Team members include (not in order): Thea Neushul, Georgia Ransone,
Alex Szymczak, Lilliana Rose Akin, Ryann Neushul, Abbi Hill, Fiona Sonni, Grace Raisin, Jocelyn
Thorp, Chloe Pena, Olivia Kistler, Sarah Owens, Joie Ruiz, and Anna Hepp, and Piper Smith.
Santa Barbara Water Polo Club 14 Girls advanced to the championship game at the 2013 TYR Champions Cup at Indiana University this weekend.
The tournament?s top seed, and defending champion, Santa Barbara defeated United Water Polo, Greenwich, and Rosebowl to advance to the semi-finals. After losing to Socal in the seeding round, Santa Barbara defeated Diablo Water Polo Club 8-5 on Monday morning in the semi-final game. They then met perennial power Socal in the championship game losing 6-8. The team is coached by Cathy Neushul and Connor Levoff.
Ryann Neushul, in her fourth consecutive Champions Cup and Abbi Hill, MVP of the 2013 12U National Junior Olympics, led Santa Barbara in Indiana. Santa Barbara?s squad included cup veterans Thea Neushul, Georgia Ransone, and Alex Szymczak. Lilliana Rose Akin, Fiona Sonni, Grace Raisin, Jocelyn Thorp, Chloe Pena, Olivia Kistler, Sarah Owens, Joie Ruiz, and Anna Hepp completed a strong Santa Barbara squad. Piper Smith had an outstanding tournament in goal. Many team members competed on Santa Barbara?s 2013 12U Girls National Club and National Junior Olympic Championship teams. Jocelyn Thorp received the 2013 Maureen O?Toole Sportsmanship Award for her outstanding team play.
Santa Barbara?s U14 boys coached by Joe O?Brien and Peera Sukavivatanachai defeated Naperville and tied eventual silver medalist Socal Water Polo Club on Friday before losing to Greenwich and Vanguard in bracket play on Saturday, and San Diego Shores on Sunday to take 8th place at the 2013 TYR Champions Cup.
Members of this year?s squad are coming off strong spring and summer seasons where they took bronze at the National Club Championships and placed fourth at the 2013 National Junior Olympic Championships. Santa Barbara?s squad includes 2012 Cup veterans Evan Blix, Jacob Ehrhardt, Henry Hepp, and Jack Phreaner (goalie). Andrew McCombs, Peyton Collins, Parker Matthews, Jason Teng, Dario Bucy, Collin Bosse, Samuel Fuller, John Magoun, Robert Goligoski, Allan Green, and Thomas Corey completed SB?s 14U Boys squad. Henry Hepp received the 2013 Jody Campbell Sportsmanship Award for his outstanding team play.
Santa Barbara girls did us proud throughout the weekend playing hard and giving it their very best to come in 2nd place up against a tough team. We should be proud of our girls team and their coaches.