Taking on 48 of the top water polo programs in the United States
in the National Junior Olympic tournament would be enough of a
thrill for any team. Playing at that level of competition in your
own backyard makes the experience even better. On Saturday, the
Morgan Hill Water Polo club will begin play in the 18-and-under
Junior Olympics event being held at locations around the Bay
Area.
Taking on 48 of the top water polo programs in the United States in the National Junior Olympic tournament would be enough of a thrill for any team. Playing at that level of competition in your own backyard makes the experience even better.
On Saturday, the Morgan Hill Water Polo club will begin play in the 18-and-under Junior Olympics event being held at locations around the Bay Area.
“It’s good experience,” MH coach Mack Haines said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to play against the top kids in the country. Any time you play teams that are better than you and play a different style, you improve.”
MH takes on Newport Harbor of Southern California at 8:50am at Saratoga High in its opener. The local club is also set to play Ft. Lauderdale of Florida at 3:50 pm at the same location.
The event features 16 three-team brackets that will engage in pool play to start, then advance to elimination play.
MH’s team, which features mostly players from Live Oak High and Hollister-San Benito High, qualified for the Junior Olympic competition at the Pacific Zone tourney in June.
Since then, the squad has been preparing for the big event by traveling to scrimmage teams in Southern California.
Last weekend, MH took third in a Santa Barbara tourney. Before that, the local team played water polo programs in San Clemente and San Diego (which featured players from highly regarded Bishop High).
Though the team is competing in the 18-and-under tourney, the local players’ ages range from 15-17.
One of the perks of playing in the Junior Olympics close to home is the opportunity to help host one of the teams from outside the area.
The MH squad is helping provide lodging for a team from Ann Arbor, Mi. this week, according to Haines. (He knows the Michigan coach.)
Following is the MH roster:
Shea Coleman
Bryson Bailey
Kyle Fast
Cameron Peachey
Justin Short
Sam Cretcher
Hollister-San Benito
Joel Smith
David Smith
Cliff Gere
Matthew Thorpe
Blaine Curtice
Rory Bloch
James Schafer
Patrick Powers
Michael Acevedo
