Official Club Name: South Coast Aquatics
On The Web: www.southcoastaquatics.com
Director of Club: Matt Warshaw
Club Coaches: Matt Warshaw, Stevie Blanchard, Cody Pletcher, John Jacobson, Ricky Mulcahey, Mikey Blanchard, Wes Lewis, Matt Masters, and Cole Olmon.
Age Groups and Genders: 10U, 12UB, 12UG, 14UB, 14UG, 16UB & 16UG
How Did They Start?: The club was started in 1989 (Club #35) by current California Lutheran coach Craig Rond to introduce the sport to age group athletes, there was no formidable water polo club in the Thousand Oaks, CA area at the time.
Where Is Home Base?: The club calls the pools at Thousand Oaks High School, Oaks Christian High School, Westlake High School, Newbury Park High School & California Lutheran University home.
Where Do They Play/Practice?: The club is spread out at the above five pools.
Who Do They Play?: All of the novice teams play in the local Ventura County Age Group League, which is a US League. They also have an Elite program which travels to Winterfest, Mikasa Cup, San Diego County Cup, John Hale, California State Games, Foothill Classic, Junior Olympic Qualifying & Junior Olympics. In '02, '04, '06 & '08 the club competed in the Hawaiian Invitational as well. South Coast is hoping to send teams to the Florida International Tournament next Febuary & enter the Cal Cup Tournament as well.
Five Years Down The Road: As Matt Warshaw of the club puts it they want to “continue to stick to our grass roots and put the energy, effort and time into the 10U/12U kids and teaching them to perfect the fundamentals. We know that if that is where fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship are perfected and that will lead to positive results down the road.”
Coming Full Circle: One of the club coaches, Stevie Blanchard is a South Coast alum, and played on some of the first 12U & 14U teams the club ever had. She then competed at Thousand Oaks High School where she was an All-League standout. Warshaw who is also an assistant coach at California Lutheran recruited Stevie to play at the college where she was the captain of the 2007 Women's Collegiate III National Championship Team. She has since then graduated and earned her elementary school teaching credential. She is an elementary school teacher in the area & continues to coach the 12U, 14U & 16U Girls. Warshaw added “She has proven to be a great role model to the girls in our program, both on and off the pool deck. Being a South Coast alum she has the philosophy and vision at heart & is one of the premier up and coming coaches in this area.”
As for other alumni of the program, South Coast has a pretty extensive list
available here. Most recently Peter Kurzeka, now a member of USC has also spent time with the Men’s Senior National Team.
How To Get Involved?: The club offers free week trials throughout the year and Warshaw says that “Any day is a good day to start! The year is set up in four, eleven week seasons, but we'll always pro rate the fee and get the kids started in the sport!”
