National Junior Olympics the worlds largest water polo tournament. This year RTWPC sent six teams ranging from 10u-16u Boys & Girls. Of those teams, our 14u Boys Blue team earned a Silver medal. This marks the second year in a row RTWPC has medaled in the 14u Boys division. In 2018, RTWPC's inaugural season, our 14u Boys and Coach Gavin Nolan traveled to San Jose, CA and returned with the clubs first JO Gold medal.
2019 proved to be yet another successful venturer the 14u Boys program. Coach Nesbit took over the 14u team in April 2019 and in a short time medaled in four of six Summer tournaments. The 2019 JO tournament was a very competitive one and the boys rose to the challenge.
The boys met some early resistance against very strong OCWPC (Orange County Water Polo Club). Tsunami went down four goals with one quarter too play. In a very aggressive comeback, the boys went on an unchallenged 5-0 run, and defeated OCWPC 11-10 to advance. OCWPC would get a second chance though after winning a "play in" game, which qualified them for the semi final game...against Tsunami. The second meeting offered a very back and forth game. With the game tied at 13, RTWPC called a time out to make one last chance at cracking the game open, or taking it to a shootout. With 2 seconds to play, first year 14u athlete Aidan Gillooly took a half court direct shot (shot off a foul)in which the OCWPC goalie could not handle. The goal sent Tsunami to their second JO championship in their two year lifespan.
We are very proud of the hard fight our boys and coaches put up. Unfortunatley facing a very strong South Coast A team filled with ODP athletes, our boys fell just short. The boys nonetheless proved that Tsunami is growing to be a substantial force for the years to come. Congrats boys and Coach Nesbit.
