Huntington Beach, CA – November 3 - In just two weeks time the best in middle school age water polo will head to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 2009 Speedo Cup. For some clubs it will be just another trip to the Speedo Cup, a time honored tradition of sorts, yet for others the experience will be something brand new for athletes, coaches and parents alike. The latter category is where you will find Xtreme water polo and their girl's squad hailing from Corona, California.
Perhaps better known under the CBU Lancers name, the club underwent a renovation of sorts into the Xtreme name about two years ago. When Cal Baptist, home of the CBU Lancers decided to end their age group program the athletes needed a home. Thanks to Cal Baptist coach Rick Rowland who started the original club along with Tommy Hunter and Keith Shore the club has stayed afloat and has flourished.
The group that heads off to Ann Arbor is no stranger to success as a few years back they were a top finisher at the Junior Olympics in the Platinum bracket. Regardless of the name on the caps, this remains the first trip for the club to a Speedo Cup, one they are all eagerly anticipating.
"I am really excited because we'll be playing water polo in another state and I'll be with all my friends and I've never been to Michigan before," noted Xtreme's Alexis Hollinrake. Hollinrake and her teammates had to go through a grueling qualification out of the Southern Pacific Zone where only two squads would make the cut. Despite losing in their final match to SoCal, the club was able to edge Los Alamitos in goal differential to take the second spot and advance to Speedo Cup.
As they head off to the Great Lakes area the squad from the Inland Empire has aspirations of great success in Michigan. "We are trying to finish in the top four and we have a very good chance of doing that. Since the qualifying tournament every practice is geared towards being ready for Speedo cup. Also every tournament we play in as well," says Hunter who has been one of the major driving forces in Xtreme. The athletes are perhaps even more confident as noted by Madison Delgado who said "Our team has worked really hard together and we are super excited to go all the way and win Speedo Cup!"
While under a relatively new name there is a great deal of history with these athletes from the past success at JOs to participation in ODP to many athletes having older siblings that once came through the CBU Lancer program. Some of the athletes with a resume of winning will be counted on to help the guide the team in Ann Arbor. Delgado is one of the older 14 year olds on the team and serves as a leader while Hollinrake uses great size at the goalie spot to keep the team in every match. Few battle tested teams are without their up and comers and this squad is no different as 11-year old Kelsey Tyler plays well beyond her years in being a major contributor for Xtreme.
Xtreme will have their hands full out of the gate as they open with La Jolla, California to kick things off on day one of the Speedo Cup. Win or lose it will be the beginning of a great weekend for a club that has fought off extinction to find themselves conquering yet another long term goal, playing for the gold at the Speedo Cup.
