Irvine, CA - November 22 - USA Water Polo is proud to announce four additions to the executive and technical committees of UANA (Union American De Natacion), the leader of aquatics in the Western Hemisphere.

Four-time Olympic medalist Brenda Villa continues her UANA service with the appointment of UANA Athlete Member of the Executive Committee, serving as the water polo liaison to the Executive Committee.

New additions to UANA service come in the way of Olympians Bernice O'Connor (Orwig) and Genai Kerr alongside veteran referee Hadi Farid. O'Connor, a 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, was named a UANA Technical Committee Member. Kerr, a 2004 Olympian, was named a UANA Athlete Member of the Technical Water Polo Committee. Farid joins the UANA Technical Committee Member and will also serve as secretary for the committee.

"I am looking forward to continuing my commitment to UANA and Water Polo in the Americas. I learned a lot under the presidency of Dale Neuburger and I am looking forward to working with president Maureen Croes," said Villa.

Farid added,"I am super excited to have the opportunity to represent the United States on the technical governing body of UANA. As the Secretary of UANA TWPC I look forward to working with other delegates from the Americas to help further promote and grow the sport of water polo in our continent. My sincere appreciation to USA Water Polo for giving me this opportunity."

"It has always been an honor to represent USA Water Polo. It is an even bigger honor for me to represent UANA as an Athlete Member of the Technical Committee. I am looking forward to sharing and learning best practices to help improve the level of aquatic sports in all regions of the Western Hemisphere," said Kerr.

"I am very honored to have been selected to be a part of such an important and prestigious association," concluded O'Connor.

These appointments began following the conclusion of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and will continue through the conclusion of the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

UANA, the Union Americana de Natacion is a sports organization with the purpose of organizing, supervising and controlling, in the Western Hemisphere, the amateur aquatics activities of Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming, Master and Open Water Swimming.