Fruitful trip west for NWC polo team
The Northwest Chicago water polo club completed a successful first trip to the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics held in Orange County, Calif., last week.
NWC, a club comprised of high school boys players from within District 211 borders, competed in the Bronze Division of the 18-and-under tournament.
Led by coaches Tim Daniel (Conant High School) and Joe Grzybek (Palatine High School), NWC managed a top-10 finish while battling teams from California, Texas, Oregion, Ohio and Missouri. Several of the clubs in attendance had former Olympic Team members on their coaching staffs.
Area players contributing to the NWC success included Conant’s Jake Lawson, Matt Engebretson, Kyle Bradberry, Connor Schmitz and Alex Young; Palatine’s Kristian Kalev, Alex Brons and Wally Kleinfeldt, Schaumburg’s James Birriel and St. Viator’s Eric Sutton and Robert Batton.
Daniel said one key was getting enough local sponsorship to make the trip feasible. Among the key individuals and businesses contributing were Phillip S. Tarallo, Wa-Pa-Ghetti’s Pizza, Ragano Heating & A/C, J.A.N.A.T. LLC, Jal Appraising, Ltd., Koenig & Strey Real Estate, Pic n Paw Resale, Quantum Foods, Civiltech, The Swim Team Store, Rich Kujak, Acierno Dental, Andrews Products and Greco Law Offices.