I agree with the Nick Johnson award. I want to give a shoutout to one of our athletes that received the Nick Johnson award Braylen Ward from the Pacific section. He is from the suburbs, part of Lamorinda Brentwood (a branch of Lamorinda Waterpolo that is in a more underprivileged community). He was chosen by a coach at a tournament to attend ODP by invite only (he did not attend a camp…he scored like 9 goals on the teams coach the second time we played them). He scored 10 goals at ODP championship (NorCal) had steals, assists and had the most positive attitude a kid could have. He called all his coaches to thank them. He always has a smile on his face, supported the other athletes and he has only been playing for a little over a year and is 13 years old.
What makes the best part of all this, is he did this during black history month, and was the only black athlete on the team.
Has anyone seen the Roster for the U17 (Youth/Cadet hybrid?) team heading to Medellin, Columbia for the PanAm Games starting on the 19th?
Havent seen anything on USAWP.
Team Canada appears to have several Americans and SoCal club affiliated Canadians on their team.
Someone needs to do an article about the resurgence of water polo at Valhalla HS in San Diego county where the two PSW Cadet travel girls attend. Waves of immigrants transformed El Cajon and Rancho San Diego from primarily white during the 90s Ormsby era into a majority Middle Eastern population. Very cool to see those families taking to polo, especially on the girls side.
Boys ODP championship will be in San Diego during the first weekend of March. Girls ODP Championship will be around Pleasanton/Dublin/Livermore (East Bay Area) two weeks later.
