A Rebirth for New York City Water Polo with a Big Assist from the Garden State

IDLEWILD, NJ. On an overcast Sunday morning in suburban New Jersey a new season of New York City water polo was launched. The Brooklyn Hustle 18U age group squad— combined with athletes from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey—took to the water at the Idlewild Pool in Morris Park for a scrimmage against The Pingry School, hailing from nearby Basking Ridge.

It was the Brooklyn club’s first local competition since February 2020.

Immediately following the schoolboy tilt were matches involving the Brooklyn Wets, a masters club out of New York City’s most populous borough. Male and female players from all over the metropolitan New York City area descended on Morris Plains in suburban New Jersey for the town’s outdoor pool.

That polo matches are more conveniently scheduled miles from Brooklyn—New York City’s biggest borough—reflects how difficult finding pool time is in the city, a continuing problem due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After an 18-month layoff, next month the Hustle will return to practice in Long Island University’s Steinberg Center in Downtown Brooklyn

The Wets, led by Granger Abuhoff and his wife Nico Jasbon, are still in search of regular pool time after years of playing in various New York City Parks Department recreation centers. But Abuhoff, now also head coach for Pingry’s high school program, did not stand still during the pandemic. He located the Idlewild Pool and for the past few months has held polo events in its spring-fed waters.

“We're thrilled to partner with Idlewild, and we look forward to doing more next year,” Abuhoff said about the private club which has become vital to maintaining his program’s connection to the sport.

Brooklyn Hustle and St. Benedicts players connect in New Jersey. Photo: M. Randazzo

An ideal polo facility Idlewood is not. The standards for Olympic competition are two meters (more than six feet) deep with a width of 20 meters and a length of up to 30 meters. Idlewood was barely 20 meters long, approximately the same wide and less than five feet deep. Despite these limitations, relatively speaking it was nirvana to the 100 or so polo devotees who trekked by car or train from across the Hudson.

And, for age group athletes who have seen playing opportunities—and social connections of all kinds—curtailed due to the coronavirus health emergency, a match of any sort was welcome. Noteworthy was the cooperation between the Hustle and the Gray Bees. One of their players, Elvis Vintimilla, had competed previously for Brooklyn, but his five St. Benedict’s teammates were unfamiliar with players they were thrust together with for first time.

Which made the chemistry of Brooklyn and St. Benedict’s athletes that much more impressive.

“They got along well both in and out of the pool,” said Bela Rex-Kiss, the Hustle coach. “It was great to see this group together, everyone eager to play.”

For the boys from Brooklyn, some of whom had played sparingly over the past 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a chance to regroup before age group competition the fall. And, to work with St. Benedict’s, a high school program that in September will return to competition against schools from Connecticut, New York and their home state.

“The players from Brooklyn Hustle and St. Benedict's had a really great attitude, and their coaches Bela and Mihai [Radu] helped to make this scrimmage happen,” said Abuhoff, whose assistants included his wife and Jeff Jenkins.

Any setting is idyllic for polo, no matter where it’s located. Photo: M. Randazzo

Acknowledging that the final score of 11-9 in favor of Brooklyn was not indicative of anything, Rex-Kiss praised the action in the water, especially by his team’s invited guests.

“Some players did very well—and I was impressed by all the St. Benedict’s kids,” he said. “They appear to have great potential overall. It would be great to have them join us.”

Pingry appeared understandably rusty due to an extended layoff; there has been no high school water polo in the state since the 2019 season. Scoring came in streaks, with both teams taking advantage of the shallow pool conditions to score repeatedly from up close.

That so many got to play—polo continued until the late afternoon—was a win for all concerned. Stating that their hearts remain in Brooklyn, Abuhoff acknowledged that for the Wets—and all polo in New York City—home is wherever a pool is located.

“My wife and I moved to New Jersey this summer, which we love, but we'd be just as happy to run events and leagues in the city,” he said.