United Water Polo Club Sends 5 To National Championships

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — The United Water Polo Club announced five players were selected to represent at this year's 2019 National Championships, held in Riverside, a spokesperson said. After the recent tryouts for the Olympic Development Program, athletes were selected for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Championships.

"To be selected to play at ODP Champs is an achievement our players should be very proud off. It recognizes the hard work they put in day in and day out," Coach Sean Nollan told Patch. "All five of them have the ability and work ethic to play at the next level."

The United Water Polo Club was proud to announce the following players as selected into that program:

• Andrew Lear, Southern Pacific Zone "Cadet" - United Water Polo Club 16U Boys, and plays for Coach Shelby Barkley. Lear attends Los Alamitos High School, where he also plays Water Polo. He is listed as an Attacker for the tournament.

• Olivia Slavens - Southern Pacific Zone Cadet - United Water Polo Club 14U Girls, who plays in the United Water Polo Club for Coach Sean Nollan. Slavens attends McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamtios. Olivia is listed as a center and is from Huntington Beach.

• Joey Niz - Southern Pacific Zone Development - United Water Polo Club 14U Girls, who plays for Coach Sean Nollan. Niz attends Oak Middle School in Los Alamitos. She is a goalkeeper, and lives in Rossmoor.

• Isabel Validika - Southern Pacific Zone Development - United Water Polo Club 14U girls, plays on the United Water Polo Club team for Coach Nollan. She Attends Westerly School in Long Beach, and lives in Long Beach. She is an Attacker.

• Madelyn Nollan - Southern Pacific Zone Development - United Water Polo Club 14U girls for Coach Nollan. Attends McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos. Mady is a Utility player and lives in Long Beach.

"The club focuses on introducing and developing kids in the sport of Water Polo," club director Sean Nollan told Patch.