Seven Fallbrook water polo players participate in ODP evaluation

Seven water polo players from Fallbrook participated in Olympic Development Program evaluation sessions.

Kai Maestas, Doug Pearce, Ian Ritchie, and Kayden Trafford were part of the 17-and-under Youth level team. The girls 15-and-under Cadet level team included Ava Dowden. The Development level is for 13 and under, and the boys team included Grant Fukunaga and Calvin Martin.

"I just think the athletes did a great job. They represented themselves, their families, and their program well," said Pacific Polo Coach Heather Calvin.

The seven Fallbrook players had been with the Fallbrook Associated Swim Team water polo program, but the Fallbrook Union High School District did not allow use of the Fallbrook High School pool so FAST has not had water polo practice or competition since the coronavirus shutdown. The players joined Pacific Polo.

"They were a great addition," Calvin said. "They did a great job in joining our program and contributing."

The two lower levels had camps at Coronado High School in late 2020 while the Youth players had a camp at Granite Hills High School in February 2021. All seven Fallbrook players were invited to the zone camps April 11 which were in Oxnard for the older group and in Orange County for the younger levels.

Normally the zone camps, which cover three regions in Southern California, involve tournaments. The 2021 zone camp format was an evaluation event rather than a tournament.

"We're just trying to do our best to stay within the guidelines and practices," Calvin said.

Calvin is the San Pasqual High School boys water polo and girls water polo coach. San Pasqual utilizes a Poway Unified School District pool for practices and games, and Pacific Polo has been practicing at Rancho Bernardo High School.

The players will be notified in late May or early June whether they will be invited to the national camp which, if coronavirus adjustments do not change, will be in late June. The three-day camp will determine which players are selected for the youth national team.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].