by Anthony Mazur
posted 02/22/16   


     Lewisville has had the privilege of hosting the Women’s FINA (Fédération internationale de natation/International Swimming Federation) Intercontinental Water Polo Tournament this past week at the Lewisville ISD’s state-of-the-art Westside Aquatic Center. National teams from China, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Australia, and America played an 18 game tournament, resulting in Australia and America playing head-to-head in the final match.
     Australia could not keep up in the first quarter, with Team USA scoring three goals on Australia. The Australians started to come back in the remaining quarters. The Americans were able to hold a one-point lead throughout the rest of the game however. At the half, America led 4-3. At the end of the third quarter they were ahead 5-4, and finished 6-5. 
     Australian head coach Greg McFadden explained the team hasn’t been together much due to their national league season.
     “From the end of November until now, we’ve only been together for a week here and there,” McFadden said. “We haven't really fully centralized yet because of the local competition.”
     McFadden will work with the other team in the coming weeks after the last bit of their local competition. Nevertheless, McFadden accepted the loss and views it as an important step to the Olympics this summer.
     “It’s great,” he said. “It’s very important in our preparation for the Olympics.”
     The American team had been heavily preparing for the games, sometimes practicing from six to eight hours a day.
     “I think people would be blown away by how much we put into trying to be in the best level of fitness possible,” USA head coach Adam Krikorian said. 
     Krikorian says the motivation behind the effort comes from multiple sources.
     “Some things that initially come to mind are love for our country,” Krikorian said. “Being given the opportunity to represent America is a special treat.”
     Krikorian explained that the passion for the sport and improving makes the team want to fight for each other and work hard. 
     “To feel passionate about something and continue to try and improve at something, it doesn’t really matter what at times, I just love the process of improvement and bettering yourself,” he said.
     The hard work was needed, as US-Australia games are usually close, despite the 8-5 victory Team USA had over Australia last game.
     “It was just like any old USA-Australia game,” he said. “Usually our games are decided by one goal.I think [the last game] was a bit of an aberration. This is more what it’s like.”
     At the end, Krikorian regards the Australian team respectfully.
“The competition is high, the intensity is high, but the respect is at that same level,” he said. 
     Team USA will be heading back to Los Angeles and will be working for Olympic qualifiers in March.
     “Hopefully we get a chance to play in the Olympic games,” Krikorian said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”
     The Olympics will be held August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More information can be found on their website.

More photos can be found here.