PUHI — Life in the YMCA pool got a bit more exciting on Saturday. There have been a bunch of athletes who have been practicing as a water polo team, and on Saturday, they hosted their first water polo match
PUHI — Life in the YMCA pool got a bit more exciting on Saturday.
There have been a bunch of athletes who have been practicing as a water polo team, and on Saturday, they hosted their first water polo match with a visiting team from O‘ahu.
“These people can swim,” said Tom Tannery, director of the YMCA of Kaua‘i, as he watched the action unfold on one half of the pool.
A lifeguard at the pool said there were games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with the Pua Malu team from O‘ahu.
“We’ve got a bunch of people that come from different levels of involvement with water polo, and most of them come together three times a week to practice,” Billy Brown, coach of Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics, said. “Some of the players have never played water polo before. But we have some former players and even one who used to referee the game.”
Brown is also listed on the player roster of Kaua‘i Polo, although he took to the sidelines as a referee for the first match that was played with four eight-minute quarters.
Tannery said the water polo movement started when the YMCA received some contributions from private individuals to help purchase equipment needed for water polo.
Dr. Heather Hopkins and Randall Jaurequi were at the front of the contributions, one of the spectators told Jack Leonard of the Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy who stopped by because one of the Academy’s clients was involved.
The contributors were responsible for getting the necessary equipment to host a game including the goals, lines and caps, Brown said.
Kaua‘i Polo, playing together for the first time as a team, started out tentatively against the visiting O‘ahu team that lost little time showing the Kaua‘i players how the game is played.
Despite a gallant showing from KP goalkeeper Bret Deblin (most goalkeepers wear No. 1), Pua Malu piled up a 6-1 showing over its host in the opening quarter, the Kaua‘i goal getting whoops and cheers from spectators lining the pool.
That debut goal from Kaua‘i served as a catalyst for the new team as KP kept pace with O‘ahu in the second quarter, ending the period with three goals to O‘ahu’s four goals for a 10-4 halftime reading.
Another game was scheduled for Sunday before Pua Malu left for home.
“You just never know what you’re going to find when you look in the bushes,” Brown said.
Kaua‘i Polo is now looking for more opponents to play. The team is practicing, the equipment is there; they need some opponents so the games can continue. Listed on the Kaua‘i Polo roster are Brown, Deblin, Adam Hussy, Hopkins, Kevin Millet, Makali‘i Pratt, Anya Littlefield, Ron Bush, Randy Jaurequi, Jamie Debonet, Micah Kradin, Miles Greenberg, Sinead Simms, Dennis Sdraeux, Nick Burraca and Bruch Chapin.
