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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Ventura, CA, United States, 08/16/2008 - The Ventura Water Polo Club was founded in 2008, and in its first year advanced to the U.S. National Junior Olympics in Costa Mesa, placing 14thout of 48 teams across the U.S.
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Hosted at Irvine Kahuna July 25-29, 2008 Matt Cherrie, club director and coach for the Ventura Water Polo Club says members have all played together at Ventura High School, and prior to this most played with the Gold Coast Water Polo team.
“This Junior Olympic team was coached by Adam Payan over the winter and early spring and over the last two months by my brother, Dan Cherrie,” he said. Adam got the team through the qualification event in May and we had to finish in the top eight in our zone to qualify for the U.S. Junior Olympics.”
The U.S. Water Polo competition is divided into 13 zones, with five of those zones in California. Ventura belongs with the Coastal California zone, stretching from Long Beach, to the East San Gabriel Valley, through Pasadena, Los Angeles, South Bay, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. “It’s a huge zone to compete in with a lot of talent,” Cherrie said. “We qualified seventh in the zone and at Junior Olympics we moved up to fourth in the zone standings.”
While most Junior Olympic teams pull the best players from several high school teams in their region to create an all-star team, the Ventura Water Polo Club team is comprised of only Ventura High School athletes. However, the Ventura organization is considering tryouts next year and inviting players from around the area to join.
“The amazing thing about Ventura at this time is that we have enough talent right here at home to compete with the best,” Cherrie said. “A fine example is team member Clint Howard (center offense) who was named to the Junior Olympics All-American Honorable Mention Team.”
At the U.S. Junior Olympics, Cherrie said only four or five teams are strictly high school teams. “We were very competitive with the top 10 teams,” Cherrie said. “In two games we were one defensive stop away from winning, and finishing, in the top 10. We played young and are learning so much and we want to win every game.”
“I think one of the most important lessons I want our players to take past the game is that our culture is one that rewards competitors,” Cherrie said. “It is important to always look for ways to better yourself, not to rest on your past accomplishments, talents, or entitlements or whatever...every day you take off, get sick, or go half-speed, someone else is passing you. Making excuses for yourself really limits your ability to grow and improve.”
“The U.S. Junior Olympics tournament was a great experience for many reasons,” Cherrie said. “We played 11 more summer games together against very good teams and we also learned that we can compete with the very best. There are techniques and strategies we need to work on as a team, but this experience was a great confidence-builder.”
Cherrie said the team enjoys spending time together out of the pool, too. “At school, they all eat together and it is really nice to see. They are like family and we have a very supportive group of parents who are constantly offering their time and talents to help these boys succeed.”
The Ventura Water Polo Club is one of the top 15 clubs in the nation at the age 18 and under level. Nine of its 15 players could have played in the 16 and under category, since its average team age is less than 16 and a half.
“We have a bright future since everyone who played this year is eligible to play in the same category and on the same team next year,” Cherrie said. “We are only going to get better because the guys are young and love the game.”
The Ventura High School team has a schedule packed with nearly 30 games this fall beginning with its first home game against Loyola of Los Angeles on September 19, followed three tournaments and Channel League play.
Cherrie also said a girls water polo club team is scheduled to begin this fall and encourages all high school students from Ventura County to attend tryouts.
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