Youth water polo clubs are descending upon Orange County, California for the world’s biggest tournament, USA Water Polo’s annual Junior Olympics, which begins on Saturday. The athletes aged 10 and under from Poway Valley Water Polo, east of San Diego, are among them and their enthusiasm earned them a visit from local TV station KUSI.
Poway has been awarded the top seed for the Pacific Southwest Region but sits as the 15th seed overall. In their first game they will be taking on SoCal Black who is the number ten seed in the tournament.
“I’m really getting my hopes up that we can win,” says 8 year old Drake Bonaguidi.
More than anything the kids are just hoping to learn even more about the sport that they love.
“I started playing because my dad played in high school,” says impact player Max Fino.
Many of these kids hope to continue their water polo career from here. A few hope to play throughout high school and dream of playing in the Olympics. To win the tournament will be a challenge but it is something the kids can’t wait for.
“I would cry (if we won),” says Fino.
Source: Poway Valley Water Polo U10
