By The administration at Newport Harbor High School in California dispelled most of the mystery about the future of its famous water polo program by naming Dean Crow director of Newport Beach Water Polo Club, Brian Melstrom as successor to the legendary Bill Barnett as girls’ high school coach, and Marco
First Decline in California Prep Participation Since 2003
Boys water polo in California could not sustain the torrid 4.4% rate of growth it achieved in the 2012-13 school year, the highest among all boys’ prep sports. That figure reversed by 0.7% last season according to the California Interscholastic Federation’s 2014 Participation Census released on August 7th. There were 114
UPDATED: California High School Championships, National State Challenge This Weekend
Villa Park, CA is home again beginning Friday to the huge, prestigious, and under-hyped (in our opinion) 2014 California High School State Championships, a tournament that nearly accomplishes what the state’s interscholastic federation cannot: crowning whole-state boys’ and girls’ champions. Unlike nearly every other state in which water polo is a
Long Beach Wilson Taps Los Alamitos Again for New Coach
The boys’ program at Long Beach Wilson has a new coach. Jeff Nesmith is taking the same professional route as his predecessor, Tony Martinho, by leaving the neighboring Los Alamitos boys’ program, which he joined just over a year ago. The Grunion Gazette broke the story late Wednesday. Nesmith returns to his
Girls’ Winter Prep Season Playoffs in View
Crazy to think we’re heading into the last week of regular season! Time flies when you’re working hard! #finishstrong — THHS Water Polo (@trabucoH2Opolo) February 10, 2014 We were struck by this tweet the other day by Trabuco Hills’ program. In just five days the brackets will be announced for
Seven-time CIF Champ Martinho Departing Long Beach Wilson
Tony Martinho is stepping down from his position as head coach of the storied boys’ program at Long Beach Wilson according to GazettesSports.com. The coach, who won seven CIF championships during his 15 year run, may have some higher aspirations in the game but also wants to spend more time
Udovivic Makes His Mark on Young, Diverse Senior Team Roster
Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Dejan Udovicic made good on a few of his key initiatives in naming the roster for the Volvo Cup in Hungary next month. The squad is likely the youngest and most geographically diverse Senior team ever with athletes from Ohio, Florida, and Connecticut, whence
Colton Steps Down as Coach of Highly Successful Foothill Girls’ Program
In the heart of his fourth year as head coach at Santa Ana, California’s Foothill High School, Jeff Colton has abruptly resigned, according to OCVarsity.com. Foothill Principal Nick Stephany said the reasons for Colton’s resignation were “personal” without elaborating. Colton departs as the Knights are currently ranked fourth in the CIF
2013: The Year in Review
In many ways a transitionary year, 2013 presented some surprises to US water polo fans. Much in the interscholastic game remained the same or at least returned to the status quo, but not without some genuine and welcome turbulence along the way. And though the highest echelons of US water
Filling the NCAA Championship Field, Closing the Fall Boys’ Prep Season
Whittier won a scintillating overtime final against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Sunday to take the first SCIAC Championship since the conference earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament prior to this season. Thus the Poets travel to Stanford for a longshot play-in match on December 5th where they’ll likely take
