This summer, four New Canaan boys will be going to the Junior Olympics for Water Polo.
L-R: Ronan Hepler, John O’Connor, Kolby Lee, Griffin Knowles. Contributed
The boys—John O’Connor (10), Kolby Lee (10), Ronan Helper (10), and Griffin Knowles (11)—are members of the CT Premier Water Polo Club, which practices at Chelsea Piers.
They competed in a qualifying tournament in Ambler, Pa. for a berth on the CT Premier USA 12&U water polo team headed to southern California July 19 to 22. The boys were introduced to the sport at the New Canaan Field Club, where they are members and play in the summer club league. After last summer’s hard-fought undefeated effort, the boys are gearing up for another competitive season this summer. Water polo is perhaps a non-traditional sport for this part of the nation, so the boys travel to New Haven, Brooklyn, Greenwich and Pennsylvania to play other teams. They will be competing against teams from all over the United States at the games in California.
Lily Farzaneh. Contributed
On the girls side, the growing CT Premier 14u Girls team, with the addition of a few girls from New Haven Hydras and Navy to round out the roster, also competed in the Junior Olympics Qualifier in Ambler, Pa. They had a great experience developing their skills and tactics against some of the best teams in our region, including Greenwich Aquatics and Brooklyn Hustle. The girls composite team, including New Canaan seventh-grader Lily Farzaneh, will compete in their Junior Olympic tournament in Dallas from July 31 to Aug. 3.
The community looks forward to cheering on John, Kolby, Ronan, Griffin, Lily, and their teammates as they dive into the Junior Olympic pool. No matter the outcome, their journey is a testament to what dedication, teamwork, and an inclusive spirit can achieve—even when a team is composed of just twelve passionate young athletes.
—Submitted by Jessica Knowles
A wildly fun sport and great program! Join us this fall!
https://www.ctpremierwpc.com/