At National State Challenge In Pennsylvania, Host North Penn Comes Out on Top

At the National State Challenge (NSC), a four-day age group tournament held last weekend in the suburbs northwest of Philadelphia, host North Penn walked away with the biggest prize: first place in the 18U boy’s bracket. By going 4-1, Head Coach Jason Grubb’s squad, which in two weeks will travel to Dallas for regional Junior Olympic competition, is peaking at the right time.

“To get the guys together with good competition from all over the area and get some high-level games has been a big help,” said Grubb following his team’s final match. “We played a lot better here in this tournament than we played in league games last month.”

Grubb, who has directed North Penn polo for more than a decade, added: “Now they’re clicking as a team. We don‘t rely just on one or two players. It’s people cycling through trying to attack as a team offense and defense,” he added.

Taking the 18U women’s title was the Ridge Raptors from neighboring Pennridge. The Raptors, coached by Jacob Grant, finished undefeated (5-0-1), a 10-10 tie with Wilson the only blemish on their tournament ledger. They rebounded to take an 8-7 decision over Wilson later in the tournament and separate themselves as the top women’s team at the tournament.

In the highest scoring final in NSC history—with a total of 44 goals scored—Maverick Polo from Haverford held off Brooklyn, NY by a score of 23-21 in the 14U mixed competition finals. The two teams, which came into the title match with identical 3-0 records, battled back and forth over four high-octane quarters until the locals subdued the visitors with a late scoring spurt.

Kevin Van Such with his 18U Maverick squad. Photo: M. Randazzo

For Maverick Head Coach Kevin Van Such, whose 18U boys’ team will also make the trip to Texas, participation in the NSC was timely.

“Any opportunity we have to play we’re looking to compete and prepare for JOs in Dallas,” he said in an interview on the North Penn pool deck. “When you’re getting ready for a big tournament you want to play more tournaments leading up to it. That’s how you get your conditioning, fitness and work out the kinks with your team.”

That and an added—and compelling bonus— for their efforts each of the winning entries also earned a cash prize of $1,000.

Established in 2018 by American Water Polo (AWP) as a mid-summer option for regional programs to test themselves against competition from all over the East and Midwest, this year’s edition included teams from as far away as Chicago and New York and as near as Lansdale, home to Grubb’s North Penn team. With 18 teams representing 10 clubs in three brackets playing 44 matches, the NSC offered a prime opportunity for competition after a year of inconsistent play due to the impact of COVID-19.

Who’s in, who’s not?

Because USA Water Polo’s Northeast Zone (NEZ) did not hold a qualifier for the regional JOs—to take place in Dallas from July 29 – August 1 and named “Session 3” by USAWP—the past few months have been mostly devoid of regional tournament play.

There was a recent stretch where age group clubs from Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland faced off against each other in successive weekends: 16U teams at The St. James in Springfield, VA at the end of May and 16U / 18U squads at Wissahickon High School in Pennsylvania the first weekend in June. Play was spirited and welcome; due to pool closures many NEZ teams have struggled for organized competition. Two teams stood above the others: Greenwich, whose 16U and 18U squads won eight of nine matches at Wissahickon; and Capital, host for the 16U affair, which swept all four matches in Springfield.

For the rest of the East Coast, matches—and success—have been few and far between.

[In the East, American Water Polo Strikes a Blow for Age Group Play]

Not for Pennsylvania polo clubs. Since the fall their athletes been playing regularly. They were even able to hold an unofficial boys’ and girls’ high school championship last November swept by Cumberland Valley High School. After skipping 2020 due to the pandemic, AWP also ran its regular spring league, which was populated primarily by PA teams playing 14U mixed and 18U boys’ competition.

To the victors go the NSC spoils. Photo: M. Randazzo

Given this relative imbalance, it would seem that a good tournament two weeks before the adjusted Junior Olympics schedule—with all non-West Coast teams routed to North Texas—would be welcomed. JO competition in the Golden State will be limited to teams on the Pacific (much to the dismay of Greenwich, which tried unsuccessfully to make the cut).

Connecticut Premier, Navy and Y Pro, all of which are sending teams to Dallas, mostly passed this event despite good competition and excellent referees. Alex Stankevitch, who may be an Olympic referee in 2024, and Val Vasilchikov, a top American ref, were on hand at both sites.

Connecticut Premier did not field any teams, though they sent six girls from their 14U girls JO entry as well as Will Hannah from their 14U boys squad, to join with the Brooklyn coed team entry. Navy was hosting polo camps and passed on an opportunity to get their 18U boys more tournament play. Y Pro did send a team to the 14U coed bracket, but it was essentially the club’s 12U squad playing up. Nothing wrong with that, though when asked where was the club’s powerhouse 14U squad that includes head coach Eugene Prohkin’s son Max, a Y Pro parent responded: “They’re preparing for JOs.”

Which of course is exactly the point; a reasonably priced (4 – 5 games for $1,000) event in a pool within easy driving distance with many bells and whistles—including a nifty scoring website—should have drawn more interest from clubs outside of PA. The New Trier Sharks, located in a suburb north of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, sent three teams to Lansdale.

Their loss was the locals’ gain, And not just in terms of cash and hardware; for North Penn’s Grubb, it’s all about getting in the water and seeing what happens.

“We just want to play games. So if there’s a tournament we can get to, that’s where we go,” he said. “And who’s there is who’s there.”