The Claude Moore Aquatics Club water polo team just completed its first year with a competitive 12 and under boys team finish at the Junior Olympics water polo tournament. The CMAC Tigersharks finished in 11th place out of 36 teams at the end of the grueling four day tournament.

“I’ve been coaching water polo in our area for seven years," head coach Nick Grzeda said. "This is the first year we’ve seen a Virginia team make it to the Junior Olympics, and I am thrilled for these particular players, and looking forward to the momentum we are creating for the team and all our future players.”

Pictured from left: P.T. Welter, Leesburg; Jake Haines, Ashburn; Coach Tim Porter, Ashburn. (Photo Courtesy of Kimberly Welter)

The 12 and under Tigershark team was coached by Tim Porter of Ashburn, the CMAC assistant head coach, and a former All American water polo player. They won their first two games on day one, and then lost a hard fought game the next day to Commerce, a California team that finished fourth in the tournament. “We played Commerce tough and kept the game very close," Porter said. "We showed up to play and to let California know that there is competitive water polo on the East Coast!”

At the end of the four day tournament, CMAC had won five games and lost three, for an 11th place overall finish among the 36 teams that competed. “And you have to realize, that of the 36 teams represented at the tournament, there were dozens more who stayed home because they didn’t qualify to play," Porter said. "Junior Olympics is the national championship for youth water polo.”

The next highest finish, for a 12 and under team outside California, was Greenwich Water Polo, who finished 20th. The Tigersharks easily defeated Greenwich 21-10 at the JOs qualifier for the North East Zone held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in June.

The local members of the Tigersharks team were Jake Haines, Will Horvath and P.T. Welter. Other players participating on the Tigershark team were from various water polo clubs on the East Coast. Grzeda is looking forward to a completely homegrown team in the future. “Some of our players have been playing for less than a year, and were very competitive. Every player on our team scored goals," he said. "Recruiting is difficult, but once we get them in the pool they don’t leave.”

Tryouts for the CMAC Tigersharks water polo team are being held at Claude Moore Recreation Center during August. For more information, please visit the website at www.cmaquatics.org.