By Editor’s Note: The end is near for the 2021 water polo season. TWp is looking back on the five biggest story lines of the year. Today we focus on the various best of year selections by the ACWPC, FINA, Swimming World, The Olympic Club and TotalWaterPolo (you know, the other
Top Five Stories from 2021: No 5—Water Polo is Back!
Editor’s Note: The end is near! 2021 is almost in the books, so TWp is looking back on the five biggest story lines of the year. Today we focus on the joy of playing; after a rough start due to COVID-19 bans and outbreaks, the NCAA men played an abbreviated
On The Record with Tony Karaman: “It Was Tough But Water Polo Survived”
Despite being plagued by uncertainty, this year’s men’s varsity water polo season—which ended a week ago with Cal capturing a record 15th NCAA title thanks to a 13-12 win over USC in the 2021 title match—represented a much-needed return to normalcy. The uncertainty was due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,
By Pod: Three-time Olympic Champion Coach Adam Krikorian
He would never ‘fess up to it but after leading the USA women to their third consecutive gold medal (perhaps a fourth in Paris?) he can fairly be called “legendary.” He’s Adam Krikorian, one of the world’s best at his craft if the collection of hardware tells us anything. The
Talent-laden USC Begins ’21 Campaign MPSF, NCAA Favorites
Despite any protestations to the contrary, there’s no real parity in men’s college water polo. Over a half-century of NCAA championship play, only three programs outside the “Big Four” have won a national championship: UC Irvine (three times) Pepperdine (once) and UC Santa Barbara (once). Do the math: that’s less
Five Questions with Rick Nordell, Biola University Men’s Water Polo Coach
In May 2020, Dr. Bethany Miller, Bible Institute of Los Angles (Biola) University’s Senior Director of Athletics, introduced Rick Nordell as its first head men’s water polo coach. With his appointment, Nordell joined Sarah Orozco, former UCLA women’s water polo standout and Biola’s women’s coach, as part of the Eagles’
Sixth is Better Than Tenth… But No Gold in Tokyo for US Men’s Water Polo
Prior to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, in what became a notable moment for a sport not particularly known for being notable, U.S. men’s water polo coach Dejan Udovicic made a bold prediction to ESPN: “I am guaranteeing it,” Udovicic said. “Gold medal in 2020.” He was half right. For
Pod: NCAA Champion, UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright
In his 12 years as Head Coach of the UCLA Men’s team Adam Wright has won four NCAA Championships, including one just a few weeks ago. In 2017 he became head coach of the Bruins women and was in Bloomington, Indiana earlier this week with that second-ranked team to take
Pod: Indiana University Head Coach Taylor Dodson
Taylor Dodson took over as Head Coach of the Indiana Hoosiers in 2019 and led them to a 13-5 record and a top 20 ranking in her first wild season. She returns for her second pandemic-affected season and currently ranks 15th in the CWPA coaches’ poll with a very challenging
Munatones on Water Polo in California: Lockdown is Absolutely Crushing
Editors Note: Since being published yesterday, the following interview has undergone further edits—the most important of which is that reputable professionals Steven Munatones knows have assured him that a properly chlorinated pool environment is safe for aquatic activity. As California endures yet another spike in COVID-19 cases, causing Governor Gavin
