LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., June 24. THE U.S. men\u2019s water polo team departed California today for Europe to participate in a series of World Championship warm-ups. <\/p>\n
The men will tackle the 2003 FINA World League in Budapest, Hungary from June 27-29 before moving on to train with the Italian National Team in Spilimbergo (Italy) from June 30-July 7. <\/p>\n
Team USA will compete in the Jobo Curtini Tournament in Croatia from July 8-10 before finally heading off to the 10th FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, which runs from July 13-27.<\/p>\n
This year will mark the sophomore season of the FINA World League, which debuted in 2002. The league was designed to give international water polo a yearly stage where the world\u2019s best teams could compete in a more entertaining environment. Television contracts, live halftime shows, and fan contests were a few of the benchmarks established in the league\u2019s first year. <\/p>\n
Russia took the top spot at the FINA World League Super Final in Greece last season, beating out Spain for the $100,000 in prize money.* Hungary took third in the league, while host Greece finished fourth.<\/p>\n
Team USA didn\u2019t make it out of its regular season bracket, posting a 4-8 record by season\u2019s end against Croatia, Hungary, and eventual champion Russia. The U.S. hit its high mark in one of its last home games of the season, topping reigning Olympic gold medalist Hungary, 14-11, before a crowd of over 2,500 spectators in Northern California. <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s league will take on more of a tournament look, due to the busy international water polo schedule this summer. The 2003 season will be split between two venues a half a world apart this weekend (June 27-29), with four teams playing in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and four in Budapest.<\/p>\n
Team USA will participate in the latter and more talented of the two pools (Group B) against World Cup silver medal winner and Olympic champ Hungary, World Championship bronze medallist and World Cup bronze medallist Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia), and a much-improved Australia squad.<\/p>\n
Across the Atlantic Ocean, perennial power Italy, Greece, Netherlands, and host Brazil comprise the other field of four (Group A). <\/p>\n
The first three teams from Group A will qualify for the Super Final. Given that Team USA will host this year\u2019s Super Final from August 22-24 in New York (N.Y.), only the top two teams from Group B will advance. The league\u2019s top six teams will then churn the water at New York\u2019s Eisenhower Park Aquatics Complex for a shot at the six-figure first-place prize.<\/p>\n
U.S. head coach Ratko Rudic named the roster of 15 eligible players for the 2003 FINA World League last week. Thirteen of those players will also represent the U.S. at the World Championships and Pan American Games this summer. <\/p>\n
The U.S. team will train with Italy in Spilimbergo from June 20-July 7 and compete in the Jobo Curtini Tournament in Croatia July 8-10 before moving on to the World Championships.<\/p>\n
* Russia and Hungary were both penalized 50% of their league winnings after FINA had determined that they fixed the outcome of their semifinal meeting at the 2002 FINA World League Super Final. <\/p>\n
– Team USA roster and schedule-<\/p>\n
Team USA Roster for FINA World League, Training in Italy, and Jobo Curtini Tournament
\nName Position
\n Ht.
\n Wt.
\n Hometown Education
\n Club<\/p>\n
Omar Amr
\n Driver
\n 6-0
\n 195
\n Fullerton, CA
\n UC Irvine \u201897
\n Newport Water Polo Foundation<\/p>\n
Tony Azevedo ^
\n Driver
\n 6-0
\n 195
\n Long Beach, CA
\n Stanford \u201804
\n Long Beach Shore<\/p>\n
Ryan Bailey ^
\n 2M Offense
\n 6-5
\n 245
\n Long Beach, CA
\n UC Irvine \u201804
\n JUG Dubrovnik (Croatia)\/NWPF<\/p>\n
Layne Beaubien
\n 2M Defense
\n 6-5
\n 205
\n Coronado, CA
\n Stanford \u201899
\n Olympic Club<\/p>\n
Brandon Brooks
\n Goalkeeper
\n 6-6
\n 235
\n Honolulu, HI
\n UCLA \u201805
\n Los Angeles Water Polo<\/p>\n
Larry Felix
\n Driver\/LH
\n 6-3
\n 190
\n Anaheim, CA
\n Pepperdine \u201896
\n Los Angeles Water Polo<\/p>\n
Peter Hudnut
\n 2M Offense
\n 6-5
\n 220
\n Encino, CA
\n Stanford \u201803
\n Los Angeles Water Polo<\/p>\n
Genai Kerr
\n Goalkeeper
\n 6-8
\n 220
\n Imperial Beach, CA
\n UC Irvine \u201800
\n Newport Water Polo Foundation<\/p>\n
Dan Klatt
\n Driver\/2MD
\n 6-5
\n 200
\n Fresno, CA
\n UC Irvine \u201801
\n Newport Water Polo Foundation<\/p>\n
Brett Ormsby
\n Driver
\n 6-3
\n 190
\n El Cajon, CA
\n UCLA \u201805
\n Bruin Water Polo<\/p>\n
Jeff Powers
\n 2MO\/2MD
\n 6-6
\n 225
\n San Luis Obispo, CA
\n UC Irvine \u201803
\n Newport Water Polo Foundation<\/p>\n
Chris Segesman
\n Driver\/2MD
\n 6-5
\n 210
\n Santa Barbara, CA
\n CSU Long Beach \u201802
\n Los Angeles Water Polo<\/p>\n
Jesse Smith
\n Driver\/2MD
\n 6-4
\n 240
\n Coronado, CA
\n Pepperdine \u201805
\n Malibu Water Polo<\/p>\n
Wolf Wigo * # ^
\n Driver
\n 6-3
\n 195
\n New York, NY
\n Stanford \u201896
\n Ethnikos Piraeus (Greece)\/NYAC<\/p>\n
Adam Wright
\n Driver
\n 6-3
\n 200
\n Seal Beach, CA
\n UCLA \u201801
\n New York Athletic Club<\/p>\n
Head Coach Ratko Rudic
\n Assistant Coach
\n Dan Leyson
\n Assistant Coach
\n Ricardo Azevedo
\n Video \/ Scout Coach
\n Bill Barnett (Hungary, Spain)
\n Manager
\n Barbara Kalbus
\n Referee
\n Aaron Chaney
\n Trainer
\n Dan Bailey (Hungary, Italy, Croatia)
\n Trainer
\n Ken Schroeder (Spain)
\n Team Doctor
\n Dr. Robert Jones (Spain)<\/p>\n
Group A \u2013 Sao Paolo, Brazil Group B \u2013 Budapest, Hungary
\nBrazil Australia
\nGreece Hungary
\nItaly Team USA
\nNetherlands Serbia and Montenegro <\/p>\n
Group A Schedule \u2013 Sao Paolo, Brazil
\nDate Team vs Team
\nJune 27, 2003 Greece vs Brazil
\n Italy vs Netherlands
\nJune 28, 2003 Greece vs Netherlands
\n Italy vs Brazil
\nJune 29, 2003 Brazil vs Netherlands
\n Greece vs Italy <\/p>\n
Group B Schedule \u2013 Budapest, Hungary
\nDate Team vs Team
\nJune 27, 2003 Serbia and Montenegro vs Hungary
\n Australia vs Team USA
\nJune 28, 2003 Serbia and Montenegro vs Team USA
\n Australia vs Hungary
\nJune 29, 2003 Hungary vs Team USA
\n Serbia and Montenegro vs Australia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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