5 Locals Make National Water Polo Team

A Walnut Creek boy plus four future San Ramon Valley High students made the cut.

The 680 Water Polo Club has always been a national ranked program. Now they have national team players as well. Last month five athletes, in the 14 and under age division, were selected to the USA Water Polo’s Development National Team.

Memorial Day weekend concluded a four-month try-out and selection process. National team tryouts began in December 2011. Over 200 athletes competed across the nation and the first cut selection was in March. From there more than 70 athletes from across the nation came back together and the top 28 were picked to be part of the USA Development National Team.

These five athletes, four who attend middle school in the San Ramon Valley School District and one at Walnut Creek Intermediate, are among the nation’s top eighth-grade and under water polo athletes at their respective positions.

For some, making this team is considered a stepping-stone on the path to one day becoming a member of the USA Olympic Water Polo Team.

This fall, Claire Therien (San Ramon Valley Christian Academy), Melyssa Moore (Stone Valley) and Sammi Tovani (Gale Ranch) plan to attend San Ramon Valley High School, Jake Simpson (WC Intermediate) to De La Salle, and the following year Lexi Liebowitz (also Stone Valley) will attend SRVHS.

The 680 14U Coaches Todd Halvorson and Matt Mudelius are very proud of their players, and look forward to them representing 680 and USA in their ventures.

-Info provided by Todd Halvorson