As the fall age group and high school seasons come to a close, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and pass along some information about upcoming events.

AGE GROUP/JUNIOR POLO
The Fall was the most successful in years.  We had over 35 in the Age Group program, competed well on the weekends including winning the quals and competed at the Speedo Cup National Championships in Ann Arbor, MI, placing 6th.  Our Jr Polo program grew and had 13 girls playing ages 8-11 yr old.  This was our biggest Jr Polo group to date and plan to keep growing.

HIGH SCHOOL SEASON
Tomorrow (Sat, 11/22) afternoon, the CCS Championship games will be contested.  For the first time ever the games will be played here at Stanford, in the Avery Stadium Pool.  Because all eight teams represent schools within a few miles of campus, and because the vast majority of club players competing are members of the Stanford Water Polo Club, I expect great atmosphere.  It will be a fitting culmination of a terrific fall for all our high school athletes.  Come on by and cheer on all eight teams and celebrate the event here at Avery Aquatic Center, “the greatest water polo venue in the world.” (Greg McFadden, Australian Olympic Coach, after Blastoff to Beijing).

WINTER POLO
Be patient- you won’t have to wait much longer to be back in the pool with Stanford Water Polo Club.  On Monday, December 1, at 7:00pm, in Kissick Auditorium, we will hold our pre-winter polo meeting.  Workouts will begin the following evening!  Please scroll down the site for all the winter polo info.  The late fee applies to registrations not post marked by Monday, Nov 24th.

JUNIOR OLYMPICS 2009
As part of our dream of making Stanford and this area the center of the water polo universe, our club has hosted some of the most acclaimed water polo events ever held.  This year we have sought out the bid to host the 2009 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.  JO’s is the largest water polo event in the country and one of the biggest in the world, a wonderful showcase for our sport.  Last week we finalized many of the hosting details, allowing us to publicize the fact that we (the girls and boys program) will in fact be the hosts of the 2009 USAWP Junior Olympics. Many of the key games will be played here at Stanford, which will be the centerpiece of the competition.

It is our intention that these be the greatest JO’s ever, and we will need your support to fulfill that lofty goal.  We’ll have information for you at the club meeting on December 1st.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night for all the excitement of CCS Finals and again on December 1st for our club winter season meeting.