Jr. Olympics on tap for area water polo players

Local athletes who are part of Stockton's Big Valley Water Polo Academy will be traveling to the USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships starting Saturday in Irvine.

The Junior Olympics is the largest age group water polo tournament in the nation with two divisions of 48 teams in each age group. Athletes and teams come from across the country to compete over four days on the national stage.

Part of the 14 and under boys team is Lodi’s Bennet Vernon. On the boys’ 16 under green squad is Carter Knutson, while Lodi’s Tristan Gorham, Zachary Myrah and Benton Peterson join teammates in Braden Acosta and Juan Valdez, both of Woodbridge, on the 16 under blue team and Acampo’s Matthew McCay.

For the girls, Lodi’s Morgan Vice, Katelyn Knutson, Abby Moffatt and Oliva Kleinert are part of the 12 under team. Maggie Bria is the lone Lodi rep on the 14 under team. For the 16 under squad, Lodi’s Hannah Ortiz is one of 13 players on the team. Hailey Williams and Taylor Kleinert, both of Lodi, are on the 18 under team that is coached by Lodi resident Nate Varosh.

Big Valley has been making waves all summer long after qualifying seven teams for the Junior Olympics. Both the boys and girls teams took home gold medals during the inaugural 17 and under North American Cup water polo tournament earlier this week, which was hosted by four of Canada’s premier Provincial Programs: Team Alberta, Team Saskatchewan, Team Ontario and Team British Columbia and featured boys and girls teams from around California.

The 16U boys also recently captured gold at the Golden State Invitational Water Polo Tournament and is currently ranked 16th in the nation. The 18U Girls are ranked 27th while the 16U Girls are ranked 34th in the nation. Big Valley sees their recent successes as stepping stones on their journey and they expect to bring some hardware back to Stockton with a strong showing at the national Junior Olympics.