{"id":344665,"date":"2019-01-01T13:02:57","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T20:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=344665"},"modified":"2019-01-23T15:09:17","modified_gmt":"2019-01-23T22:09:17","slug":"2018-a-pivotal-year-for-u-s-mens-water-polo-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/2018-a-pivotal-year-for-u-s-mens-water-polo-team\/","title":{"rendered":"2018: A Pivotal Year for U.S. Men\u2019s Water Polo Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Looking back at the past year of competition for the U.S. Senior Men\u2019s Water Polo Team, it\u2019s hard not to be disappointed despite an 18-12 record. A tough loss to the Japanese in June cast a pall on Team USA which has yet to fully dissipate. If the Americans are to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at the Pan American Games next July, Head Coach <strong>Dejan Udovicic<\/strong> must direct his young squad past missed opportunities in 2018.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A promising start\u2026<\/strong><\/h3><p>The Yanks opened play last April halfway around the world in Australia and New Zealand, splitting a pair of friendlies in Sydney before striking gold at the FINA Intercontinental Cup in Auckland. Key in the run-up to the Cup title, their first since 2016, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-men-exact-measure-of-revenge-beat-japan-in-fina-intercontinental-cup-match\/\">a tough 12-10 win <\/a>over Japan. This was the first time the two teams had met since a 15-7 Japanese upset in group play at the 2017 FINA World Water Polo Championships. Keying the win were a pair of Alexes\u2014<strong>Bowen<\/strong> and <strong>Obert<\/strong>\u2014who each chipped in three goals, and <strong>Alex Wolf<\/strong>, who made nine saves in second half duty. <\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"314744\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-mens-water-polo-team-opens-2018-fina-world-league-play-today\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1030,650\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"baron-matt-karatsu-jun18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;baron-matt-karatsu-jun18&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;McQuin Baron\u2014key to U.S. success in polo? Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-1024x646.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18.jpg\" alt=\"baron-matt-karatsu-jun18\" class=\"wp-image-314744\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-533x336.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-280x177.jpg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-1024x646.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/baron-matt-karatsu-jun18-500x316.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><figcaption>McQuin Baron\u2014key to U.S. success in polo? Photo Courtesy: USC Athletics<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>A 9-6 win over the Sharks in the FINA final augured good things to come in 2018; at their next international tournament in June, the possibilities seemed endless for the Americans after three wins to open the 2018 FINA World League Super Final play in Budapest. <\/p><p>In their opener, the U.S. gritted out a taught 8-6 win over Spain, knocked off Kazakhstan 11-4 then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mens-water-polo-beats-world-champion-croatia\/\">upset<\/a> reigning world champions Croatia 11-10, which left Udovicic\u2019s team at the top of the bracket going into the crossover round. Success has many fathers, but the key to this run was a superb defensive effort, backed by goalie <strong>McQuin Baron<\/strong>, and explosive offense by Bowen (five goals against Croatia).<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2026 Dashed\nby a loss to Japan<\/strong><\/h3><p>U.S. fortunes at the Super League Final were unexpectedly changed by a winless Japanese squad (0-3). Despite four scores by <strong>Ben Hallock<\/strong>, in an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ghosts-of-futures-past-us-mens-water-polo-falls-to-japan-in-fina-world-league-quarterfinals\/\"> 11-10 loss<\/a> Team USA were burned by counter-attacks, exclusions and a motion offense that Head Coach <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-the-record-with-yoji-omoto-head-coach-for-the-japanese-mens-water-polo-team\/\">Yoji Omoto\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> team has perfected\u2014at least against the Americans. The loss dumped Team USA into the fifth to eight bracket; they then lost to Croatia and finished seventh\u2014a tremendous disappointment after the fast start they enjoyed early in the tournament.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" data-attachment-id=\"315100\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mens-water-polo-beats-world-champion-croatia\/bowen-fina-jun18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/bowen-fina-jun18-e1536101993347.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"900,599\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"bowen-fina-jun18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;1\/6\/19&lt;br \/&gt;\n9\/4\/18&lt;br \/&gt;\n8\/2\/18&lt;br \/&gt;\n08-08-2015: Waterpolo: Australie v USA: Kazan Waterpolo match between men of Australia and USA during the 16th FINA World Championships 2015 in Kazan&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Alex Bowen\u2014an offensive force for Team USA. Photo Courtesy: AWFoto.nlGertjan Kooij&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/bowen-fina-jun18-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/bowen-fina-jun18-1024x681.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/bowen-fina-jun18-1024x681.jpeg\" alt=\"08-08-2015: Waterpolo: Australie v USA: Kazan Waterpolo match between men of Australia and USA during the 16th FINA World Championships 2015 in Kazan\" class=\"wp-image-315100\"\/><figcaption>Alex Bowen\u2014an offensive force for Team USA. Photo Courtesy: Gertjan Kooij<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>At the Four National Tournament in Duisburg, Germany later that June, the Yanks surprised a young Hungarian squad, lost to the Germans, then wiped out China 15-4. Traveling back to Budapest for the Benu Cup, the U.S. dropped matches against Australia and host Hungary before a dominant 12-1 win over Romania. Baron was particularly sharp, stopping 12 Hungarian shots, while <strong>Max Irving<\/strong> hit for eight goals over the three matches.<\/p><p>A trip back to California allowed the Yanks to recharge\u2014in the form of two friendlies, both wins, with a Chinese men\u2019s team that has spent the year training in Europe. Then it was on to Berlin in early September for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/meet\/fina-mens-world-water-polo-cup-2018\">2018 FINA World Cup<\/a> and an entirely different challenge: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-approves-new-water-polo-rules\/\">new rules<\/a> being test out by FINA prior to the 2019 season.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tough times in Berlin<\/strong><\/h3><p>Like other squads, Team USA had 11 players dressed and two in the stands, on call for action. Key to the U.S. roster were four college athletes\u2014Hallock, <strong>Johnny Hooper<\/strong>,<strong> Jack Turner<\/strong> and <strong>Dylan Woodhead<\/strong>\u2014who made the trip to Europe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/serving-two-masters-college-athletes-represent-usa-at-fina-mens-water-polo-world-cup\/\">while their college squads were playing<\/a> non-conference matches. The World Cup contained many surprises; referees and coaches grappling with new rules and shorter rosters as well as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/germans-win-group-a-at-fina-mens-water-polo-world-cup-2018-hope-to-book-flight-for-2019-fina-worlds-tonight-against-south-africa\/\">strong run<\/a> by host Germany. <\/p><p>Perhaps the biggest surprise was that neither Croatia nor Serbia advanced to the final, the first time this had happened in a major competition since the 2008 Olympics. However, the Americans didn&#8217;t medal either; they lost to Croatia, Serbia, Hungary and Croatia again on their way to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/despite-rules-revolution-in-water-polo-one-constant-remains-hungary-wins\/\">6th place finish<\/a>. <\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"329907\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/serving-two-masters-college-athletes-represent-usa-at-fina-mens-water-polo-world-cup\/dejan-alex-sep18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1500,1121\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 6s&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1536863892&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.15&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.02&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"dejan-alex-sep18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;dejan-alex-sep18&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Alex Rodriguez, Dejan Udovicic in Berlin. Photo Courtesy: Matthias Beckonert &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-1024x765.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18.jpg\" alt=\"dejan-alex-sep18\" class=\"wp-image-329907\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-533x398.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-268x200.jpg 268w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/dejan-alex-sep18-500x374.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption>Alex Rodriguez, Dejan Udovicic in Berlin. Photo Courtesy: Matthias Beckonert <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Besides an inspired effort by American college athletes, a bright spot of the tournament was an 11-10 win over Japan keyed by Bowen\u2019s five goals and 15 saves by Baron.<\/p><p>On the last date of the year the Americans finished out the 2018 campaign with a 10-5 loss to the Italian National Team, who traveled to Southern California for a three-game set with Team USA. The first two matches were all that a U.S. fan might have asked for. Hannes Daube\u2014who is one of the world&#8217;s best young polo talents\u2014racked up three goals as Italy <a href=\"https:\/\/usawaterpolo.org\/news\/2018\/12\/29\/mens-senior-national-team-usa-men-edged-by-italy-13-11-at-foothill-high-school.aspx\">won 13-11<\/a> in the first match, then hit on four scores in a <a href=\"https:\/\/usawaterpolo.org\/news\/2018\/12\/29\/mens-senior-national-team-usa-men-bounce-back-with-12-11-win-over-italy-at-chapman-university.aspx\">12-11 win <\/a>by the home team.<\/p><p><strong>Drew Holland<\/strong> and Wolf\u2014subbing for the absent McQuin Baron\u2014stood tall in the U.S. cage, which Udovicic got strong contributions from Bowen, Irving, <strong>Marko Vavic<\/strong> and a host of first-time national team selections, headlined by <strong>Jake Ehrhardt<\/strong>, <strong>Duncan Lynde<\/strong> and <strong>Sawyer Rhodes<\/strong>.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"216523\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/five-questions-with-cal-water-polos-luca-cupido\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2142,1557\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Luca Cupido. Photo Courtesy: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-1024x744.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-1024x744.jpg\" alt=\"luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics\" class=\"wp-image-216523\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-1024x744.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-533x387.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/luca-cupido-mens-water-polo-2016-rio-olympics-275x200.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Luca Cupido. Photo Courtesy: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Entering 2019, many question marks persist. Will the young core of the 2016 Olympic squad\u2014Baron, Bowen, <strong>Luca Cupido<\/strong>, Hallock, Obert and <strong>Alex Roelse<\/strong>\u2014remain intact? How seamlessly will talents Daube, Hooper, Irving and Vavic be melded with this core? And, with the disappearance of <strong>Thomas Dunstan<\/strong>, who will be Udovicic\u2019s primary lefty? His Serbian squads were anchored by <strong>Filip Filipovic<\/strong>\u2014for years has not only the top left-hander in international play, but regularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraf.rs\/english\/2550431-filip-filipovic-chosen-for-the-best-water-polo-player-in-the-world\">voted<\/a> the world\u2019s best.<\/p><p>With 2018 now in the books, it\u2019s on to 2019. We\u2019ll see if the U.S. has the talent and experience to get past Brazil and Canada to qualify for its ninth-straight Olympic games\u2014in Tokyo, where the Japanese will be waiting.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking back at the past year of competition for the U.S. Senior Men\u2019s Water Polo Team, it\u2019s hard not to be disappointed despite an 18-12 record. A tough loss to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4875,"featured_media":303834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[73159,27250,47736,47734,27241,27245,70964,66895,48651,71295,62272,42084,62606,62274,42639,67318,27247,68778,67501],"class_list":["post-344665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alec-obert","tag-alex-bowen","tag-alex-roelse","tag-ben-hallock","tag-dejan-udovicic","tag-drew-holland","tag-duncan-lynde","tag-dylan-woodhead","tag-jack-turner","tag-jake-ehrhardt","tag-johnny-hooper","tag-luca-cupido","tag-marko-vavic","tag-max-irving","tag-mcquin-baron","tag-sawyer-rhodes","tag-thomas-dunstan","tag-u-s-senior-mens-water-polo-team","tag-yoji-omoto"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>2018: A Pivotal Year for U.S. Men\u2019s Water Polo Team<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If the\u00a0U.S. Men\u2019s Water Polo team is to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, Dejan Udovicic must direct his young squad past missed opportunities in 2018.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/2018-a-pivotal-year-for-u-s-mens-water-polo-team\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2018: A Pivotal Year for U.S. Men\u2019s Water Polo Team\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If the\u00a0U.S. Men\u2019s Water Polo team is to qualify for the 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