Jaguars Compete at 2016 USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics
Nine members of the men’s Jaguar Water Polo team competed in the USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics last month. This competition is the largest age group water polo tournament in the United States. Athletes and teams from around the country converge on the national stage, competing over a four-day period within their respective age category.
The competing Jaguar athletes were Andrew Pope, Rylan Russell, Max Wade, Owen Martin, Brett Skinner, Alex Rodriguez, Sam Skinner, Rylan Lantz and Erik McCune as well as our very own, Coach Troy Goddard.
Max Wade and Rylan Lantz are rising Sophomores that started for the Jaguars their Freshman year and competed on the 16U team, which finished 11th in the Gold division. Andrew Pope, Owen Martin, Sam Skinner and Erik McCune (goalie) are rising Juniors this year and also competed on the 16U team.
Alex Rodriguez, a rising Senior, played for both the 16U and 18U teams. Brett Skinner, a rising Junior, competed on the 18U team along with rising Senior Rylan Russell. Over the summer, these athletes competed in the highly competitive 18U division and placed 24th in the Platinum division. This is the highest an 18U men’s team from Texas has placed.
Thunder Water Polo, a North Texas team with members primarily from Southlake, Flower Mound and Denton, also had future Jaguars competing in the 14U and 12U divisions. The 14U team placed 22nd in the Platinum division, and 12U placed 19th in Gold.
Visit USAWaterPolo.org for complete details on the National Junior Olympics.