April 28, 2016
The winner of the S & R Sport Club of the Month for April 2016 is Riverside Water Polo Club of California. For winning, Riverside will receive a gift from S & R Sport. To nominate a club you think is worthwhile please email media@usawaterpolo.org. Here is a nomination submitted by Ronni.

I would like to nominate Riverside Water Polo as the S & R Sport Club of the Month. My family has been part of RWP for the past seven years and in that time, I have never ceased to be amazed by the effort put forth by our Head Coach Casey Greenawalt as well as that of our assistant coaches. Our athletes are taught to play the sport they love in a positive and encouraging manner. The coaching staff is unfailingly hard-working, dedicated, professional, and caring. They make RWP athletes feel like they are part of a family.

Every December RWP hosts a water polo tournament called “Battle of the Badges,” in which a team of police officers play against a team of firefighters in a friendly game of water polo. All the proceeds from the event are donated to a local charitable organization. This year’s event made me realize that RWP is truly like a family.

I had a dear friend who died in September from breast cancer. My friend was a long-time supporter of the non-profit organization Olive Crest, which is dedicated to preventing child abuse, to treating and educating at-risk children, and to preserving the family. The RWP staff decided to donate all the proceeds from “Battle of the Badges” to Olive Crest, in honor of my friend. No one at RWP knew my friend, but they knew that she was someone who had meant a great deal to me.

I love that RWP not only gives back to our community but also cares so deeply for our families. This caring, family-like atmosphere, coupled with our fantastic coaching staff, is why I think that RWP is deserving of S & R Sport Club of the Month.

(photo via RWP Facebook)