With the prospect of spending three days in Philly in a few weeks as the grand prize, the Illinois Water Polo High School Summer League will hold its inaugural championship tournaments this weekend at Fenwick High School.
Well, that's half right. Only the boys champion will advance to the AWP State Series Challenge, which will be held in Philadelphia July 25-27. Sorry, girls, maybe next year.
League director Richard Marsh told The Heat Index on Wednesday that finding a national event for the IWP girls champion is a priority of the league.
"We couldn't get the commitment this year," Marsh said. "I know that's going to be a big push for next year, certainly from our side and also from the American Water Polo side, too."
Marsh said he expects that the 18 and under league, which had 18 boys teams and 17 girls teams this season, will expand for 2009. "At least half a dozen" clubs have expressed interest to Marsh about adding a second team.
This season, the IWP had four divisions and each team played the other divisional teams once. Marsh said he would like to increase number of games in the future, if the national events can be moved later in the summer.
Naperville-based West Suburban Water Polo Club has its boys team in the championship tournament after winning the Far West Division with a 3-0 record. West Suburban coaches commented on the strong play of Neuqua Valley junior Michael Rooney (driver), Naperville North juniors Austin Katz (center) and Lucas Sasveld (goalie) and Naperville Central junior Mark Menis (attacker).
West Suburban will play Northwest (2-1) in the first round on Saturday at 9 a.m. The championship match is at 7 p.m.
If West Suburban does win the tournament, the league will pay the entry fee for the AWP event. The travel expenses are up to the club.
"It's my hope as we move forward that we will be able to find some other individual donors that will be able to step up and maybe help out our league champion on a financial basis," Marsh said.
West Suburban's girls team also advanced to the championship tourney, which will be held Sunday at Fenwick. York senior Therese O'Toole (attacker), Neuqua junior Danielle Cirrintano (goalie) and North freshman Audrey Chien helped West Suburban finish second in the Far West. That means an opening-round match with Northern Illinois Polo Club at 9 a.m.
Waubonsie's boys team finished third in the Far West with a 1-2 record and will play Cardinal at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the consolation tournament being held at Elk Grove High School.
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