What Is The National Junior Olympics
The USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics is the largest age group water polo tournament in the world. Athletes and teams come from across the country to compete on the national stage. The Junior Olympics consists of three divisions: Championship, Classic, & Invitational. Teams are seeded in one of the three divisions based on their finish in their zone qualifying tournament. Teams compete over a 4-day period within their respective age category.
USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics
2021 Session 1 – July 17 – 20
Boys 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
2021 Session 2 – July 22 – 25
Girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U & Mixed 10U, 12U
A players age division is determined by the athletes age on August 1st of the year in which the tournament is being held.
Note: Due to COVID-19, initial allocations for the 2021 JOs include the Championship division only. We anticipate that as more pools become available, and the State of California begins to open up, allocations for the Classic & Invitational divisions will be added. However, it should be noted that this is not guaranteed and if the Classic & Invitational divisions are not added to the tournament, the qualifying tournament will be highly competitive and ultimately there is a chance our teams may not qualify for JOs.
How teams qualify Junior Olympic Qualifying
Where are the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics held?
USA Water Polo Membership
Age Verification
Affiliation with Monterey Bay United Water Polo
Cost/Fees
Sessions & Age Groups
- Southwest Zone JO Qualifier tournament June 10-12 in Texas. All age groups, boys and girls. Location TBD
- Session 1- July 16-19 in Northern California for Boys 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
- Session 2- July 21-24 in Northern California for Girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U & Mixed 10U, 12U
- Session 3 July 28-31 in Dallas for Girls & Boys 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U, Mixed 10U, 12U, and Girls 10U
Vanguard Wins 12s Finishes As 14s Runner
Vanguard Aquatics, based in Huntington Beach, won the 12U platinum division title. Vanguard beat SB 805 7-5 in the final Sunday and Camryn Spruill of Vanguard, who scored three goals in the final, earned MVP honors.
Taytum Banda also scored three goals for Vanguard in the title match, with Lucy Forrester adding a goal.
The team was coached by Kelly Doherty.
In the 14U platinum division final, it was SB 805 that earned a 12-11 win over Vanguard. Elizabeth Nicoloff led Vanguard with four goals, and Isabella Jurgensen added three goals.
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What Is Junior Olympics
The USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships is the largest age group water polo tournament in the Nation. Athletes and teams come from across the country to compete on the national stage. The Junior Olympics Tournament consists of two divisions, the Championship Division and the Classic Division. Teams compete over a 4-day period within their respective age category.
It is the culmination of a summer of practice and preparation for our club. Competing in this event is one of the best ways to take an athlete’s water polo skills to the next level by competing against the top players from around the country.
Tournament Website:
In order to play in the Junior Olympic Championships, teams must first qualify through a regional qualifying tournament for their age group. Santa Cruz Water Polo Club is in the Pacific zone, one of the largest zones, so some age groups’ qualifiers are held over two weekends. Locations and schedules are posted closer to the qualifying dates.
The JO Qualifying Tournaments are mandatory for all athletes in these age groups selected for and wishing to attend JO’s and will be held at various high schools/aquatic centers in the Bay area.
2022 JO Qualification Tournament Dates:
12u & 14u – June 10th-12th
Where are Junior Olympics Championships?
Junior Olympics alternates between Northern California & Southern California .
When are Junior Olympics Championships?
Boys 12u, 14u, 16u, 18u
Water Polo Taking Over Bay Area This Weekend With Usa/italy Series Start Of Jos
Northern California will be the epicenter of water polo in the United States this weekend. Stock photo viaRafael/Domeyko Photography
Courtesy: USA Water Polo
Irvine, CA July 13 Northern California will be the epicenter of water polo in the United States this weekend as the USA Mens National Team hosts Italy in two exhibition matches alongside the start of the Junior Olympics, the worlds largest water polo tournament. Team USA and Italy resume their three-game series on Friday night at Stanford Universitys Avery Aquatic Center at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt, followed by the series finale on Saturday at Santa Clara University at 10:00pm et/7:00pm pt. Both matches are SOLD OUT but will air LIVE on the ESPNU and stream on the ESPN app. LIVE stats for both matches will be available via 6-8 Sports at 68Scores.com. Team USA defeated Italy 13-12 in the series opener this past Tuesday in Irvine, check out a match recap and highlights by .
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Newport 18u Girls Strike Gold At Usa Water Polo Junior Olympics
Newport girls water polo earned a remarkable double on Sunday at Stanford University.
Five months after winning the CIF Southern Section Open Division title with Newport Harbor High, largely the same group of girls struck gold again in the club arena at the highest level.
Newport Beach Water Polo Club edged SET Black, 9-7, for the 18-and-under platinum title at Session Two of the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.
Newport Harbors class of 2022 Morgan Netherton, Taylor Smith, Lily Gess, Alex Love, Paige Naegle, Isabel Del Villar and Makaelee Hansberger bucked tradition. Instead of going off to all-star club teams the summer before college, they stayed with their high school teammates.
The result was another unprecedented title for coach Ross Sinclairs team.
It was the perfect ending for my class and my group with Newport, said Netherton, who had three goals and two assists in the final, in a phone interview Monday. I dont think it would have felt right to play for a different club, or to participate in JOs not playing for Newport. It was very fulfilling to have one last tournament with my teammates, and on top of that, to win it all. It was amazing.
Smith scored two goals in the final for Newport Beach, while Avery Montiel, Chiara Amoroso, Caitlin Stayt and Harper Price had one goal each. Incoming senior goalkeeper Anna Reed made seven saves and was selected tournament MVP.
Your top 3 finishers in the 18u Platinum Division:
USA Water Polo
Del Mar Water Polo Club Wins Two National Championship Titles At Usa Water Polo Junior Olympics
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Del Mar Water Polo Clubs 12U Boys Blue and 14U Boys Blue teams recently earned the title of national champions as both teams brought home gold medals from USA Water Polos annual Junior Olympics tournament, held July 16-19 in San Jose, Calif.
Hundreds of water polo teams from across the country battled for the championship in their specific age groups, having earned the right to compete through exhaustive regional qualifying tournaments. USA Water Polos Junior Olympics tournament is held every year in July and marks the culmination of a years worth of hard work for competitive teams in the youth water polo community. For many athletes and teams, this includes year-round training nearly every day of the week and additional countless hours spent on mental and physical preparation outside of the pool. These are the second and third Platinum Division national championship titles earned by Del Mar Water Polo Club, the first of which was achieved at last years 2021 Junior Olympics by the 12U Boys A team.
Del Mars 12U Boys Blue team made it through the grueling gauntlet of the Junior Olympics unscathed, winning all seven of its tournament games and defeating a highly-talented Patriot Aquatics team in the championship match.
Axlines unrehearsed responses illustrate a team and community-oriented focus, shaped through the character of the players and their families, and spearheaded by Del Mar Water Polo Clubs experienced coaching staff.
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Canyon Lake Youths Headed To Usa Junior Olympics For Water Polo Tourney
Canyon Lake 11-year-olds Charlotte Cleary and Rhys Abraham are headed to San Jose next week to participate in the USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships. Both Charlotte and Rhys will travel to the Bay Area for the huge water polo tournament as members of the Elsinore Aquatics Clubs 12u coed team.
The USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships is the largest age-group water polo tournament in the world, according to USA Water Polo. Athletes and teams come from across the country to compete over a four-day period, July 21-24, within their respective age category.
This is the first team from the Elsinore Aquatics Club to participate in the prestigious Junior Olympics tournament. The team qualified by taking third place in the qualifications tournament last month.
These kids have worked hard and put everything into this season all while forming some of the closest friendships, Charlottes mother Jennifer Cleary said. We are super proud of this group and couldnt be more excited for them.
Charlotte is about to begin 6th Grade at Bear River Charter School. She has lived in Canyon Lake her entire life and has been playing water polo since she was seven years old. When she isnt in the pool, Charlotte enjoys Musical Theater and attends Canyon Lake Bible Club on Sunday mornings.
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