo Cup ...... 20 Manager of Marketing and Communications Greg Mescall A Masters Player’s Tale. . . 22 Director of Regional Sport Development (East) Liz Grimes States include: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Tim Hutten...... 28 Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, 2007 Holiday Cup Recap South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Hot Shots...... 34 FLIPTURNS® FEMALE WATER POLO SUIT ® Director of Regional Sport Development (Central) FABRIC CONTENT // 85% Polyester/15% Xtra Life Lycra Joe Linehan pg8 Academic All-Americans. . 40 States include: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, USA Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, New , and Wyoming. National Teams Manager Takes 3rd Nikki Jost Membership Services Coordinator Drew Willems Look Ahead... Board of Directors Bradford Bowlus, Michael Graff (Chairman), Lynn Kachmarik, Next Issue Ed Reynolds, Rachel Scott, William Smith > A look at the Women’s NCAA EDITOR water polo season, photos from the 5th Annual Greg Mescall USA Water Polo Tournament Contributors Darcy Couch, Paulo Cesar, Todd Clapper, Chris Oeding, Jason Lynch, Mary Sprague, Jim Cullingham, Mary Pat Robinson, Joan Gould, FLIPTURNS® MALE WATER POLO SUIT Ed Haas, Greg Mitre, Lisa Reyes, Carroll Vaughan, James Lathrop, FABRIC CONTENT // 85% Polyester/15% Xtra Life Lycra ® 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, Arjan Ligtenberg, Marilyn Sagehorn, Erika Figge, Steve Janisch, Tyler Davis, Debbie Villeneuve, Diane Békhazi, Chris Hatton, Randy Walters PRINTING Publication Printers 2001 S. Platte River Dr., Denver, CO 80223 | 303-936-0303 Speedo CREATIVE Adrenalin, Inc. 54 West 11th Ave., Denver, CO 80204 303-454-8888 | goadrenalin.com Top 40 pg14 Forty of the Best Hit Los Alamitos, CA USA Water Polo Skip Shot Magazine (ISSN# 00431311) is published four times per year by Water Polo, Inc., located at 2124 Main Street, Suite 210, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Periodicals postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80901-9998 and additional mailing offices. 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

57756_USAWTRPOLO.indd 1 7/18/07 6:22:12 PM letter from the CEO

USA WATER POLO CHRISTOPHER RAMSEY

Interested in going to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics? Plan on spending a lot of money, and don’t expect to receive a confirmed ticket order anytime soon. Excursion packages and ticket availability are already shaping up as major problems for the , and there is no sign that the situation will improve soon.

Big money and big-time sports rarely collide with water polo, but they do in an Olympic year. And there is little better reminder of how good our sport really has it than seeing greed overtake the Olympic Games. A certain counter-culture flavor has always set water polo apart, including some delicious paradoxes. Our student athletes are consistently among the best in academic performance, yet we are anything but teachers’ pets. Water polo requires incredible self-discipline and training, yet it is also meaningless without creativity. And although many water polo players might char- acterize themselves as a special breed, at its best our game requires the highest degrees of self- sacrifice and teamwork. In this month’s NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship, all of those qualities An artists rendering of Olympic competition venues in Beijing. were on display from four remarkable teams. The University of - tournament was, I am convinced that we must accomplishment in an increasingly competitive fornia distinguished do everything within our power to convince the world. Training has begun and will accelerate itself by winning the NCAA to host an eight-team men’s champion- in its intensity as the year progresses. The final championship over a ship next year. Our sport – and some of the out- USA squads will be selected in June. While our favored USC squad standing programs squeezed out of this year’s elite athletes prepare, our club programs will for the second consecutive year. Another excep- championship – deserve nothing less. be in full swing for our own Junior Olympics— the largest water polo tournament in the world. tional story was the performance of our nation’s I visited Beijing in May to survey work on the We will also be offering new tournaments and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy, who Olympic village and inspect the water polo venue, leagues in the spring and early summer. took third place over a Cinderella-story team as well as to meet with Chinese representatives. from Loyola Marymount University. The scale of work undertaken for the Olympics In all there should be an unprecedented amount Hosted by in the beauti- is staggering. In order to reduce air pollution, I of water polo in this Olympic year. Stay tuned to ful Avery Aquatic Center, water polo fans picked was told that the Chinese government intends to usawaterpolo.org and Skip Shot to stay informed their way through tailgating alumni on hand halt industrial production and limit automobiles on all the latest developments, play with pas- to see the Cal-Stanford game at the football at least three weeks in advance of the Games and sion, and enjoy the honor of great competition. stadium next door. The Aquatic stadium was on through the month of August. packed for all of the games, and there were un- Both of our United States national teams have Christopher Ramsey forgettable moments. As good as the four-team already captured berths for the Games – no small Chief Executive Officer

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If you have a comment or question concerning Skip Shot magazine, send in a letter to the editor. You can write to Skip Shot Magazine: c/o USA Water Polo, 2124 Main Street, Suite 210, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 or send an email to: [email protected]

2 News Briefs Setting the Gold Standard….. 2008 USA Water Polo USA WATER POLO WATER POLO TIMES Annual Meeting Commit, Compete, Inspire!

Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Contact Information: January 25-27, 2008 USA Water Polo Annual Meeting Name: Zone: USAWP#: Address: Just a few short weeks after the curtain is communicating with lifted on another new year, the USA Water Polo the staff of USA Wa- City: State: Zip: Annual Meeting will be taking place in scenic ter Polo, attending Ventura Beach, California, between January critically important Meeting registration includes: 25-27, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza. workshops or just ł Attendance and Participation in Educational Workshops Telephone: Fax: conversing with fel- The meeting, which is actually a whole week- low members. end full of water polo activities, returns to the ł Refreshment Breaks Golden State after last year’s successful venture As for the meeting Email Address: ł Conference and Workshop Materials to Salt Lake City, Utah. USA Water Polo has a itself, it boasts a wide (REQUIRED) jam-packed schedule in the works for this year’s variety of activities ł Participation Gift meeting which will serve as a kickoff to what for attendees, includ- Guest Name: is sure to be a great 2008 for water polo in the ing participation in ł Meet the Olympians of the Men’s and Women’s National United States. educational work- Teams shops on the sport With the 2008 Olympics fast approaching and ł Women’s National Team Exhibition Game of water polo, a gift MEAL PACKAGES the men’s and women’s national teams having USA v. for participants, a Package #1 - Welcome Reception, Saturday Breakfast and Awards qualified for Beijing, it is an extra special year. chance to meet mem- $160 Luncheon, Sunday Continental Breakfast, Add to that the usual excitement surrounding bers of the men’s and The USA Water Polo Annual Meeting is designed to meet Refreshment Breaks and Meeting Registration events such as the Masters Festival in February, women’s Olympic the Junior Olympics in July, the Speedo Cup in for the meeting include an initiative on starting your needs as a member of USA Water Polo. The Annual Package #2 - Welcome Reception, Saturday Breakfast and Awards teams, as well as free admission to an exhibi- November, and the Annual Meeting will get ev- U.S. Leagues, a forum on Masters Water Polo, a Meeting is an opportunity to communicate with the lead- $145 Luncheon, Refreshment Breaks and Meeting tion game featuring the Women’s National team workshop on increasing coaching excellence, as erything underway with a big splash. ers of USA Water Polo, attend informative educational Registration against Canada in a rematch of the Gold Medal well as a discussion on assisting clubs. workshops, attend the AwardsOur Commitment Banquet, build rapport to Every year the goal of the meeting is help Game from the 2007 . Package #3 - Refreshment Breaks and Meeting Registration There is also a chance to check out the new- with fellow water polo enthusiasts, check out what’s new members of USA Water Polo meet their needs. secure our Water $100 Some of the workshops tentatively scheduled This can be done in a variety of ways, whether by est gadgetry and gear in water polo at the in water polo at the Vendor Show and have some fun. vendor show. Events to look forward to include an opportunity to meet Three different packages are available Olympic hopefuls and past Olympians at the Welcome Meal Pkg # ______x Cost $ ______= Total $ ______for those wishing to attend. Package 1 Reception, a Women’s National Team Exhibition game Meal Pkg # ______x Cost $ ______= Total $ ______After Jan. 03 add $50 late fee x ______= Total $ ______includes a welcome reception, Saturday against Canada, Educational Workshops, Coaches Clin- breakfast and awards luncheon, Sun- ics, Committee Meetings and much, much more! day continental breakfast, refreshment To register, print and fax this form to (714) 960-2431 breaks and meeting registration, all We look forward to seeing you there! Payment Information: for $160. Package 2 includes a welcome reception, Saturday breakfast and ͘ Check Enclosed Check #______(Payable to USA Water Polo) awards luncheon, refreshment breaks REGISTRATION DEADLINE and meeting registration, all for $145. January 3rd 2008! ͘ VISA ͘MasterCard Amt. authorized to charge: ______Finally Package 3 includes refreshment breaks and meeting registration, all for After Jan. 03 add $50 to each registration. Credit Card Holder Name: $100. Hotel reservations are available at After Jan. 13, only on-site registration will be accepted. (As it Appears on the Card) the USA Water Polo rate of $139 plus tax. On-site registration fee is $150 Be sure to call 1-800-842-0800 for more Credit Card Number: Expiration Date: hotel information. To sign up for the meeting today visit www.usawaterpolo. Card Holder Signature: Date: org or use the registration form on the next page. The 2008 Annual Meeting: Setting HOST HOTEL: Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, 450 Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001 the Gold Standard…Commit, Compete, USA Water Polo - Annual Meeting Inspire! 2124 Main St., Suite 210 CALL 800-842-0800 FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS Sign up today! Huntington Beach, CA 92648 USA WATER POLO ANNUAL MEETING RATE $139 + TAX Phone: 714-500-5448 CALL BEFORE 01/03/2008 FOR SPECIAL RATE! Fax: 714-960-2431 [email protected] Please visit www.usawaterpolo.org for more information!

4 6 USA WATER POLO Photo by DianeBékhazi MEN’S &WOMEN’SMEN’S NATIONAL TEAMS National Team Update

Photo by Diane Békhazi Team USA working together on defense during a game at the 2007 Four Four 2007 the at agame during defense on together Team working USA Nations Cup in Montreal. in Cup Nations Armstrong was solid in net piling up 12 saves in the win. the in up 12 saves piling net in solid was Armstrong Wo USA’s holds off a defender during during defender a off holds USA’s Windes Elsie play at the Four Nations Cup. Nations Four the at play USA 5-0. Unable to rally from that USA would fall in the match match the in fall would USA that from rally to Unable 5-0. USA USA rebounded to make the championship contest only to be be to only contest championship the make to rebounded USA would be doomed by a third quarter in which outscored outscored Russia which in quarter third a by doomed be would Pan American Games, and they came through with another vic another with through came they and Games, American Pan defeated by defeated 11-10.by Australia It was the first loss for USAto Australia of 8-6. It was Canada who USA defeated to claim Gold at the 2007 2007 the at Gold claim to USAdefeated who Canada It was 8-6. of ae netn tek hog te nie 0620 compe 2006-2007 entire the through streak unbeaten game sia. After a great start to the game that saw USA go up 3-1 they they 3-1 up go USA saw that game the to start great a After sia. 2005. since s S wud al al o i te oraet o usa 11-7. Russia to tournament the in on early fall would USA as a match against the host Canadians who they defeated by a score score a by defeated they who Canadians host the against match a the border to Montreal, Canada for the Four Nations Cup from from Cup Nations Four the for Canada Montreal, to border the tition season. That streak would come to an end in Canada Canada in end an to come would streak That season. tition tossed in three scores while Golda added a pair of her own. Betsey Betsey own. ofher pair a added Golda while scores three in tossed way. Villa the led Golda Natalie and Villa Brenda veterans as tory As for the games themselves the women started the tourney with As with forthe tourney the women the themselves games started The USA Women’s Senior National Team ventured north of north ventured Team National Senior Women’s USA The Following the Canada win was the aforementioned loss to Rus to loss aforementioned the was win Canada the Following m en’ s Senior Te am Australia, and and Australia, The event served served event The (USA, Canada, Canada, (USA, Cup (See page page (See Cup 36- a riding was ebr , 2007. 2, cember Russia). Russia). oebr 28-De November 8) as it featured featured it as 8) four of the teams teams the of four s peiw of preview a as h Hldy Cup Holiday the in participating the United States States United the tournament this h 9 the Coming into into Coming th Holiday Holiday - - - -

– and with a win…entry into the championship game. USA would would USA game. championship the into win…entry a with and – World Cup where Russia was also the victor. the also World was Russia Cup where direction.” right the in progress of lot a made have we 1], [Game December 26-31 in Chula Vista, California. This camp brought brought camp This California. Vista, Chula in 26-31 December Doug Peabody. Doug Alamitos, Los in Base Training Forces Joint the at 16 December victory for USA. victory Olympic roster. Olympic Coach Ryan Brown, and Men’s Junior National Team Head Coach Team Coach Head Men’s and National Brown, Junior Ryan Coach the attending Athletes Maryland. Park, College and California, well as boys age school high in welcomed event The California. we played our best game. From where we started on Wednesday Wednesday on started we where From game. best our played we winners 12-10. It was a well-balanced attack on offense as Erika Erika as offense on attack well-balanced a was It 12-10. winners Figge, Villa, ,and Moriah van Normanall chipped In the shootout would score the decisive goal to spell to goal spell would score In decisive shootout the the Petri Heather out. Trailing 7-4 out. Trailing in of the second half USAthe game, to would rally came away winners by a count of 11-10. Holding a 10-8 lead with with lead 10-8 11-10.a of Holding count a by winners away came they as shine to Aussie’s time the be it would day However, on this Final. Super World and League World the Championships cluding Baker Baker was pleased with what he saw: “Even though we lost, I thought nior National Team Staff also gathered for a training camp from camp training a for gathered also Staff Team National nior goals, and Australia pulled out the win 11-10. win out the pulled Australia and goals, not be denied in this encounter with Russia and they came away came they and Russia with encounter this in denied be not ment for USA where they would outlast Australia 12-11 shoot a in Australia outlast would they where mentforUSA mandatory for any athlete wishing to be included on the 2008 2008 the on included was be to and wishing skills athlete their any on for work mandatory to pool training the of members re rot wr vee b vros ebr o te e’ na men’s the of members various by viewed were tryouts free suffering their first loss since the Bronze Medal Match of the 2006 2006 the of Match Medal Bronze the since loss first their suffering as boys and girls under the age of 14. The one-day clinic featured featured clinic one-day The 14. of age the under girls and boys as again. USA had beaten Australia twice in 2007 to claim titles, in titles, claim to 2007 in twice Australia beaten had USA again. win. the in shots eight aside tie the score at eight goals apiece as the game moved to a shootout. shootout. a to moved game the as apiece goals eight at score the tie training in the United States or playing professionally overseas. overseas. those professionally or playing States United the including in training team, senior men’s the of members all together tional team including HeadCoach staff, team tional Schroeder,Assistant Terry Diego, San California, Alamitos, Los locations: different three play moving to the final frame, USA allowed three unanswered unanswered three allowed USA frame, final the to moving play instruction from members of the men’s national team and was a was and team national men’s the of members from instruction in with two scores each. Jamie Hipp did the job in net turning turning net in job the did Hipp Jamie each. scores two with in benefit to all those who attended. those all to benefit Men’ A thrilling game would follow in the third match of the tourna The training camp provided a good opportunity for various various for opportunity good a provided camp training The The Men’s Senior National Team held an Olympic Academy on Academy Olympic an held Team National Men’sSenior The With round robin play complete, a rematch with Russia loomed loomed Russia with a rematch play complete, robin round With Despite the outcome of the tourney, women’s Head Coach Guy Guy Coach women’s Head tourney, the of outcome the Despite oc Shodr Cah rw ad h rs o te e’ Se Men’s the of rest the and Brown Coach Schroeder, Coach in tryouts open held team national men’s the prior day One Finally it was the title game for USA and against Australia once once Australia against for USA and game title the it was Finally s Senior Te am - - - - -

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heading into the 9th Holiday Cup at

the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach,

California. The first was that the United

States hadn’t finished in anywhere but Jeff Shewmon nevermindthehorses.com by photos All

first in a long time, and the second was

there had never been a European cham-

pion in the tournament’s history.

After five days in early December, both ed Australia and the United States in their us down severely,” noted Greg McFadden, facts were by the wayside. The United first two matches. They followed with shoo- head coach for Australia. States run of six straight Holiday Cup titles tout losses to Italy and Russia and a solid Russia rebounded from a one-goal loss was ended, although they took third place win over Canada. to Italy to start the tournament and ran with a solid defeat of Russia 17-7. Mean- While the Canadians never seemed to through the rest of their games. Howev- while the final saw an upstart squad from find their rhythm in this tournament, losing er, because two of their wins came in the the Netherlands, who entered the tourna- every game they played in, the same was shootout variety, they did not earn as many ment ranked ninth, the lowest of any team, oddly apparent for Australia who had come points as regulation wins would have gar- battle Italy to the wire before the Italians to the Holiday Cup fresh off a tournament nered and were thus slotted in the third- were victorious 10-9. title at the Four Nations Cup in Montreal. place game. The tourney came loaded with six of the While Australia was able to hold off Can- Russia’s final win would come in a shoo- top nine teams in the world, starting with ada to claim fifth place in the tournament tout against the USA, but they would then top-rated USA, second-ranked Australia, they were without several of their noted big have a rematch with the United States third-ranked Russia, fifth-ranked Italy, sixth- guns. Add to that the team was plagued the very next day to determine third place. ranked Canada, and ninth-ranked Nether- by an inconsistent run through the tourna- The USA, fired up from a loss the previous lands. ment that would include a one-goal thriller night, took it out on the lackluster Russian over the USA, as well as a three-goal defeat It was proven early on that these rank- squad, winning with ease 17-7. USA led at from the Italians. ings were not indicative of the close game one point 14-5 thanks to three goals by Jes- play the tourney would see. For starters “A disappointing result overall, a very sica Steffens and two goals apiece by Erika the Netherlands washed away any thoughts inconsistent tournament and towards the Figge, , , Moriah that they were easy pickings as they upend- end of the tourney our six-on-five attack let van Norman, and . Betsey (>>> on page 12)

8 usawaterpolo.org 9 All photos by Jeff Shewmon nevermindthehorses.com by photos All

Final Standings and Awards 1st – Italy 2nd – The Netherlands 3rd – USA 4th – Russia 5th – Australia 6th – Canada

Most Valuable Player – Danielle De Bruijn, The Netherlands Most Valuable Goalkeeper – Elena Gigli, Italy Tournament High Scorer– Alena Vylegzhanina, Russia 17 goals Italy, the 2007 USA Water Polo Holiday Cup Champions

10 Holiday Cup (continued) Armstrong and Jamie Hipp split time in net with Hipp FINA’s Lonzi Looks to making eight saves and Armstrong stopping six shots. “Russia didn’t seem to be playing as hard, and maybe Keep Water Polo On the Rise we were playing a little better. I thought we had a real good game offensively,” noted USA Head Coach Guy Look around the pool water polo compete at the 9th Holiday Cup, a tourney he has Baker. “17 goals is about 10 more than we usually get, deck at most any Inter- high praise for. “This is one of the most important tournaments and we ended the tourney on a good note. We got a national water polo event we have from now until the Olympic games,” he said, citing the good idea of what we need to start working on.” and you are sure to see, high quality of the competition including top-ranked USA. “Listen, For the tourney led the USA in scoring someone as common- the USA is strong, not only because they are [current] World with 12 goals. The overall leading scorer was Alena place as a referee, coach, Champions, but they are working well and have a coach who is Vylegzhanina who tallied 17 over the five days. or player. That person is not new at this that has made the American Federation very As for the title, it was left up to Italy, the Gold Med- Gianni Lonzi, the chair- happy,” said Lonzi. man of the FINA Technical al winners of the last Olympics, and the Netherlands, While this year’s Holiday Cup proved that the entire field was Water Polo Committee. a team on the rise that was the first European team strong, as it was the Netherlands and Italy making it to the title While the title sounds to qualify for Beijing. Italy, showing their experience game, that is only more good news to Lonzi as he wants to see quite glamorous Mr. Lonzi jumped out to an early lead at 5-1. This had been quite the sport prosper and more spectators at every competition. is quick to break down the nuts and bolts of his position, and it a reversal of fortune for the Dutch who had been the “We had 17,000 spectators in Sydney, 20,000 in , and in ones getting up on their opponents early. basically covers the scheduling of FINA events—determining the officials who will work each match. Undaunted they fought back using a 3-0 second Alongside finding locations for events and getting the officials

All photos by Jeff Shewmon nevermindthehorses.com quarter to make things more manageable at 5-4 at halftime. From there the two teams jockeyed back and together, Lonzi is often on site to get a first-hand view of things forth with the score tied at multiple points. It would and to make sure the officials and the event are up to FINA stan- come down to just two minutes remaining with the dards. Recently Lonzi found himself at the Holiday Cup, where he scored tied at nine when Italy would find the net follow- was attending as an invited delegate to assure the tourney ran ing a Dutch exclusion to take a 10-9 advantage. The smoothly. Prior to the Cup he was in the United States for last Netherlands had one more shot to tie the game with summer’s FINA Men’s Junior World Championships held also in less than 20 seconds left but turned the ball over, and Long Beach. the celebration was on for Italy. Regardless, at any event he takes part in, Lonzi is observ- Italian goaltender Elena Gigli was named the tourna- ing officials and making sure they are following all the correct ments top-goaltender while the Netherlands’ Danielle protocols. He is also always on the lookout for ways to increase De Bruijn was tabbed for Most Valuable Player. Despite spectators and improve game play, as it seems his true goal is the loss the Netherlands could take solace in taking De to have water polo grow. Bruijn’s MVP as well as the effort they turned in “When A large part of making the game better is the increased educa- you start like this down 5-1 in the first quarter it is dif- tion of officials. Lonzi sites a point in time where the result of a ficult to come back, but in the second and third, and game was the only method of evaluation for officials. Now things fourth quarter we did come back,” said Netherlands’ have come a long way, including observations of officials by mem- Melbourne for World Championships, the pool was full, we must Head Coach Robin Van Galen. “We played six very good bers of FINA and education for officials. “Always we must hope continue this way. We feel the aggression of other team sports, games; we played all the best teams in the world. If to work a little better, or we don’t continue to progress,” Lonzi and if we want to keep up with the competition, we must be ag- you win three times, draw two times, and lose one you remarked in his now well-known Italian accent. gressive,” he concluded. must be satisfied,” he said. It would be wise for many to heed Lonzi’s advice because not Clearly it seems Lonzi is showing no signs of slowing down in That title game brought an end to another Holiday only does he have the experience of his work with FINA but prior his water polo crusade, but does watching all this action ever Cup. While things did not turn out as planned for the to that he was a staple in his native Italy’s water polo culture. make him want to jump back in the pool and mix it up like he did host United States, the tournament did serve as a Lonzi begins to laugh when asked to recount his days in the pool in the 1950s and 60s? “So many years of difference, at that valuable preview of the kinds of competition they will as a player and on the deck as a coach. “Don’t tell me that I am time we were all amateurs; now there are professional leagues be meeting up with come August 2008. Next up for very old, but I was an Olympic Gold Medalist (1960-Rome), won and men and women playing. The situation is completely dif- the United States will be some well-deserved rest fol- a world championship, was third in a world championship, and ferent, as that time there were fewer tactics.” And with that lowed by a return to the pool in January where they will after 10 years I had many medals.” Lonzi continued, “I was also you can see Lonzi is quite happy right where he is — observing venture to Australia for common training with the the National Team Coach for Italy for many years,” he stated another contest and trying to figure out ways to make it better. Aussie squad. matter-of-factly. Not a bad resume to say the least. Long since removed from the water and the coaching ranks, Lonzi sits back and watches six of the top nine teams in women’s 12 usawaterpolo.org 13 The 2007 Speedo Top 40 was Team Camo who had amassed the most once again a success as the elite points to earn places in the final. of women’s water polo in the Unit- In the Top 40 Gold Medal Game Tornado ed States arrived at the National defeated Camo 5-3. Tornado used goals Training Center in Los Alamitos, from four different players and were an- chored by the inside presence of Moriah van California, for a weekend of action Norman, who led the way with two scores. from November 2-4. While the Top Joining in the scoring was Kim Krueger, Mi- 40 athletes were divided into four chelle Stein, and Jessica Steffens, Goalie teams (Solar, Tornado, Tribal, and Jamie Hipp, who was named the tourney’s Camo), there was a 16-team open Most Valuable Goalkeeper, came through In the Bronze medal game Tribal doubled with seven saves. The awards did not stop up Solar, taking a 12-6 win. tournament that also lured some there as Brenda Villa was named the Most fired in three goals while the leading goal talented athletes to the pool. Valuable Player for the 2007 Speedo Top scorer for the tourney, Natalie Golda, tal- For the Top 40 teams their weekend be- 40. Villa was a vocal leader throughout the lied two scores and finished with eight gan on Friday evening with team meetings tourney and continued her string of suc- through four games. Priscilla Orozco and and a light practice. The next day they be- cesses in the event. Camo fought hard in also scored twice while Ad- gan competition as each team would meet the losing effort, receiving scores from dison McGrath tacked on a score as well. each other at least once before the Medal Patty Cardenas, Mary Ann Campos, and Betsey Armstrong was strong in net with games on Sunday afternoon. After the early Elsie Windes. eight saves. For team Solar, Lauren Silver games of play, it was Team Tornado and and Lauren Wenger each delivered two (on page 18)

TOP 40 AWARDS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Brenda Villa, Tornado

MOST VALUABLE GOALKEEPER Jamie Hipp, Tornado

LEADING GOALSCORER Natalie Golda, Tribal (8)

OPEN TOURNAMENT AWARDS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER , NYAC

MOST VALUEABLE GOALKEEPER Caitlin Dement, CHAWP

LEADING GOAL SCORER Kiley Neushul, Santa Barbra (12) Christina Wensman, Huntington Beach (12)

All photos by Jeff Shewmon, NeverMindTheHorses.com 14 usawaterpolo.org 15 2007 SPEEDO TOP 40 ROSTERS

TEAM TORNADO, COACH: VICKY BARKER Terry Schroeder’s CAP NUMBER LAST NAME FIRST NAME NATIONAL TEAM POSITION SCHOOL (GRADUATION) YEAR OF BIRTH 11 Van Norman Moriah SNT Center USC (07) 84 2 Moss Juilet JNT Center SJSU (09) 87 2008 Malibu Water Polo Camp 8 Steffens Jessica SNT Attacker Stanford (09) 87 3 Davis Forel JNT Defender USC (10) 88 Camp Goals: • It is a primary goal of the camp to allow the campers to have fun, 5 Schnugg Stephanie JNT Defender CAL (10) 87 make friends while they learn and improve their water polo skills. 4 Villa Brenda SNT Attacker Stanford (03) 80 • To encourage the campers to become the best they can be, both 6 Krueger Kim JNT Attacker Stanford (10) 89 in and out of the pool. 7 Stein Michelle Open Tryout Attacker USC (09) 87 • To develop and improve individual and team skills of water polo. 8 Neushul Kylie CNT Attacker Dos Pueblos HS (11) 93 1 Hipp Jaime SNT Goalkeeper UCLA (03) 81 FIVE GREAT SESSIONS! CAMP TEAM SOLAR, COACH: CHRIS BORASI 13 - 15 $450 per session/$400 day campers SPECIALTY CAP NUMBER LAST NAME FIRST NAME NATIONAL TEAM POSITION SCHOOL (GRADUATION) YEAR OF BIRTH SESSION 1: June check-in/registration 11:30 - 1:00 Pepperdine pool area, lunch not provided, check-out 3:30 pm 6/15 5 Wenger Lauren SNT All Around USC (07) 84 day campers 2 Hewko Camille JNT Center CAL (10) 88 SESSION 2: June 21 - 25 $575 per session/$450 10 Gregorka Alison SNT Defender Stanford (07) 85 check-in/registration 12:30 - 2:00 Pepperdine pool area, lunch not provided, check-out 2:30 pm 6/25 day campers TEAM CAMP 4 Dronberger Kristen YNT Defender USC (11) 89 SESSION 3: June 28 - 30 $275 per session/$225 6 Bukofzer Terri Open Tryout Defender Michigan (10) 88 8 team limit / 12 player per team / 1 coach check-in/registration 11:30 - 1:00 Pepperdine pool area, lunch not provided, check-out 3:30 pm 6/30 3 Figge Erika SNT Attacker USC (07) 85 day campers SPECIALTY CAMP 7 Silver Lauren JNT Attacker Stanford (09) 87 SESSION 4: July 11 - 13 $450 per session/$400 check-in/registration 12:30 - 2:00 Pepperdine pool area, lunch not provided, check-out 3:30 pm 7/13 8 Lo Alyssa YNT Attacker Sir Francis Drake HS (08) 90 day campers 9 Chatigny Mary Open Tryout Attacker Michigan (08) 86 SESSION 5: July 21 - 25 $575 per session/$450 1 Stapf Jillian JNT Goalkeeper CSU Northridge (10) 88 check-in/registration 12:30 - 2:00 Pepperdine pool area, lunch not provided, check-out 2:30 pm 7/25 13 Morgan Whitney Open Tryout Goalkeeper USC (09) 86 REGISTER BY APRIL 15 AND GET A $25 DISCOUNT • Campers are usually between the ages of 12 and 18. TEAM CAMO, COACH: CARROLL VAUGHAN (not all coaches present at each session). CAP NUMBER LAST NAME FIRST NAME NATIONAL TEAM POSITION SCHOOL (GRADUATION) YEAR OF BIRTH • Personal interaction and motivation from the best in water polo Polo Olympian and Head Coach to the 2008 Men's 12 Craig Kami SNT Center USC (09) 87 • Dr. Terry Schroeder, first ever four-time U.S. Water 6 Klug Emily YNT Center Foothill High (08) 90 Olympic Water Polo Team. TM and a special edition Posture Pack . Posture Pack • Campers will receive a camp t-shirt, a camp group photo 9 Windes Elsie SNT Defender CAL (07) 85 for $70. Go with the pack that is good for your back! is the best back pack on the market today and retails 5 Gerrity Allison YNT Defender Stanford (11) 89 Check it out at www.posturepack.net. International Airport (LAX) and Pepperdine 2 Petri Heather SNT Attacker CAL (02) 78 • Transportation arrangements can be made between 7 Cardenas Patty SNT Attacker USC (09) 84 University. $65 for roundtrip and $45 for one way. Additional lodging available for $65 per night. more information or to register, go to www.posturepack.net 4 Anderson Darby JNT Attacker Cal (10) 88 For (818) 889-8732 - Fax (818) 889-7368 e-mail: [email protected] 3 Churnside Cassie YNT Attacker Villa Park HS (08) 90 Sign up early! All sessions sold out last year! Space is limited. 2 Campos Mary Ann YNT Attacker Whittier HS (08) 89 IONS ARE CO-ED. ! ALL SESSIONS SOLD OUT LAST YEAR! • ALL SESS 1 Stuart Heather SNT Goalkeeper CAL (08) 86 SIGN UP EARLY Don’t Go To Just Any TEAM TRIBAL, GABRIEL MARTINEZ CAP NUMBER LAST NAME FIRST NAME NATIONAL TEAM POSITION SCHOOL (GRADUATION) YEAR OF BIRTH Water Polo Camp — 2 Dries Annika YNT Center Laguna Beach HS (10) 92 3 McGrath Addison JNT Center ASU (09) 87 Go To The Beach! 6 Golda Natalie SNT Defender UCLA (04) 81 Attend the best water polo camp 4 Wheeler Melissa JNT Defender CAL (09) 87 in the world at Pepperdine 5 Easterday Kelly YNT Defender UCLA (11) 89 University’s beautiful Malibu 8 Hayes Brittany SNT Attacker USC (07) 85 campus, site of the 1984 Olympic 7 Gandy Tanya JNT Attacker UCLA (09) 87 Water Polo Competition. 9 Orozco Priscilla Open Tryout Attacker UCLA (11) 88 10 Sardo Dominique YNT Attacker The Bishop’s School (09) 91 1 Armstrong Betsey SNT Goalkeeper Michigan (05) 84

16 (continued)

scores. Camille Hewko and Alyssa Lo also semifinal, SET and Commerce got together had tallies. with SET taking a hard-fought 9-5 win. The open tournament kicked off the event With those games in the rearview, it with an 8am start on Friday, as each team came down to a final featuring NYAC and competed twice with some games taking SET, and it was NYAC using four goals from place later in the afternoon at Los Alami- Natalie Golda, as well as three from tourna- tos High School. The top four seeds in the ment MVP Coralie Simmons, to take home tourney were the top four from a year ago the title. SET put together a strong outing and were all victorious in their first games. and had four players score twice, including But only three of the four would take wins Christina Miyabe, Natasha Schulman, Cass- in their second contests as NYAC, SET, and ie Churnside, and Anika Dries. Commerce came away with wins. Alongside Simmons taking MVP, the oth- On the second day these three teams er awards for the tourney went to Caitlin were joined by Santa Barbara to round out Dement of CHAWP as the top goalkeeper, the top four for the tournament. On Satur- and the leading scorer award was split be- day evening Santa Barbara and NYAC met tween Kiley Neushul of Santa Barbara and For complete Top 40 and in a game that went back and forth through Christina Wensman of Hungtington Beach three quarters; NYAC eventually pulled away who loaded up 12 goals each. Open Tournament score results to take a 14-11 win. To determine the other visit www.usawaterpolo.org

All photos by Jeff Shewmon, NeverMindTheHorses.com 18 The 2007 Speedo Cup, the 15th edition of the event, proved to Top Boys Finishers generate some of the more exciting finishes in tournament history when things concluded at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The Mid- west once again played host as they have every year and saw El Toro,

California take the championship on 1st – El Toro, CA 2nd – San Juan Capo, CA 3rd – Pasadena, CA

the boys side while Commerce, 4th – San Francisco, CA, 5th – Chicago, IL, 6th – Sammamish, WA, 7th – Naperville, IL, 8th – Carlsbad, CA, California won it for the girls. 9th – Miami, FL, 10th – Annapolis, MD, 11th- Clovis, CA, 12th – Houston, TX

On the boys side it was El Toro outlasting San Juan Capo, Cali- fornia 10-9 after two shootouts to claim the championship. Tied after four quarters at five goals apiece, the score was again Top Girls Finishers tied at eight through the first round of shootouts. In the second round Joseph Colton of El Toro made the winning shot after an El Toro save to deliver the title. El Toro reached the title game after defeating San Francisco, California 13-2 earlier in the day while San Juan Capo edged Pasadena, California 11-9. The two defeated squads would match up for the third-place game with Pasadena prevailing 10-7. In other placement games on the day, Chicago, Illinois defeated Sammamish, Washington 6-4 to claim fifth place. Na- perville, Illinois got by Carlsbad, California 6-4 as well to take sev- enth place. Miami, Florida defeated Annapolis, Maryland 10-4 to take hold of ninth place, and rounding things out it was Clovis, California beating Houston, Texas 11-4 to take 11th place. 1st – Commerce, CA 2nd – Laguna Beach, CA 3rd – Tustin, CA On the girls side it was a clean sweep for Southern California 4th – San Diego, CA, 5th – Santa Barbara, CA, 6th – Davie, FL, 7th – Danville, CA, 8th – Naperville, IL, as Commerce took home the girls title with an 8-5 defeat of 9th – Chicago, IL, 10th – Stanford, CA, 11th – Annapolis MD, 12th – Houston, TX Laguna Beach, California. The Commerce victory thwarted a try by Laguna Beach to make it consecutive championships. Com- merce pulled away with three goals late in the fourth quarter after the game had been tied at five goals apiece. Tustin, Califor- Award Winners nia took third place with a defeat of San Diego, California 8-1. Commerce reached the title game with a close victory over Tustin 7-6 while Laguna Beach reached the contest with a win over San Diego 10-2. In other placement games Santa Barbara, California was victorious over Davie, Florida 14-5 for fifth place. In seventh place it was Danville, California with a close win over Naperville, Illinois in a defensive battle, 3-2. Finally in ninth place Chicago, Illinois got past Stanford, California 5-1. After of each of the tournament awards were announced, hon- oring each member of the teams was honored, too. Unlike other tournaments the Speedo Cup does not have a general all-tourna- ment team but rather recognizes a player from each team for their contribution. For the boys the award is named after Jody Camp- bell, while for the girls the award is named after Maureen O’Toole.

Campbell was an outstanding youth water polo player and had Jody Campbell Award Winners Maureen O’Toole Award Winners great success at Stanford and on the USA National Team. Camp- bell was a member of the men’s ’84 and ’88 Olympic teams and Annapolis: #5-Joseph Grobani, Carlsbad: #1 Peter O’Laughlin, Annapolis: #2-Leigh Auth, Chicago: #6 Ana Luisa Chavez, was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1994. Chicago: #2-Jose Hernandez, Clovis: #2-Joshua Kaiser, El Toro: Commerce: #5-Niki Deleon, Danville: #4-Kimberly Klein, Davie: Maureen O’Toole was a long-time member of the women’s na- #11-Zach Nelson, Houston: #3-Nikko Hacopian, #11-Caroline Israels, Houston: #7-Helena Terrell, Laguna Beach: tional team and was a key member of the 2000 Olympic team Miami: #1-Brendann Rosa, Naperville: #3-Andrew Eiken, #9-Yoshi Anderson, Naperville: #2-Emily Sejna, that competed in Sydney, Australia. Pasadena: #4-Henry Pray, Sammamish: #3-Kyle Blandin, San Diego: #3-Erin Pannek, Santa Barbara: San Juan Capistrano: #7-Charlie Howarth, #6-Kodianne Hill, Stanford: #7-Katya Schaefer, Tustin: San Francisco: #6-Justin Reile #9-Jessie Porter

20 MacPhotoDesigns.com Lucas, Claudia by All photos usawaterpolo.org 21 ABy Greg MastersMescall Player’s Amazing Tale

Heart Prep in Atherton, California in the col- lege counseling office, informed Pat and some of her teammates that Ed Urban, the manager of the aquatic center there, was looking to put an over-50s team in USA Water Polo’s Masters Nationals. With that a bunch of soccer players and a few swimmers that had also been asked to partici- pate for obvious reasons began practicing. All those hours spent watching her boys play polo would now pay off for Armanino as she was one of the few players on this new team that knew something about the game of water polo. That said it was still a change for someone who had a great deal of team experience but had never competed aquatically in anything, “I was a life- guard, I could swim, but I was not a competitive Tony Azevedo swimmer,” Armanino recalled. “I think that the soccer players were more athletic in a differ- 2-Time Olympian ent respect, and we maybe had more of a team knowledge.” Between 20 and 30 women got in the pool that first day to form a group that would eventually compete as the California Classics. That first year at Nationals in 2005 there was no over-50 Hungarian Heavyweight Ball division, so they played where they could in the Mikasa’s newest water polo training tool is a 40-and-above bracket. Then in 2006 the over-50 1-kilo ball used for shoulder, arm, and wrist training. Similar heavyweight balls have been used for years division was created, and the Classics had a home by Hungarian water polo players and has contributed – the only catch being they were the only team in to their overwhelming success. the over-50 division, so they split into red and green squads and took on each other. That Clas- sics squad laid the groundwork for this past year in which the over-50 division saw a great growth with four different teams participating. The second year for Armanino at Masters Nationals wrapped on June 11, 2006. Fast for- ward just a few weeks and Armanino took that wrong step. She fell through the ceiling of her son’s home onto the floor, breaking her back and leaving Armanino without the use of her legs. It was something she was aware of immediately. “As soon as I hit, I kind of reached down with my hand and touched my leg and said to my- All photos courtesy of Chris Hatton and Pat Armanino self, ‘That is not right; my second reaction is am I bleeding and I am alive, here I was alive, my There are no tears, no sighs, and no in soccer, , , and field hockey legs were gone, I knew right away,” recounted heavy sobs as Pat Armanino retells the set the foundation for a life full of athletics. Armanino. story of June 24, 2006. Pretty handy with Over the years, parenting became a calling Armanino would suffer damage to her spinal ShotMaker electrical work, Armanino was at her son’s for Armanino, and the once full-time athlete cord, and as she predicted, lost the use of her The ShotMaker is the ultimate tool to develop your home wiring up a light in his attic when a became a cheering face in the crowd at her two legs. She was airlifted to one hospital, and after shooting and receiving skills. It can be used on the deck misstep changed her life forever – and as sons’ water polo games. When she wasn’t cheer- an MRI she was moved to Stanford Medical or the angle can be adjusted and players can throw you’ll find out maybe didn’t really change ing her boys or working at her day job, running Center. There surgery was performed, and Ar- against the ShotMaker while in the pool. Get more it all that much. the computer networks for the San Mateo, Cali- manino appeared to be on the road to recovery. repetitions in 15 minutes than in an entire practice. fornia school district, Armanino was still quite In what can only be described as a remarkable, She was a self described “tomboy” growing active playing recreational soccer. Armanino returned to work on August 4, not up playing four different sports while in high even two months removed from her fall. It was Move ahead to 2005 and a soccer friend for school – something that isn’t allowed today, and then discovered that a second surgery would be years named Chris Hatton, who happened they were all of the most active variety. Lettering needed to correct the first. This was performed to work at a local high school named Sacred >>> on page 24 22 Watch the training video featuring these products starring Rick and Tony Azevedo on the Media section of our web site! MikasaSports.com

Mikasa Tony WP ad FINAL.indd 1 8/27/07 9:39:04 AM A Masters Player’s Amazing Tale (continued) on November 8, and yet again Armanino defied at how quickly she was able to move from one doing. It’s not that it is a heavy weight, but it is the imagination of most and returned to work in step in the recovery process to the next. They different than what I remember, just early December. “When I left the rehab center I couldn’t believe how physically strong she was. with arms,” describes Armanino. had to get a note from the doctor. He said he had As soon as she was able to have visitors, the wa- Her quick return to the water doesn’t surprise never written that before; he asked why I didn’t ter polo team came together to make sure she Hatton, who recalls that Armanino had fallen off just go home, but I was begging for them to let always had people around her.” Reynolds speaks a roof before and was thrown from a motorcycle me back. I wanted to be released early; it feels of Armanino with such excitement and energy, only to rebound. “I haven’t seen her swim yet, good to me sitting at my desk and working,” says qualities Armanino seems to radiate. but it’s been the same way Pat does everything, the proactive Armanino. Urban, the coach of the Classics squad, knows just determined; I’ve never seen her act discour- This is just the tip of the iceberg in the story of that the lack of Armanino’s presence has affected aged” said Hatton. Pat Armanino, one of the most resilient, positive -thinking people you might ever come across. There is no clarifier to that statement. Not just one of the most matter-of-fact, forward think- “The most amazing thing is that for ing people in a wheelchair, but in general. That said, it’s not as if Armanino didn’t have people so long sports defined Pat and the expecting her to feel down on her luck. “While I was at Stanford, they put me in a fact she’s been able to create a life questioning group that was three months long. I would have a handheld device, and it would without sports and go on as positive ring, and I would answer questions like, ‘Do you contemplate suicide? Do you believe you screwed as she does, it’s just amazing” up your life?’ I got out of that group because I have never felt this way. I guess I was just so thankful I was alive it didn’t matter,” Armanino Armanino’s story is just one of the many in- his squad in more ways than one: “She was really continued. “I’m not disabled; I just can’t walk. spirational tales you will find in masters water good, real tough, just a real strong individual; You go to rehab, and you’re supposed to be there polo. While all will not likely involve someone she did a lot in the water, a great outside shooter for a few months, and I left after a few weeks. It with Armanino’s situation, these teams almost and good at clogging up the middle; we miss had hit me, and I just moved on.” While friends have less to do with water polo and more to do that.” Urban also noted that Armanino took like Hatton still coped with what Armanino had with being a team. Teams like the Classics bring a real leadership role in the pool and out of it; lost, Pat was already on to the next part of her re- together computer network managers, doctors, she even took over the job of collecting dues for covery. “I think it took the rest of us a lot longer lawyers, mothers, and grandmothers looking for the club. to accept the fact she wasn’t going to walk again, what many try and find in a team – something than it did Pat,” said Hatton. Among other things the injury costed Ar- bigger than themselves. There is no NCAA tro- manino was a chance to participate in the phy waiting for these women or a berth in the If the hospital was trying to shed light on some FINA World Masters event in August 2006, and Olympics; just the satisfaction of working to- of the negative that can come from an injury like despite being asked to attend by the rest of the ward a common goal and getting some exercise this, Armanino didn’t have to look far for posi- Classics, it was understandably still too soon. at the same time. tive support – it’s come from everywhere. Fam- That has not by any means stopped Armanino ily, friends, soccer and water polo teammates As for Armanino her go-getting attitude has from getting back into the pool. In February of have all been there for Armanino. “It has been returned her to the pool faster than most would this year Armanino started at a rehab center but amazing, she said. I have a sister that is older; we expect, however with water polo being a sport the facility didn’t provide much of a swimming weren’t friends growing up, and now we are best so dependent on legs, a return to that game is opportunity. More limited to range of motion friends. My husband is great, and there were so in doubt. While Reynolds only half-jokingly activities it became a frustration for Armanino. many visitors and flowers when I was in the hos- suggests the idea of a buoy that could make Ar- “I wanted to swim; every time the guard wasn’t pital.” In addition she still stays in touch with manino likely the first paraplegic goalkeeper, if looking, I was trying to swim,” she says, showing her water polo friends even though she hasn’t somehow something can be developed to make some of that competitive fire that she displayed known them for long and likewise with her soc- playing polo a possibility again, don’t count out on the athletic fields and pools. cer friends who she has known some 30 years. Armanino. “I think I would like that, if there was Armanino quips, “I drive them all around, plus Finally her chance to do things more on her a way,” she admits. And while it might be tough I get to park in all the handicap spots.” owns terms were realized when she left the rehab to figure out how it would be done, it’s doubtful center in May and joined a local YMCA near her many would be surprised if somehow, some way, Laura Reynolds, a former teammate of Ar- Northern California home. At the YMCA she no someday Armanino was capped up once again, manino with the Classics and her roommate longer needed someone to wheel her out to the ready to compete just like old times. at the Masters Nationals tournament, marvels pool, and with just a little assistance from the at what her friend has accomplished. “Pat’s te- But even if that never happens, Hatton is still lifeguard Armanino could put herself in the pool nacity and positive attitude in the wake of her is in awe of what her friend of some 20 years has using a chair lift and take part in lap swims. accident were and continue to be truly inspira- accomplished: “The most amazing thing is that tional. I have never met someone who was as Swimming has taken on a drastic difference for so long sports defined Pat, and the fact she’s matter-of-fact about her abilities in the pool, for Armanino now that she has lost the use of been able to create a life without sports and go both before and after her accident,” said Reyn- her legs. “Your body rotates a lot when you swim, on as positive as she does, it’s just amazing.” olds. “Her road to recovery has been remarkable. but for me there is no rotation – I guess its just Her doctors and physical therapists marveled floating behind, I’m not sure what my legs are

24 In Memory

Evan Cousineau By Erika Figge The water polo family lost one of its most vibrant members on November 2. Evan Cousineau passed away NEW! one day short of his tenth birthday from complications stemming from a bone marrow transplant. He was battling adrenaluekodystrophy (ALD), a rare genetic disease that deteriorates brain function and affects 1 in 20,000 boys, aged 4-10. The battle was tough, and Evan fought hard. At one point he had beaten ALD, but he WATER POLO EQUIPMENT BAG then succumbed to a virus that attacked his compromised immune system. While Evan won’t be seen racing down the pool with his SET teammates anymore, it will be hard to escape his memory. Evan loved life. He loved people. He loved water polo, hockey, football and surfing. Most importantly, he loved well, and he lived well. For being only nine years old, Evan Cousineau accomplished more than most people ever do. In his life AVAILABLE IN XL OR XXL SIZES he won a water polo national title with SET, traveled with his family to beautiful places, met numerous famous athletes, and was a pioneer in the development of a cure for ALD. Through his life and death, Evan impacted thousands of people. His memorial service served as a testament to how many lives he touched. More than a thousand people turned out in San Clemente, California to celebrate his energetic ways, all-or-nothing attitude, beautiful smile, bright blue eyes, heart of gold and honest character. He is survived by his twin sister Alaina, older brother Derek, older sister Mary and parents Mark and Gina. They continue to keep his memory alive by advocating further research on ALD. Their goal is to enlighten people about ALD by spreading the word about bone marrow transplants and raising awareness as to how each of us can help save lives. To keep up with Evan’s legacy and see how you too can help save a life, check out Evan’s Caringbridge blog at www.caringbridge.org/visit/evancousineau and join the Fight For Evan-Stop ALD campaign.

watching the 49ers blow out top-ranked a lot of time with Bailey on the road during Dan Bailey Kansas. Greenberg would say, “What do the 1970s when McCormack was the 49er you think, Bales?” and Bailey would reply, beat reporter for the newspaper. Long-time Long Beach State Athletics “Tell you later.” Trainer Dan Bailey, just three months af- An innovator among athletic trainers, Bai- ter hitting the 36-year mark at Long Beach With 1:53 left, Long Beach led, 60-39. ley was the first to use heel and lace pads, State, passed away on November 16, 2007 “What do you think, Bales?” Greenberg an item every training room uses to prevent at a Los Alamitos, asked. “They can’t score 22 points in a min- blisters when taping. He was also the first California hospital ute and a half,” Bailey replied, “can they?” person to sell pre-lubed heel lace pads. He following complica- They couldn’t, and the 49ers won, 64-49. was instrumental in developing a summer education program with various Japanese tions from knee In addition to working with the 49er ath- colleges and universities, whereby Japa- surgery. He died of letic teams, Bailey was extensively involved nese students were brought to the Long a heart attack at with several Olympic teams. In the late Beach State campus to study athletic train- 2:30 a.m. He was 1970s he started working with the USA ing. He is the past president of Long Beach 60 years old. women’s sculling team. Joan Linde (Van Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy, Inc., Blom) was one of his athletes. In 1982 he He is survived by and over the years he has developed various began working and traveling with USA Wa- his wife Kay; his son athletic training and software products. Ryan, a professional ter Polo. During the 1984 Olympics he was water polo player in in charge of athletic training for the sailing But a testament to a man’s legacy, espe- Europe; Joe, a for- venue in Long Beach, worked for the U.S. cially a trainer’s, is what athletes say about mer shot putter at women’s sculling team at Lake Casitas, and him, All-American men’s player Ty- UCLA and daughter Dana Vander Ploeg; the USA men’s water polo team at Pepper- ler Hildebrand was one of them, when the who resides in Victorville. dine. He continued to work off and on with Press-Telegram did a story on Hildebrand in USA water polo until 1990 when he became April 2006. There was a memorial service for Bailey the head athletic trainer for USA men’s wa- “He knows more about knees than any- on Tuesday November 20 at the Walter ter polo, working in that capacity through one I’ve dealt with. I’ve had three ortho- Pyramid. The family requests donations be the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games pedic surgeons, and they had no idea. It made to fund a scholarship in Bailey’s name and the 2006 World Championships. at Long Beach State. Please call (562) was something they read in books back at 985-5402 for more information. “Ol’ Doc Bailey probably won a lot of ath- medical school,” said Hildebrand. “But Dan letic championships for Long Beach State taught me how to rehab better than ever. Bailey spent 36 years as a 49er trainer over the years by being able to keep kids He makes you do the kinds of things you beginning in August of 1971 serving as an healthy,” said former school president Dr. don’t think you’re capable of doing. He’s not assistant trainer under Tom Oxley. He was Robert Maxson in the Press-Telegram in like the typical physical therapists that just hired in physical education to work as an August. “He is a tremendous trainer who read and learn their stuff from books. Dan athletic trainer half time and in the Student knows all the remedies. But if you were an has been there, done that because he’s Health Center as a physical therapist, half athlete and wanted to be pampered, you seen a million athletes go through here. He time. In 1974, he became the head trainer. better go to someone else. Dan is a no- knows what your limits are, and he pushes He went on to work with countless teams nonsense guy. He’ll go down as one of the you to get to them.” and countless athletes before retiring in stalwarts of Long Beach State history, no Bailey earned his undergraduate degree August 2007. doubt about it.” in physical education at the University of In the Orange County Register in August, “Dan is one of a kind, both as an athletic Utah where he played football and wrestled. he described a ritual he had with former trainer in which he has no peer and as a In 1971 he received a graduate degree in Men’s Basketball Coach Seth Greenberg. person with a unique sense of humor,” said physical therapy from USC. In 1993 Bailey found himself next to former Press-Telegram sports editor Jim Greenberg on a bench at Allen Field House, McCormack, a longtime friend who spent Courtesy of Long Beach State Athletics Communications SpeedoUSA.com 26 An athlete acquires skill in two “I heard Tiger Woods say the differ- ence between good players and really ways: genetics and hard work. Ability + good players is repetition. It’s always One is predetermined; the other hard to come in and be really success- Work Ethic = ful again. So I try not to dwell on the is determined by the athlete. fact that I scored nine goals. You can’t get caught up in what happened a cou- College athletes can get away with ple of games ago,” Hutten said. relying heavily on one more than the His humble demeanor perfectly com- other. But those who want to make it pliments his extraordinary focus. Hut- to the professional and Olympic levels ten has a very methodical approach to- need God-given ability along with excel- ward maximizing his skills in the pool. lent work ethic. Before games, he stays relaxed and UC Irvine’s men’s water polo leading practices visualization. Then he assigns goal scorer Tim Hutten is well aware himself two specific things to concen- of this – and gauging by his six-foot-five- trate on – whether it’s making sure he inch, 220-pound frame, he has both. puts away the easy shots, defending However, that wasn’t always the an opponent a certain way or passing case. the ball efficiently. This prevents him from trying to do too much and having “When I came into the program, I a cluttered mind during the game. wasn’t very strong, wasn’t very fast and I couldn’t throw the ball hard, so The expectations Hutten sets for they nicknamed me ‘Cupcake,’” Hutten himself go far beyond each particular said. “Obviously, things have changed game. Prior to the season, he devel- since then.” oped a list of short-term, mid-term and long-term goals for himself. At the Considering that he finished his sea- top of the list was making the NCAA Fi- son with 75 goals – 28 more than his nals and establishing himself as a team closest teammate – its safe to say leader. As for his long-term goals, they things have definitely changed. are very appropriate for the strict Still, it’s hard to imagine this guy work ethic he maintains year-round. was once compared to a cupcake. “I’m going to train with the USA team His arms look like two thick, vascu- immediately after the season. I will be lar oak branches attached to a sturdy training for the 2008 U.S. Olympics. pair of broad shoulders. It’s about time My sights are set on Beijing 2008, his teammates started calling him after that, London 2012 and between “Beefcake.” that, some sort of professional league His dedication outside the pool has en- in Europe,” he said. hanced his performance in the water. UC Irvine’s Hutten doesn’t make it look easy. Early- 2008 “In the weight room, it’s all about putting morning gym sessions followed by count- in time. You’ve got to spend tons of hours less hours in the pool are no walk in the Water Polo Camps park. Nobody hops out of bed looking like in there and be smart about what you’re do- Tim HuttBy TylerEn Davis ing,” Hutten said. “Some players are really Hutten. His physique, statistics and leader- for Girls and Boys motivated to get better; others just want to ship perfectly reflect his dedication toward float through. As time progresses, you can “Thus far, I think the season’s been going being the greatest water polo player he can really tell who those players are. The ones really well. I think the team’s having fun. I’m possibly be. He is an impeccable embodi- Girl’s Resident Camps BHFT who show up early in the weight room and just trying to go out there and play some ment of how an athlete takes his game to 4FTTJPO* +VOF water polo. Winning isn’t my only priority. the next level. bust their asses are the ones who are going 4FTTJPO** +VMZ to be the best. That’s what I’ve done.” This is my last season here, and I want to If we don’t see Hutten in the pool during go out and have a good time,” Hutten said the 2008 Olympics, it won’t be because The hours in the weight room look to have Boy’s Resident Camps BHFT in November. other players out-worked him. Nor will it be been time well spent, especially during his 4FTTJPO* +VOF red-shirt season last year. There’s no doubt he’s succeeded in hav- because somebody had a more impressive ing a good time. Hutten’s been a human resume. 4FTTJPO** +VOF “Since I entered the program, my goal highlight reel for the Anteaters all year. Come to think of it, there is no stopping has always been to gain weight. I’d been Intermediate/Beginner Co-ed Day Camp BHFT playing at 205 up until my third year, then After earning MPSF Player of the Week Hutten from achieving his goals. His focus I red-shirted and came back at 220. That’s honors in early November, Hutten followed is that of a lion zeroing in on his prey – his 4FTTJPO* +VOF goals are at the forefront of his attention at the weight I want to play at,” Hutten said. up the award with the best game of his life /$""/BUJPOBM$IBNQJPOTIJQ4UBOGPSE$PBDIFT – a nine-goal performance in a 13-7 win all times, and he wants them so badly, it’s The Senior from Seal Beach, California r #PUIDBNQTSFRVJSFBUMFBTUPOFZFBSPGXBUFSQPMPFYQFSJFODF over UC San Diego. It eclipsed his previ- almost as if he needs them for survival. +0)/5"//&3)FBE8PNFOT$PBDI was the catalyst that reversed UCI’s for- ous career high of seven goals, a total he’s  5JNF.14'$PBDIPGUIF:FBS tunes from their abysmal 2006 season. “I want to take this as far as I can. This r -FBSOBEWBODFEXBUFSQPMPUFDIOJRVFTBOEUFBNTUSBUFHZGSPN matched twice as an Anteater. He went on The Anteaters finished the 2007 season is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I’m going  UIFDPBDIFTPGUIFUPQDPMMFHJBUFQSPHSBNJOUIFOBUJPO to best that by taking MVP honors of the +0)/7"3("4)FBE.FOT$PBDI at 14-4 which included a run through the for this right now.” MPSF post-season tournament. r )FMEBU4UBOGPSE6OJWFSTJUZTPVUEPPSNVMUJQPPMDPNQMFY  0MZNQJD)FBE$PBDI MPSF Tournament to the title game where By all accounts, the end of UCI’s water they defeated UCLA and eventual national Nevertheless, Hutten never struggles to polo season won’t mark the last we hear r 4QFDJBMJ[FEDPBDIJOHGPSHPBMJFT IPMFTFUT EFGFOEFST BOEESJWFST For more information and application visit: champion California. stay grounded, no matter how impressive of Hutten. his statistics may be. r %BJMZTDSJNNBHFT www.gostanford.com/camps or call (650) 725-9016

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Mail to Sandy Nitta © 2007, Colorado Time Systems 59 Desert Sunflower Circle   )FOEFSTPO/7 selling which is an apt name for the city of the Women’s National Team, taking part in the always call her ‘Little Patty’ and at one of the Commerce, California as it is full of various very first Olympics to feature women’s water first practices she said, ‘you can’t call me Little businesses. However unlike playing club water polo (Sydney 2000 and then again in 2004 in Patty anymore.’ It kind of reminds me she is an polo in many other parts of the country, this Los Athens. equal,” said Villa. Two For The Angeles suburb foots the bill for athletes where it From there Villa has gone on to play overseas It’s comments like Villa’s that likely serve as can become a costly venture in other communi- professionally for teams in Italy and is now a verbal Gold Medal for Cardenas for a job well ties. In return for this “Commerce kids,” as they poised for her greatest achievement, a Gold done, but like Villa she has her sights set on the are often referred to need to keep up on their Medal for a Team USA squad in which she is the real thing, in this her first crack at the Olympics. Road…To Beijing grades and stay out of trouble, as this club is a lone captain. “I feel like I have achieved a lot, being able to play privilege, not a right. with [Villa], being able to learn a lot,” Cardenas Cardenas’ route has been a little different but Mexican-Americans Brenda Villa and Patty Cardenas continued, “but I’m very excited. I’m willing to Commerce water polo generally boasts ros- the carrot on the end of the stick has always been do anything to get there; it’s one of my goals, ters full of Mexican Americans where crisp Villa. “That’s always been my goal, to be like By Greg Mescall and I’m so close to reaching it.” Making Big Impact On Women’s Senior National Team passing goes hand in hand with speaking Span- Brenda. This is what I’ve always wanted to do ish to help defeat the opponent. The duo hasn’t been back to You could fit the entire undergraduate stu- Josefina and Alfredo Cardenas as well as While it is Brenda who is four years older than They rarely have the biggest Mexico in nearly a decade, but it dent body of the University of Southern Cali- Rosario Villa were all born in Tecalitlan, a place Patty, the two have more in common than the player in the pool and won’t al- doesn’t mean they have forgotten fornia, about 16,000 people, in the tiny town of where soccer is king only to later immigrate to history of their parent’s hometowns, or being ways have the most athletic, but in the least. “My friends make fun Tecalitlan, Mexico, and it would be considered the United States, and give birth to daughters in the only Mexican Americans on Team USA, be- they often find ways to win as of me because I am so patriotic a population increase. Yet from this small sec- Patty and Brenda, one an up and comer in the cause they have been playing together since the evidenced by the 14-and-under with all the Team USA, but I grew tion of the state of Jalisco, well south of the sport of water polo, the latter the former of the early days, when there were no stars and stripes girls taking the gold in the recent up cheering for Mexico Soccer, so capital Guadalajara, brought the beginnings of most accomplished players the United States has on their caps, just the word “Commerce.” Speedo Cup Championships. when Mexico and USA play each

two present day Mexican Americans making a ever known. The word commerce in general would be a other sometimes there is a little To discuss this club with Carde- name for themselves in the game of women’s good way of describing the idea of buying and tug, a struggle, but I can’t lose. water polo. nas and Villa immediately brings That said, I’m definitely gung smiles to their faces as they chat ho to those [Mexican] roots,” Pictured left to right. about the old times with such Villa said. Brenda Villa and Patty Cardenas. pride. Villa mentions a little bit of that of fondness for Com- They also haven’t lost those merce, “Growing up: we always Commerce ties. “I still go around hear people describe Commerce Commerce a lot. I talk to the kids as very passionate, their coaches and one of my best work ethic is very high, they friend’s coaches; also I live two never give up, it’s being proud of blocks away [from the pool],” where we come from; and it leads says Cardenas. Meanwhile Villa to confidence.” finds her return has led to parents and kids approaching her not so Back when Villa and Carde- much for water polo advice, but nas were in their club days there advice in general, something that weren’t enough players to fill out often comes with success. “It’s all the age groups, so the two really a ‘what should my child would often be on the same team do in school?’ and not so much despite being years apart. This because I played in the Olympics, culminated with Villa’s last Ju- not only that aspect, but because nior Olympics in which a younger I am someone who went on to Cardenas was part of the team as a four-year college, and not so they journeyed to Florida. many of the older kids did that,” For all their similarities there recalls Villa. are quite a few differences. For However things turn out come starters Villa has established the 2008 Summer Olympics, the standard for what Commerce kids shoot for. – accomplish what she’s wanted to accomplish,” Villa and Cardenas both know they will have While their have been other athletes from the says Cardenas, who came along to Bell Gardens supporters from the little towns of Mexico to the city to make strides on the national team, no- at the perfect time as a women’s team was just middle-class cities of Southern California; there body has put together the full package of a stellar starting up – and all she did was help lead her are a host of people invested in seeing these two collegiate career to go along with Olympic and team to four straight CIF titles. From there she succeed. So the next time these two put on their International success. went to Golden West Junior College and then to USA suits and caps there will be clapping and Villa played on the boy’s team at Bell Gardens the University of Southern California. cheering coming from all angles – and for Patty High – there was no team for girls – and won two and Brenda they’ll listen and have no doubts Once Cardenas’ eligibility was used up, she CIF titles before heading to Stanford University. where it’s coming from. still had one academic semester left; she has been While at Stanford she attained a truckload of able to devote her full time to the national team, honors, including MPSF player of the year as where the dynamic has changed just a little for well earning bids to the NCAA Tournament. her and Villa. “It’s different now, growing up I’d Along with that she was carving out a niche on

32 usawaterpolo.org 33 In order to get into the magazine, we need high-quality digital photos (jpegs of 300 dpi or better) so that your brilliance is brought to life on our glossy pages. So send in your masterpieces. Email all photos to: [email protected]. There is no assurance that your photos will run in USA Skip Shot Magazine. Editorial decisions are made by the maga- zine staff. Once we receive your photos, they become property of USA Water Polo and may be used for print or publication.

Welcome to Skip Shot Magazine’s Hot Shots page, featuring shots from your fingertips. The person who submits each issue’s best HOT SHOT will receive a free Mikasa men’s or women’s water polo ball. For more information on Mikasa visit www.MikasaSports.com. This issue’s winner is Herman Evaristo of HEPhotoweb.com >>>>>>>

Honorable mention to the remaining photo submissions. Bottom left: Bob Krystofik Bottom right: Gregg Hughes

34 5 METERS: Quick Shots From USA Water Polo

with... USA WATER POLO Jordan Eickman TECHNIQUES director of United States Deaf Water Polo

Women’s National Team Head Coach Guy Position: Players start to play specific positions; attacker, Jordan Eickman is a deaf water polo player who is the director of United All deaf people are different both in how they became deaf and their response to being deaf and Baker will be a regular contributor to center and defender. Practices should be designed their resulting identity. Skip Shot in the Techniques section. His to include specific position training; especially for the States Deaf Water Polo. USDWP recently hosted a series of exhibition second installment focuses on player goalkeeper and the center. matches with Ireland. The organization is now getting ready for the There are deaf people who identify themselves as part of the deaf community, hold deaf cultural development for the 16U age group. Defense: Tactical principles of press and zone defense. 2009 in Taiwan. Jordan took some time to chat with Skip norms and values, and use ASL, while there are other deaf people who choose to try to be like Tactical principles switching from a press to zone Shot Magazine. hearing people and speak/lip-read in spoken English. Others are in the middle. Player Development defense. What is your background in the sport of water polo? There is a lot involved here that I cannot summarize in just a few sentences right now, but basi- 16 and under: Counter Attack: Tactical principles of advantages, spacing and cally it boils down to the medical versus cultural view of deaf people and the extent that the I initially started playing as a 8-year-old boy when I took a summer Parks transition. appropriate language and methods used to educate deaf children are used, resulting in a healthy This is a critical time in the player’s de- and Recreation class in Glendale, Arizona where I grew up. I started play- Offense: Tactical principles of press and zone attack. deaf identity and self-esteem or a different kind of identity. velopment. Many stop playing due to other ing in their Parks and Recreation summer leagues when I was 10 and interests, lack of success, lack of playing 6x5: Tactical principles of attacking the 3x2. continued there up until I graduated from high school. This may seem to be digressing, but actually deaf identity and using sign languages is a big part time, poor leadership or other reasons. Players tend to lack men- Tactical principles of attacking Storm and 4x1 defenses. of the Deaflympics along with the sporting aspect due to our shared experiences and modality tal toughness and self-confidence. They tend to be self-critical and Unfortunately, Arizona did not have high school water polo when I was 5x6: Technical and Tactical positional responsibilities. of communication. struggle with their desire to be competitive or need to be more in school, so my primary water polo education was through the Deaf competitive. There is a need for attention and security. There is a Technical Shot Blocking. national team program in 1990 [back then, it was run by our predecessor What are the disadvantages as well as advantages for deaf players playing the sport focus on team spirit, leadership and discipline within the team. Team: Clearly defined team tactics. organization, United States Aquatic Association of the Deaf or USAAD]. of water polo? How does the officiating of the games work? Coach must be: Charismatic, experienced, knowledgeable, artic- Physical: I earned a spot on the 1993 Deaflympics team, which captured the gold A deaf player’s biggest advantage is his visual sharpness. We see and notice things before hearing ulate, disciplinarians, have managerial know how, and be thoughtful Conditioning should still take place with and without the ball. medal in Sofia, Bulgaria [the only Olympic-level gold medal the USA people do. The biggest disadvantage is if we play with teammates and coaches who cannot com- persuader. has captured in any competition that had more than one national team municate with us in ASL (which can limit a deaf player’s development of his fullest potential or Technical: Conditioning without the ball emphasizing water polo entered–unlike the 1904 Olympic Games when the USA won, with 3 USA club teams being the unduly reduce a deaf player’s playing time) and with unfriendly officials who do not understand movements. that they must make eye contact with deaf players during games when making calls, and thus Techniques should be mastered leading to artistry and improvi- only entries]. sation, all under game conditions. Flexibility: Static and dynamic. may eject or penalize deaf players simply for not hearing their whistles. Importance of warm up and cool down. The 1993 gold medal is the high point of my water polo career. I went on to play in the first World Individual skills covered during the warm up and/or in competi- Deaf Water Polo Championships in 1995 in Brugge, Belgium (bronze), the 1997 Deaflympics in Officiating is done under the same rules as any water polo game, but referees should hold their tive situations: Swim Training: Aerobic. Copenhagen, Denmark, (silver) and the 2001 Deaflympics in Rome (5th place). signals longer and establish eye contact with the athletes involved in their calls. They also need Strength Training: Core, upper and lower body to make allowances for when players do not see the referee signal (or conversely when they Increase technical speed. I have also played for the Arizona State University and the University of Bristol (England) club (emphasize overall body). intentionally ignore them and play or act as if they didn’t see the signal) Begin specific position training. teams. Nutrition: Proper diet pre- and post-game and at tournaments. History shows the men’s team has medaled in the Deaflympics in the mid 90s but has Technical training supports the tactical system. Importance of rest and recovery. Being honored with a Bristol Red is probably my major individual achievement in water polo. not in recent times; what is the outlook for this current squad headed toward 2009? Technique is still highly emphasized at this age. Psychological: I made my return to international water polo in November 2007 at the international Deaf water We are in a transition period. A new group of young athletes with either one or zero Deaflympics Tactical: polo match series with the Republic of Ireland (Bronze medalists at the 2006 European Deaf Increased concentration. appearances under their belt is developing. The group has exciting potential. We are getting off Water Polo Championships). Increase tactical speed (decision making) Leadership and player responsibilities. the ground with our two summer 2007 training camps and our matches against Ireland. I have played on all-hearing teams, all-deaf teams, and teams with mostly hearing players and Individual: The beginning of tactical understanding in all aspects Discipline. The team is shooting for GOLD and we will do our best to capture it. At the same time, I acknowl- a few deaf players. I have never had a Deaf coach. All of my hearing coaches never could sign for of the game. edge this is a young team, and we will need to develop and expose these athletes to international Respect for the game. themselves, which was a great source of frustration for me, as I communicate using American Small group: 3x3 and 4x4. playing conditions. Sign Language (ASL). Establish pre-practice and pre-game routines. How has the organization gone about locating athletes for the team? Encourage players to watch high school, college and National What are some of your goals for USDWP? Team games. We have utilized the USADSF website, e-mails and personal contacts (the deaf community is Taking United States Deaf Water Polo’s 2009 Deaflympics team to the gold medal in Taipei, Tai- small). We anticipate expanding our recruiting efforts after the USA vs Ireland match series as wan, while constructing a squad of deaf athletes that primarily communicate in ASL and that has word continues to gets out about USDWP and more time can be dedicated to expanded media direct communication with their coaches in ASL. recruitment, publicity, and fundraising efforts. The match series has been widely advertised in The other major USDWP goals are: the Los Angeles area deaf community as well as though several deaf-related listbots. 1) Developing the recently established women’s deaf national team along the same lines to Finally, what does it mean to the group to get assistance from things like a Speedo eventually secure a women’s water polo competition at the 2013 Deaflympics in Athens, Grant from USA Water Polo? On playing in the Holiday Cup but Greece. They Said It... still have to qualify for the Olympics The Speedo Grant from USAWP is fantastic. It relieves some of the financial burden that helped On having already qualified for the Olympics in 2008 2) Hosting the 2011 World Deaf Water Polo championships in Southern California. On hosting the Holiday Cup make the USA vs Ireland match series happen. USDWP truly appreciates the support. “It’s an advantage, the last two and half months “We don’t feel incredible pressure; “For us it’s an honor to host; we think it’s a 3) Creating a deaf-centered pipeline for young deaf athletes to develop their water polo skills we have worked very hard, 25 hours a week. we know we are good team. When As of 2007, the US Olympic Committee has no line item in its budget to support the 2009 US great tournament with great teams partici- When you have to qualify in February your situ- the moment arrives for the qualifica- in a positive, ASL-using environment. Deaflympics team. pating. I’m glad we are able to provide an ation is very different. We can work very hard tion tournament, we will be ready.” If this is something you are comfortable answering, has your hearing loss been opportunity for teams to play and prepare Some other countries, particularly eastern European countries, give outstanding support to their and don’t have to peak, we can push, push, for their qualification tournaments. Also it – Mauro Maugeri, Head Coach – Italy something you were born with or as the result of something else? Similarly have the Deaflympics teams. push. It’s an advantage to be able to improve gives people in the area a chance to watch players on the team always been deaf or are there different situations? your game without the situation that you have USDWP seeks support from the general public for our programs as we aim to provide our athletes six of the best nine teams compete, to see to win and have to qualify.” I am totally comfortable talking about being deaf. It is a big part of my identity. I am proud to be with the opportunity to experience Olympism and its equivalent at the Deaflympics. some very, very good teams.” deaf and to use ASL. I was born deaf of unknown causes. – Robin Van Galen, Head Coach – The Netherlands – , Head Coach – USA

36 usawaterpolo.org 37 5 METERS (continued) USA WATER POLO REFerendum With Jim Cullingham Your #1 As mentioned in last issue’s install- Bob Corb was selected to whistle at the Steve Rotsart was the USA referee last ment, what we are hoping to achieve 2007 Women’s FINA World League Super summer at the 2007 FINA Men’s Junior Final in Montreal, Canada. Bob will be re- World Championships in Southern California Water Polo Supplier with this column is a forum for you, tiring from international competition at the and was selected to whistle the Gold Medal the members of USA Water Polo, to end of this year to pursue administrative Game. Steve will also represent the USA at get a look at the world of officiating duties with USA Water Polo and the NCAA. this month’s Holiday Cup International Tour- the sport both in the United States Congratulations to Bob and thanks for his nament in Long Beach, California. many years of service. and internationally. To that end, we Quite an impressive collection of referees would again like to encourage your Al Frowiss traveled to Holland with the and achievements; my thanks to all. SSPORT&R USA Women’s Junior National Team this feedback, questions, and concerns Now, what about you, “wanna ref?”… past summer to assist with their prepara- via email to referendum@usawater- tion for the FINA Junior World Champion- Our sport continues to grow, with new polo.org. We look forward to your ships. Al will also be retiring from FINA com- clubs and competitions across the coun- S&R SPORT input. petition at the end of this year. Many, many try. As a result, we are in constant need of thanks to Al for his support of our National qualified and dedicated referees. WATER POLO CAPS In the meantime, I would like to use this Teams and programs. We are on the verge of some exciting de- issue’s column to bring you up to date on STOCKED IN 12 COLORS Michael Goldenberg represented the velopments in referee training and certifica- the achievements and activity of some of United States at this year’s Pan American tion, and I urge you to explore the options of our country’s top referees and also to en- Games in Brazil. Michael has also been se- officiating as your playing, coaching, and/or courage you to spread the word about offici- lected by FINA to whistle as a neutral refer- spectator careers allow. ating with a little information about getting ee at the Olympic Qualification Tournament involved in that aspect of our sport. You may contact your zone’s representa- in Italy next February – quite an honor and tive to USA Water Polo’s National Referee On the International Front, what our QUARTERED GOALIES INCLUDED! achievement. Committee for details. Their contact infor- FINA referees have been up to: Joe Peila whistled at the 2007 ASUA mation can be found on the USA Water Polo CUSTOM COLOR Aaron Chaney, our referee at the 2004 Youth Games in Puerto Rico and also par- website on the “referee” link. COMBINATIONS Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, was ticipated in the FINA Men’s World League. Thanks! AVAILABLE selected by FINA to officiate at the 2007 (Congratulations are also in order to Joe on FINA World Championships in Melbourne, the birth of his son this past November.) Thank you all for your time and please feel Australia and the 2007 Men’s FINA World free to offer you suggestions, questions, Steve Redding represented the USA at League Super Final last summer in Berlin, complaints, or concerns to referendum@ the FINA Women’s Junior World Cham- Germany. I am happy to announce that Aar- usawaterpolo.org and let us know what pionship in Porto, Portugal last summer on has also been selected to officiate at the you’d like to see in this space in the future. and was one of a handful of referees to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, . NEW receive appointments on the final day of DAKTRONICS TIMING SYSTEMS NEW competition. WIRELESS OUTDOOR SYSTEM

Every Month Skip Shot Magazine will find out about five favorite songs on the iPODs of various people in the water polo community and let them explain why those songs made the cut.

Natalie Golda, Defender –Women’s Senior National Team 1 > Bob Sinclar – “World Hold On” 4> Van Morrison – “Sweet Thing” I think I step on the gas pedal a Absolutely amazing. One of the most unique little harder when this song comes voices in music. I’ll be using his music in my on. You can’t help but sing along wedding. and dance by yourself. It will 5 > Jeff Buckley – “Everybody Here Wants You” CHOOSE FROM WIDE SELECTION always remind me of Europe. If you like Robin Thicke or Maxwell, you should OF CLOCKS & SCOREBOARDS 2 > Lionel Ritchie – “All Night Long (All Night)” look this song up. Very sultry, perfect for a rainy This is the classic “feel good” song, and also my favorite day. karaoke song to perform (along with “Highway to Hell” 6 > PJ Harvey – “A Place Called Home” by AC/DC). This girl can sing. I just love the feel of 3 > Interpol – “All Fired Up” this song. Interpol is great live, and probably was my favorite Copyright 2007 S & R Sport. All Rights Reserved. band through college. I loved their first album Turn on CHECK OUT OUR LATEST SPECIALS AT TEAM SALES: 1-800-231-8295 the Bright Lights – highly recommended. & SSPORTR INDIVIDUAL SALES: 1-877-544-5550 srsport.com FAX: 1-310-781-9389 38 Peeler Yes Yes Gordon Kelsey Hollander Yes USA Water Polo Mary Penn Hudnall No Mark Pettis Yes No Tucker Eric Johnson No Scott Platshon Kalbus Yes Porter Poladian Yes Academic All-Americans Yes Katlin Kapila Kieran Quertermouse Yes Yes Bethany Rajesh Kapila Yes USA Water Polo is proud to announce the first ever USA Water Polo Academic Aspen Rapp Keane Yes Delaney Reed Yes All-Americans. Student athletes were selected based on the 2006-2007 academic No Ashley Kate Kegg Yes school year. Students had to have a minimum grade point average of 3.6 to qualify Andrew Reego Kemp No Coral Reitz Yes and had to have competed in a USA Water Polo national event. Those with 4.0 GPAs Yes Cara Devan Kennifer Yes were recognized as outstanding achievers. Shelby Reyes Koeppen No Jordan Rivera No No Albert Yes Jessie Koverman Yes 4.0 + Taylor Clute Rachael Robinson first name last name Krueger Yes Jacqueline Combs No Kimberly Rogers No Yes Bernie Yes Kristin Kulakowski No Yes Dylan Connery Cray Rogers Mark Allison LaForge Yes Christofer Cottrell Yes Andrew Schwimer No Jordan Anderson No Yes Jefferey Yes Kylie Langlois No Yes Patrick Daley Cody Scoles Alex Avery Lathrope No Eric Danahoo Yes Bret Serure Yes Brian Baier No Yes Dean No Alexis Lee Yes No Amanda Darnell Patricia Smith James Balassone Lopez Yes James Davis No Julio Smith-Carmichael No Cashel Barnett Yes Yes Chelsea No Max Lubin No Yes William Davis Kristen Stragier Nicholas Barnett Mabrey Yes Derek DeRouen Yes Alexandria Strickland No Zayne Belal Yes Yes Mark Yes Andrew MacDonald No Yes Kevin DiSilvestro Jamie Swartz Christina Bentley Mahoney No Taylor Dodson Yes Evan Trinkle No Morgan Blankenship No No Austin No Erin Manke No No McKenna Farrar Lindsay Tucker Philipp Bonushkin McCarthy Yes Alex Fujinaka No Kate Tyrrell No Brian Boswell Yes No Jamie No Michael McCreery Yes Yes Stephanie Funston Chad Viergever Cayley Bowles McRae No Ian Gamble Yes Faith Vogelzang Yes Emily Brooks No No Brianna Yes Pallavi Menon No Yes Jillian Garton John Wilkins Bryan-Zwick Miyabe Yes Allison Gerrity Yes Christina Wise No Todd Burns Yes Yes Mitchell Yes Cyrus Mojdehi No No Elina Goldenberg Adam Young Matthew Burton Mullen No Alyssa Goldie Yes Kasey Zdrojewski Yes Bush No No Monica Nathanael No Heather Nicholas No Yes Sean Gulian Lindsey Zehner Elizabeth Carey Nicklow Yes Hansen Yes Bayard Zepfel Yes Chapa Yes Chase Yes Evan Matthew Yes Andrew Pansick Yes Jefferey Hansen Scott Churchman Parisi Yes Matthew Hansen Yes Nicola Andy Clapper Yes Amanda Hardy No Eric Clapper Yes

40 usawaterpolo.org 41 In The ZONE

Look for more info at www.usawaterpolo.com. Central California Zone 16U Girls, 1st- Santa • 6th Annual Duke City Tournament – March Chair – Brent Bohlender Barbara A, 2nd- Santa

20-22 – Albuquerque, NM – 18/U girls, 18/U Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.centralcalwaterpolo.com Barbara B, 3rd- Santa boys, 14/U Coed. Go to www.mtnzonewater- Barbara C xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx New members to the Board of Directors: polo.com for more info. 18u Girls, SEE PHOTO, Jamey Wright of UC Davis, Bruce Hastie of Je- Mountain Zone Meeting – Saturday, Decem- 1st- Long Beach Shore, suit Aquatics and SacPolo, and last new member ber 15, 3 p.m., Kearns, Utah. Conference call 2nd- Santa Barbara, Courtney Porter of Lodi Water Polo Foundation will also be available. 3rd- Los Angeles WP The zone named the new youth coaches for Congratulations to the following athletes for Congrats to the Com- the girls in Chris Borasi and new the junior being selected to attend the Holiday Camp at the merce girls on their coach in Julian Schmitz and for the boys Bruce OTC: Kevin Anderson (Kearns WPC, UT), Me- Speedo Cup victory in Hastie and assistant Drew Clute will head up the lissa Bergesen (Kearns WPC, UT), Jacob Jones St. Louis. On the boys junior team. The zone is still in the process of (Kearns WPC, UT), Marshall McCurdy (Colo- side, Rosebowl took nominating our youth coach for the boys rado WPC, CO), Adelaide Naumann (Sun Devil home the bronze. Once WPC, AZ), Andrew Peercy (Kearns WPC, UT), again Coastal makes a The Rockford High School boys celebrate after taking home the state title. Coastal California Zone Nick Reed (Sun Devil WPC, AZ), Parker Soren- strong showing at the an- Chair – Kai Palchikoff son (Kearns WPC, UT), Louis Wojciechowski nual 8th grade and under www.coastalcalwp.org The 42-2 Rams are led by Patino and Plank, (Arizona WPC, AZ). tournament. The annual Coastal Cal leagues have wrapped who both played on the USWP Midwest Zone up with their year-end championships. It was an Evan Cousineau- Youth A team this past year. Both Patino and Pacific Northwest The Orlando Gladiators were victorious at the Florida last summer. Plank were named first team all-state, with exciting year with some very competitive polo All of us in the Coastal zone wish to extend and Hawaii Zone Patino also being named the tournament’s and being played from Long Beach to Santa Barbara. our condolences to the Cousineau family for Chair – Mike Claus season’s Most Valuable Player. Mette was named Loyola Blue took Loyola Red 15-8 and looked The winners are: the loss of their son Evan. In an unprecedented www.pnwhzone.com Southeast Zone second team all-state. Goalie Chris Maloney like a likely tournament winner. However, a move the USC mens and womens teams have The dates for the 2008 Pacific Zone Winter Chair – Norm Havercroft 10U Co-ed, 1st- Commerce, 2nd- Los Angeles and junior driver Tyler Augustine were named little bad luck and an excellent game by Dallas adorned the back of their caps with an EC this League have been set and are as follows: www.southeastwaterpolo.com WP, 3rd- Olympian Reserve Honorable Mention. The coaches association disrupted their march to the title. Two members year. It is a fitting tribute to this young man who also named Rockford coach Dave McWatters as December 15-16 of Loyola Blue were hurt (the Blue/Red semifi- Orlando Gladiators Water Polo fought a valiant Coach of the Year. Most of the Rockford players January 12-13 nal was physical), and one had to go home early. Captures Gold fight. He will be have also competed in the Junior Olympics with January 19-20 That left them with only seven players in the fi- The Orlando Gladiators captured the gold missed. the Rockford Aquatic Club. February 2-3. nal. However, Dallas, to prove a point before the metal at Florida’s Sunshine State Games in the lack of Loyola subs could be said to be signifi- boys 14-and-under division during the July com- Midwest Mountain Zone cant, went out ahead 5-0, with the first quarter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Southwest Zone petition. The Gladiators are Central Florida’s Zone Chair – Brad Peercy Chair – Jimmy Linehan ending at 5-1. Dallas added to the goal differen- newest youth team having formed in January of Chair – Rich- www.mtnzonewaterpolo.com www.southwestwaterpolo.com tial in the second and third periods, although this year and entered the state competition fol- ard Marsh Loyola picked up a bit on Dallas in the fourth Event Wrap Up Twelve teams participated in the Twentieth lowing a winning season. www.mid- quarter when Dallas made sure everyone on Annual Dallas Water Polo Fall Invitational on The team was led to victory by Ryan Staton westwater- Cactus Classic Tournament – Nine Open/ the team got some playing time. The final score November 9-11. Teams were Austin WPC, Dal- – Captain and Jack Orchard, both first-year play- polo.org Masters Men’s teams met up at the University of was 15-7. las WPC A and B, HOPS (Houston), Loyola ers who have shown exceptional athletic ability. The Rock- Arizona in Tuscon for the annual October event. Puerto Rico Red and Blue, Houston WPC, St. Complete results can be found at the ‘RE- Not only do these two young players have great ford (MI) High Newport Masters, Old Pueblo, Utah Masters, Marks School, San Antonio WPC A and B, Tu- SULTS’ link on the Main Menu of this website. athletic ability but both have demonstrated School Men’s Vegas/Henderson Masters, KAOS, RSOS, and lane/Dallas, and UANL (Monterrey, Mexico). dedication and character. “It’s qualities like Water Polo team 3 U of A teams played lot of close games and With the win, Dallas WPC also clinched the these” states Coach Randy Walters, “that we like won its fifth good times. Some of the results were quite surprising, 2007 Connor Cup Series title for the second to recognize and honor.” Long Beach Shore Aquatics took home first place for the 18U girls for the straight state Murray Fall Tournament – The Murray Park proving that one cannot always predict winners. consecutive year. The final Connor Cup Series Coastal California Zone. championship Center in Murray, Utah hosted this tournament Loyola Red, Dallas, UANL and Loyola Blue each standings can be found at this site through the “I feel extremely lucky to work with such an out- on November September 21-22 for High School Age boys and won their two preliminary games and hence they Main Menu or by going to www.southwestwa- standing group of young athletes,” states Coach 10 in a thrilling girls teams. This year, 6 boys teams and 4 girls were first in their groups of three teams. They terpolo.com/connorcupseries.php?menu=28. Walters, “but even more lucky to be blessed with 12U Boys, 1st- Long Beach Shore, come-from-behind victory against a determined teams, all from Utah, competed. The Kearns prevailed again in the crossover games against Texas Age Group Water Polo Championships such supportive and encouraging parents who 2nd- Cerritos WP, 3rd- Ventura Ann Arbor Pioneer. Behind 0-2 midway through girls took first, followed by Murray and Hunter HOPS, San Antonio A, Houston WPC and were held in Austin on November 4th for 8th basically make our success possible.” County Premier Austin, respectively. None of these games were the third period, the Rockford Rams scored four finished third, and Skyline fourth. On the boys grade and under clubs. Several clubs from Dal- The “Orlando Gladiators” youth water polo won by fewer than three goals, so the winners 14U Boys, 1st- Ventura County straight goals by seniors Mike Mette, Taque side, Kearns defeated Hunter in the champion- las, San Antonio and Houston competed in this team practices at the YMCA Aquatic Center definitely seemed to be a legitimate final four. Premier, 2nd- Rosebowl, Patino, Craig Peterman, and Chase Plank. Pio- ship game, while Skyline beat Murray for third. first-ever event of its kind. Hopes are high to and consists of both boys and girls 14 & under. 3rd- Olympikan Reservner neer added a fourth goal before the period’s end, Park City and Steiner finished fifth and sixth, In the first semifinal game, Dallas beat UANL continue this effort annually and special thanks To find out more about the water polo team 14U Girls, 1st- Cola, 2nd- Commerce, narrowing the Ram’s advantage to 4-3 entering respectively. 11-8, but didn’t pull ahead for good until 3:52 of to Charles Logan and the University of Texas call 407-363-1911 or email rwaltersemail@ 3rd- Trojan WP the final quarter. Mette scored off a 5-meter -im the final quarter. Dallas didn’t help its cause by Aquatic Center for hosting. yahoo.com. mediate shot but Ann Arbor quickly answered Upcoming Events scoring one goal against itself. In the second one, with one of its own. Rockford was able to hang • Masters Festival – February 22-24 in Las Ve- on to the 5-4 lead through the game’s final gas/Henderson. Not that you need an excuse three minutes. to get away to Vegas, but here you go. 42 usawaterpolo.org 43 2008 CALENDAR OF EVENTS USA WATER POLO USAWP Annual Meeting Masters National Men’s National Championships January 25-27, 2008 Championship August 1-3, 2008 Ventura, CA June 6-8, 2008

Masters Festival Men’s 20 and Under National February 22-24, 2008 Championships Henderson/Las Vegas, NV July 11-13, 2008

P.A.C.E. Coaches Women’s 20 and Under Conference at Women’s National Championships 2008 Summer Olympics NCAA Championships July 22-24, 2008 August 8-26, 2008 May 9-11, 2008 Beijing, China Stanford, CA Women’s National Championships USA Water Polo’s National Men’s Youth and Junior July 25-27, 2008 Team Golf Tournament National Zone Championships September 12, 2008 May 24-27, 2008 Boy’s Junior Olympics July 26-29, 2008 Women’s Speedo Top 40 Women’s Youth and Junior Festival National Zone Championships October 24-26, 2008 May 24-27, 2008 Girl’s Junior Olympics July 31-August 3, 2008 Speedo Cup November 7-10, 2008

44 Schedule subject to change. USA Women’s National Water Polo Team MikasaSports.com

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