Comings and Goings in Northeast Age Group Water Polo

With the season for East Coast club season concluding next week at the regional Junior Olympics in North Texas (or “Session 3,” as USA Water Polo has dubbed the tournament) it’s timely to recognize the accomplishments of select athletes from Connecticut, New York and—in particular—Brooklyn.

Sophie Purcell, who competes for the Brooklyn Water Polo Club and will play for the Connecticut Premier 14U girls entry in Dallas, became only the second girl from New York City to ever make a U.S. national water polo roster. Picked last month for the 2021 Women's Development National Team, Purcell will join Avary Mohrman of Capital Water Polo and Katherine McCullough of WCAC Maverick Water Polo at a yet to be determined training session.

“Sophie is amazing, diligent and dedicated,” said Purcell’s coach Miklos Gor-Nagy. “The view from the peak is worth the effort.”

Elektra Urbatch, the first-ever NYC girl picked for a national development team when she was so honored two years ago, was selected to the 2021 Women's Cadet National Team. The Brooklyn native joins Greenwich Aquatics teammate Lauren Steele and Pittsburgh Water Polo Club’s Rebeca Melanson from the Northeast Zone.

“We are so proud of her,” Greenwich Head Coach Ulmis Iordache said of Urbatch. “She has a lot of potential—and I know that this is just the beginning for her.”

Placing six athletes in the national team pipeline in a single year is a noteworthy accomplishment for the Zone; congratulations to all involved.

[On The Record with Ulmis Iordache, Greenwich Water Polo Coach Part 1]

In other news related to Brooklyn Water Polo, a 14U coed squad wearing the Hustle colors but consisting of multiple athletes from Connecticut Premier, Navy and New Haven Hydras programs, placed second in last weekend’s National State Challenge (NSC) at North Penn High School. The joint squad swept undefeated to the final against WCAC Maverick, also 3-0 in NSC play. A dogfight ensued, with the Maverick squad emerging victorious by a 23-21 score.

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

At the Futures Water Polo League Tournament last month, Greenwich medaled in four age groups, with a first place finish in the 14U boys bracket, and seconds in 14U girls and 16U boys. The club also captured six individual awards in this year’s tournament, held in Salt Lake City.

Olivia Hopper was named Most Valuable Player from the 14U girls. Connor Ohl was named MVP for the 14U boys. Chase Wilson, originally from New York City until his family relocated to Connecticut, was named MVP for the 16U boys group

“The level of passion for water polo for Chase is off the charts,” Iordache said. “He just likes to be in the water and play water polo day and night. On top of it he’s very good at it—very strong [and] very positive—he’s a beast in the center.”

Also capturing MVP honors is JP Ohl, Connor’s brother, in the 18U category. Entering his senior year at Brunswick Academy, the talented attacker has designs on East Coast water polo play, preferably at one of the Ivies.

JP Ohl with Greenwich Head Coach Ulmis Iordache. Photo: U. Iordache

“JP is a very talented athlete,” said Coach Iordache. “I hope he’s going to stay on the East Coast so I can still watch him play. Sometimes I get selfish like that.”

The Greenwich coach, who has known the Ohl brothers since they first started playing polo a decade ago, was effusive in his assessing his star player.

“He’s a solid leftie—one of the strongest in the country. I believe he has what it takes to play on the right side of the pool better than his competition. He protects the ball like no other,” Iordache said. “I truly believe one day he is going to have a chance to play for the USA National Team.”

Greenwich’s Ben Atkinson (14U) and Tessa Matson (16U) also earned Best Defenders at the Futures tournament.

“These individual awards mean a lot for our club,” said Iordache. “We are very proud of these young athletes and their success.”

As are we all.