Genai Kerr

Second Annual Fisher Cup To Bring Out Best In Men’s Club Water Polo

12 of the elite men’s water polo clubs in the United States, boasting a variety of Olympians and National Team athletes, will converge upon Berkeley, California this May 21-23 for the second annual Fisher Cup. The University of California-Berkeley’s Spieker Aquatics Complex plays host to the tourney that welcomes the likes of the New York Athletic Club, Newport Water Polo Foundation, and Northern California’s own, the Olympic Club.

“The Fisher Cup is proving to be one of the great men’s invitational tournaments in the nation,” said Christopher Ramsey, CEO of USA Water Polo. “This year will have special meaning since we will hold it at Cal, where Don Fisher competed and where, like USA Water Polo, his support and influence will always be felt.”

Competing alongside the New York Athletic Club, Newport Water Polo Foundation, and the Olympic Club are Bruin Water Polo, Lamorinda, Long Beach, Santa Barbara Water Polo Foundation, Sharks Water Polo Club, Stanford, Trojan, Uni Pacific, and UC-San Diego.

This event will be the only opportunity for fans to see members of the Men’s National Team in action in Northern California in 2010, as they will be scattered among the club teams in competition. Olympians Ryan Bailey, Jesse Smith, JW Krumpholz, Layne Beaubien, Adam Wright, Jeff Powers, and Merrill Moses are scheduled to compete along with National Team veterans such as Brian Alexander and Thomas Hopkins.

“The Fisher Cup is the last club tournament prior to us beginning our full time training. The players competing will all be in great shape and the tournament will showcase some of the best water polo in the United States,” said USA Men’s National Team Head Coach Terry Schroeder.

The Fisher Cup is named in honor of the late Donald G. Fisher, founder and chairman emeritus of Gap Inc., and an outstanding water polo player and swimmer at the University of California. Fisher had long been a business visionary, a community leader and philanthropist. He served on the board of trustees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and as a Director of the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco and a Governor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Fisher was director of EdVoice, KIPP Charter Public Schools, and Teach for America. He was also a member of the California State Board of Education.

The recipient of a Presidential appointment to the Advisory Council for U.S. Trade Representatives, Fisher was named to the Presidio Trust board of directors by President Clinton in 1997 and President Bush in 2001. He had served on Princeton University’s Board of Trustees for eight years. Other honors include the California Arts Council Governor’s Award for Individual Patrons of the Arts and selection to the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame and American Academy of Achievement. Mr. Fisher passed away in September of 2009.

For schedule information or to purchase tickets, click here.

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USA Men Topple Canada 10-3 In FINA World Cup Qualifier

Los Alamitos, CA – May 3 – The USA Men’s Senior National took a large step in qualifying for the upcoming FINA World Cup with a 10-3 win over Canada earlier today at the USA Water Polo National Training Center. Behind four goals from center Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/Newport WPF) Team USA built an early lead and never looked back in en route to a seven goal victory. The win also avenges a loss to Canada earlier this year at the Volvo Cup in Hungary.

The scoring started right away for the United States when Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA/Newport WPF) ripped the net just 39 seconds into the match for a 1-0 advantage. Bailey then drew a penalty out of two meters and converted the opportunity for a 2-0 lead. Canada would eventually get on the board to draw within 2-1 and then tie the game at 2-2 but that was short-lived as Michael Sharf (Orinda, CA/Olympic Club) found the cage for a 3-2 tally going into the second period.

In the second stanza the United States continued to build, Jeff Tyrell (Granite Bay, CA/NYAC) connected on a power play opportunity for a 4-2 game. After that Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA/NYAC) rocketed in a shot from outside for a 5-2 lead in favor of the United States at intermission.

Coming out of the gates in the second half not much had changed as Bailey converted another penalty shot for a 6-2 lead. Sharf came calling again some four minutes later with a tally for a 7-2 lead and that was the score as play moved to the fourth. Some nifty passing opened the final frame as Tyrell rolled to the cage to catch a lofted pass for an easy put-away and a 9-2 lead. Canada tacked on a late goal but it came all too late. Team USA answered with final salvo on another score by the three-time Olympian, Bailey. 10-3 was the final as the United States won going away.

Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/NYAC) did the job in net going all four quarters in the cage posting nine saves. Team USA went 1/6 on player advantages and 2/2 on penalty shots while Canada was an equal 1/6 on player advantages and did not attempt a penalty shot.

Team USA is back in action on Thursday evening when they play host to Venezuela at 7:30pm. In other action the Men’s Senior National “B” Team upended Brazil 10-4.

Scoring:

USA 10 (3, 2, 3, 2) R. Bailey 4, M. Sharf 2, J. Tyrell 2, J. Powers 1, J. Smith 1
CAN 3 (2, 0, 1, 0) C. Kudaba 1, J. Boyd 1, N. Constantin-Bicari 1

Saves – USA – M. Moses 9

6×5 – USA 1/6 – CAN 1/6
Penalties – USA 2/2 – CAN 0/0

USA Men’s National Team
FINA World Cup Qualifier – May 3-4
FINA World League Prelim – May 6-8
USA Water Polo National Training Center – Los Alamitos, CA
FINA World Cup Qualifier – Free Admission

May 3 – USA vs Canada 12pm
May 4 – Brazil vs Canada 10am

FINA World League Prelims – Free Admission
May 5 – Brazil vs Venezuela 7:30pm
May 6 – Brazil vs Venezuela 11am
May 6 – USA vs Venezuela 7:30pm
May 7 – USA vs Brazil 6:30pm
May 8 – USA vs Venezuela 10am
May 8 – USA vs Brazil 3:30pm

Exhibitions – Free Admission
May 1 – USA “B” vs Brazil USA “B” Wins 10-7
May 3 – USA “B” vs Brazil 1:30pm
May 6 – USA “B” vs Brazil 6pm
May 7 – USA “B” vs Venezuela 5pm
May 8 – USA “B” vs Venezuela 5pm

I had the privilege of speaking at the CIF girls water polo banquet last night at the Knotts Berry Farm Hotel. I was inspired by the young women that worked so hard to help their teams reach the common goal. I wish I could play in another CIF Championship. There is so much water polo talent out there. The USA should win the next 10 Olympics.

It was a great day to play water polo. The sun was out, Common Sense was playing live reggae, and we won the game.

San Juan Capistrano May 2, 2010.

OCWPC 2, 3, 3, 4 total 12
Brasil 2, 1, 1, 4 total 8

OCWPC: Hewko 2, Janov 3, Sarusi, Sbutega 2, Bakic, Bielskis 2, Skaljac
Brasil: Nolasco, Franco, Crivella 2, Almeida, Coelho 2, Moniz

The National Water Polo league is hosting the Brazilian National Water Polo Team in an exhibition game at JSerra on Sunday 2pm. Common Sense will be performing all afternoon. Updates will be provided on Monday.