This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel with my university’s women’s rowing team to the prominent Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, PA. While UC San Diego had a challenging Friday and Saturday, rowing against East Coast powerhouses such as Drexel, Delaware, and Virginia, it was a great experience for our student-athletes, allowing them to be exposed to one of the sport’s highest level at the collegiate stage.

Being an Assistant Athletics Director has allowed me to work with many different sports teams I never personally participated in or was exposed to growing up. After three years of being involved in the San Diego Crew Classic, one of the largest regattas on the West Coast, I have come to truly appreciate the sport and have very much enjoyed the rowing community.

Last minute check before UC San Diego takes the water at Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.

The sport itself is absolutely crazy if you think about it. Practice begins at 5:00 AM on the water — by far the earliest practice time for any sport that I can think of. Not only are we talking early morning starts, these collegiate student-athlete rowers have one of the longest seasons. At UC San Diego, rowing begins in October and concludes in May. That is eight months of training for only a handful of races which last somewhere between six and seven minutes. Then there is the actual act of rowing. One, two, four or eight athletes in one boat, rowing in sync with each other. I cannot tell you the last time I did anything in sync with anyone. It’s all about the technique, staying together, and the team. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that in a training session if you are tired, you are not allowed to rest for a few strokes, unlike the many times I stopped swimming in a water polo game to catch my breath — you have to keep up with your teammates and not stop.

Coaching this sport is interesting as well. Coaches sit in a launch boat at every practice, trailing the rowers and using a megaphone to communicate. While that part seems somewhat normal, on race day it is another story. Due to the length of the race, and because launch boats are not allowed on the course, coaching becomes challenging. A coach can communicate with their athletes on land prior to their warm-up, but once they are in the boat, that its – it’s in the hands of the athletes and one can only hope all the 5:00AM coaching translates to a win. After the boat is set, the coach has approximately one hour to walk to the finish line to view a small portion of the race. It is later they receive 500 meter splits (not to mention every race, although the same length, can result in a different time because of water and wind conditions).

UC San Diego winning the Varsity 8 Petite Final.

A major perk of the rowing community are the parents. They are supportive and involved, but not that annoying involved where you want to tell them to take a seat and let the coach speak. These parents rise early, bring massive amounts of food, and cheer on all the athletes when a regatta takes place. The best part – they are so inviting. My first regatta I thought I was going to stick out like sore thumb: I didn’t know what to wear: do I go for the Hamptons look and what type of shoes do I wear? I didn’t know where the starting line was. I had no idea how a day of racing would be structured and what the difference was between a grand final and a petite final? These parents took me in, showed me the ropes, and in no time I was motivated enough to hop on an erg at the gym the next day and give it a go- I was all in.

So, after expanding my rowing horizons, traveling with the Tritons to Philadelphia and having two wonderful days on the water enjoying this sport immensely, I began to think: why is rowing not big on the central coast? We have the water: Santa Margarita Lake, Lopez Lake and apparently Morro Bay. We have the weather. We have Central Coast-ians who are incredibly active year-round. So why is rowing not popular?

As our team was de-rigging their eight-man boat, getting it ready for the cross country trip home, I couldn’t stop thinking about this concept. In the middle of my deep thoughts, one of our student-athletes introduced me to her aunt and uncle who live in Philadelphia. We got to talking and it turns out, not only did they attend Cal Poly in the late 80’s, early 90’s, but they rowed for the team! I was shocked. I needed to know everything about their experience. They told me that the team was club and that they rowed at Morro Bay. They recounted how fun their experience was and how beautiful pre-dawn rowing sessions were with the rock in the background.

After talking to our student-athletes’ aunt and uncle for a bit, I knew I needed to get to the bottom of what happened to the Mustang rowers. It turns out that the mid 90’s did not fare well for the club team, experiencing many setbacks that ultimately shut down the club. I found a 2007 Mustang News article that stated that the team had been reformed, but unfortunately the club seemed to never get back on its feet again. I even called the Recreation Department to find out more information, but they couldn’t provide me with much, saying the club has been nonexistent for almost 10 years. Maybe they just simply couldn’t field a boat, but it sounds like they tried.

Tritons coming together for one last cheer before heading back to San Diego.

What I appreciate about the Central Coast, and what I ultimately benefited from as a high school athlete, is that the Central Coast is not afraid of giving non-mainstream sports a chance (whereas many other areas nationwide would only support traditional sports only). In the mid-90’s girl’s water polo exploded on the high school stage, giving young girls like me a chance to excel. The now defunct Northern League and Los Padres League took a hold of this new sport and grew it immensely amongst the high schools. Boy’s volleyball experienced the same phenomenon on the Central Coast, even now fielding teams at the Junior High level. I have so much pride in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria County because I was given a chance to play an obscure sport and the community embraced it.

The benefits associated with girl’s water polo and boy’s volleyball would be similar if rowing was able to take off. Rowing would allow young athletes a chance to experience an unconventional sport, and perhaps give them an opportunity to participate at the collegiate level. Rowing would bring the community together, including parents and those adults interested taking up the sport. Rowing would highlight our beautiful lakes, our wonderful towns and our active community members. Rowing would attract tourism during large regattas that would take place at Santa Margarita Lake or perhaps Morro Bay. A rowing explosion would give the Central Coast yet another reason why we live in one of the best areas in the nation.

Will rowing be the next big thing? I say let’s give it a chance.

Danielle is an Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations at UC San Diego and an Arroyo Grande native.

Day 2 of the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championships. By Danielle Boyle Melman

As I sit here reflecting on the past weekend, I cannot help but think how lucky I am to have experienced the 2014 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four Championships at my alma mater, UC San Diego, where I also work. Although this is my third water polo Final Four, this time was a little different. Before I begin to reflect on my personal experience as a Final Four spectator and worker, let’s get to the most important part: the results.

Both semi-final games were intense match-ups, but especially in the second game.

In semi-final number one, UC San Diego faced a very experienced and powerful UCLA team, where the Bruins prevailed 15-6. UC San Diego came out playing hard, ending the first quarter only down by 1. The second quarter was a different story: the Bruins had an explosive offense, outscoring UC San Diego 6-2 and leading 8-3 at the half. UCLA ultimately won 15-6, earning a trip to the championship game.

In Semi-Final number two, USC beat Stanford after two overtime periods and one sudden death period.

Stanford controlled the first half, leading 7-5. But the magic of USC kicked in. The Trojans outscored the Cardinal 3-1 in the third quarter, and tied the game up with 14 seconds left of regular time. Two overtime periods later, the score was still tied.

In collegiate water polo, after two three minute overtime periods, the game is decided by sudden death. With 5 seconds left of the first sudden death period, USC Senior Kostas Genidounias (Athens, Greece) scored from the outside to lift USC to a win, earning their 10^th trip in a row to the NCAA Final Championship game. I have seen a lot of water polo but this was one of the most exciting games I have ever watched.

The UCLA Bruins celebrating their 9th NCAA Men’s Water Polo championship. By Danielle Boyle Melman

The next day, Stanford had an easy time with UC San Diego in the third place game, winning 20-11. The championship game, however, did not fail to bring drama, intensity and a passion you only see in collegiate sports.

UCLA came out blazing for three solid quarters, earning a three goal lead holding USC standout Genidounias to no goals.

But USC came blazing into the fourth quarter, scoring three goals in a row to tie the game. With 34 seconds remaining, and the score still tied, UCLA sophomore Gordon Marshall (Newcastle, Australia) fired a shot from inside to lift the Bruins to a 9-8 lead. Great UCLA defense on the next USC possession concluded the game, giving UCLA its ninth NCAA Men’s Water Polo title and 112^th NCAA championship in university history.

But intertwined with the crowning of the national champion, an NCAA National Championship weekend celebrates much more than the first place team. It honors the spirit of the student-athlete. It celebrates the sport and the community hosting the event. It recognizes the spectator, participant and volunteer. Everyone has the opportunity to share in the student-athletes playing for their teammates, for their university, for their families, for their high school, for their club coaches, and never for themselves. The student-athletes’ hearts are on out on display for all to experience  – and it is a feeling like none other.

UC San Diego Tritons take home a NCAA Men’s Water Polo 4th place finish. By Danielle Boyle Melman

Some of that emotion and heart is seen before the championship play even begins. In the spirit of the student-athlete, the National Championship Finals includes an award the NCAA hands out in every sport, in every division: the Elite 89 Award.

The Elite 89 Award is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating in the NCAA Championship Finals. There are 89 NCAA final championships; hence the 89. This year the NCAA honored Stanford junior BJ Churnside – an electrical engineering major holding a 3.786 GPA. Churnside not only excels in the classroom, but in the pool as well: he earned All-American accolades his freshman and sophomore year, and is ranked third on the team for goals this season. Churnside was celebrated at the student-athlete banquet Friday night, and it was a touching moment. Because this award truly embodies the spirit of the student-athlete, it was moving to see him honored in front of his peers and the water polo community. I couldn’t help but think – this is why I got into collegiate athletics.

That theme resonated with me throughout the whole weekend. I am so fortunate to be a part of the growth and development of young adults through collegiate athletics. Being an athletic administrator allows me to have a positive impact on our student-athletes, providing support and guidance through the highs and lows — almost reliving my collegiate career through the eyes of these athletes.

As the championship weekend came to a close, I couldn’t help but be so proud of all student-athletes who participated, my athletics department, UC San Diego and the community who came together to celebrate and champion the collegiate student-athlete!

It was a great collegiate season for men’s water polo and I enjoyed bringing my perspective of the game.  For those who are excited about their next, or first water polo game, you don’t have to wait a whole year for the men’s season to start back up…the women’s collegiate season is just around the corner with the first sprint in January!

With the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship Final Four set to commence on Saturday, December 6, emotions are running high. Four teams head into the most important tournament of their season and potentially their career. UCLA, Stanford, USC and UC San Diego are in the lineup to play in the semifinals, with #1 UCLA facing #4 UC San Diego at 1:00 PM PST, and #2 Stanford facing #3 USC at 3:00 PM PST. All games are taking place at UC San Diego’s Canyonview Aquatics Center. Below is a preview of the four teams, many of which have had to face adversity both in the water and out this year.

#1 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

UC San Diego to host the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four December 6-7.

UCLA is, clearly, the number one seed going into the Final Four. The road was somewhat predictable for the Bruins, who posted a 27-3 record heading into this weekend. The team is consistent when they are winning, but also consistent when they are losing. The Bruins saw their undefeated season squashed on October 12, when they not only lost to USC, but  four hours later to Stanford as well at the SoCal Tournament. UCLA slowly climbed its way back on top of the polls, entering the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) conference championships as the top seed. Surprisingly, UCLA lost to Long Beach State in the semifinals (whom they previously beat one week earlier by 8 goals). The Bruins went on to face USC in the third place game, beating them 10-5.

Although this team faced untimely loses this season, they will be hungry for the national championship final. I like their overall consistent, powerful play, and even though they crept into the final four by being granted an at-large berth, this team is ready to redeem themselves and show they are the number one team in the country.

Keys to victory

UCLA needs to score double digits both days to get the wins and take home the crown. With their outstanding offense and solid defense, double digit scoring will most likely produce a national championship.

#2 STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Stanford has been on a similar path as UCLA this season, posting a 25-3 record heading into the national championships. Two of their three losses have come from the Bruins, most recently losing only by 1 goal in their last meeting. Unlike UCLA, however, Stanford won their conference (MPSF) by beating Long Beach state 9-8, earning an automatic qualifier to the final four. This team will be a contender; however, UCLA seems to have their number every time they face each other. If both UCLA and Stanford make it to the NCAA Championship game, Stanford will have to be mentally tough to overcome this strong UCLA team. Bottom line: this team is a force to reckoned with and will not back down to any challenge. The key to Stanford’s success will be their offense.

Keys to victory

Similar to UCLA, when Stanford scores less than 10 goals, they lose. They need to make sure their offense is on-point and that they are putting up at least 11 goals to ensure a win. If they do that, they will be hard to beat.

Canyonview Aquatics Center-UC San Diego

#3 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

USC has encountered many ups and downs for a team at this stage, seeing six loses over the course of the season. With a record of 26-6, five of their six loses have been from UCLA and Stanford, with the most recent loss coming from Stanford in the semifinals of the MPSF conference championship tournament. The following day they lost to UCLA in the third place game. Although they have endured more losses to teams of higher seeds, USC has a unique past leaving me to believe we should not count them out.

The Trojans have been the reigning national champions the past six years in a row. Since 2002, Coach Jovan Vavic has taken home nine National Championships and two runner-ups back to the USC campus. This team knows how to win – and they know when to win. The Trojans have not only shown how physically tough they are, but emotionally and mentally tough as well.

In January, USC men’s water polo lost a teammate, sophomore Jon Walters, who passed away unexpectedly. As projected, the news hit the team hard. The have recovered both emotionally and mentally and will be wearing #6 on their caps in memory of Walters. Although almost a year has passed, the memory of Walters is very much alive: his younger brother James is a freshman on the USC team. It is absolutely remarkable how these young adults have rebounded from such a loss, and channeled their energy in a positive direction. USC is my wild card in the bunch, being incredibly unpredictable. They are playing with a heavy heart.

Keys to victory

With emotion running as high as I’m sure it is, anything can happen with USC this year — including some really good things. The Trojans will need to control and focus all the emotion that is sure to be there in order to dominate and bring home their seventh championship in a row.

#4 UC SAN DIEGO

This particular Triton team is two years in the making. Coach Denny Harper took a very unconventional approach in the spring of 2013, when he chose to have his top two would-be seniors, including 2012 conference MVP Josh Stiling, redshirt the 2013 campaign. Both student-athletes were supportive of the idea, knowing that it would create opportunity for the incoming juniors. Now, over a year later, this team is one of the best UC San Diego teams I have seen in a great while. With very experienced upperclassmen who have played with each other now for at least three years, this team is extremely close, can read each other well, and are committed to their coaches and to each other.

Although UC San Diego comes into the national championship tournament with a 16-9 record, all their losses have come from top ranked teams. This final four will be a fairly challenging one for the Tritons, but the program has always thrived on being the underdog. In 2000, UC San Diego faced USC in the NCAA National Championship semifinal game, beating the Trojans 9-8 and surpassing all expectations the water polo community had for the them. The Tritons ultimately fell to UCLA in the championship game, but it was the first ever national runner-up the program ever saw. Although a long shot, this Triton team is the host this year and should be up for any challenge. Great defense with a consistent offense from UC San Diego will be the key to knocking off the number 1 seed in the semis. UCLA’s three losses have come when they couldn’t convert more than six goals.

Keys to victory

If the Tritons can somehow hold the Bruins to six goals or less, their chances of winning the semi-final game increases dramatically, repeating their 2000 NCAA efforts.

Canyonview Aquatics Center-home of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four.

I am often asked how good my college team was when I played water polo at UC San Diego. Sometimes I say that my Tritons made it to our conference championship finals (but leave out the part where we lost to Loyola Marymount three years in a row by only one goal each year). If I really want to impress people, I tell them we made it to the elite eight of the NCAA tournament.  If I want to keep it simple, I say we finished ranked 8^th nationally in NCAA Division 1. All answers are completely accurate. But why so many answers to such a simple question?

Unlike most NCAA collegiate sports where a championship tournament consists of at least 16 teams, water polo takes an nontraditional approach to the NCAA Championships. The Men’s NCAA Championships consists of only four teams, while the Women’s NCAA Championships consist of eight teams (only four teams when I played in the early 2000’s.) Collegiate water polo does not have 1^st rounds and 2^nd rounds in tournament championship play. Water polo jumps right into the final four for the men, and the elite eight for the women.  You will see two “play-in” games for each gender; but those games are simply seen as just that: a game to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The play-in game losers are not recognized by the NCAA as a team that qualified for the championships.

So how does a team qualify for the NCAA Water Polo Championships? It’s simple: you win your conference, you earn an automatic qualifier…to compete for a spot in the finals. The men have four conferences, each owning an AQ. The women have seven conferences, six of which own AQs. In addition, there are two at-large berths on the men’s side, and four on the women’s side. Because water polo is a national collegiate sport, all divisions are represented in the championships. Like mainstreamed sports, if you fail to come home with a conference title, you have a chance at receiving an at-large berth.

With the 2014 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championships this weekend, play-in games have taken place and the final four teams are set for the championship tournament: UCLA, Stanford, USC and UC San Diego. With all games being held at my alma mater UC San Diego, semi-finals will take place on Saturday, December 6^th, with the championship game and the third place game taking place on Sunday, December 7^th (water polo is a sport that actually plays out the tournament to determine all placing’s).

You must be wondering if, as a student-athlete, I was ever upset that there were limited spots in the national championship tournament. Sure, I would have liked to play in the tournament. But being upset was merely a way to get through the loss to LMU…three years in a row. The bottom line is although water polo is unique sport on many levels — specifically championship play — it does not differ in the fact that you simply have to be the best to make it to the final championship game.

The collegiate student-athlete experience is not only about qualifying for NCAA’s. It’s more than that. It’s about working the hardest you have ever worked before with 16 close friends at your side, experiencing victory and defeat together, learning how to juggle earning a degree and playing at a high level of competition, all while becoming a well-rounded, successful individual that will have a positive impact on society…playing in the NCAA Championships is just really good icing on the cake.

The 2014 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four Championships will be held December 6-7, 2014 at Canyonview Pool on the campus of UC San Diego. Four of the best teams in men’s collegiate water polo will gather to determine the national champion. 

This past weekend was conference championship tournament time for all NCAA men’s water polo teams. Similar to most conference tournaments of any sport, the winner receives an automatic berth to compete in the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championships. This year’s are December 6-7 at Canyonview Pool on the campus of UC San Diego.  I was able to watch both the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (think PAC-12) championship game between Stanford and Long Beach State, as well as the Western Water Polo Association (think Big West meets the WCC) championship game between UC San Diego and Loyola Marymount. With Stanford and UC San Diego prevailing, both games were competitive and the athleticism was outstanding!

When watching any team play, I always pull up the rosters, secretly hoping for central coast representation. But I am constantly seeing is a trend that has been occurring in water polo the past five years: more and more international student-athletes playing at the collegiate level.

Water is one of the most popular sports in Europe: on a recent trip to Greece, water polo balls were found being sold at beach stores to be used at nearby beaches.

The top four teams in NCAA Men’s Water Polo right now include Stanford, Long Beach State, UCLA and USC. These four teams combine a total of 13 international student-athletes (Long Beach State features the most: seven). Although two of the 13 student-athletes hail from Australia and Brazil, an overwhelming majority of them come from Europe. So why all the international play — specifically European play — in the NCAA Water Polo landscape?

The popularity of water polo in Europe is unbelievable!  In some eastern European countries, it is the most popular sport to its countrymen. They play, live and breathe water polo.  Part of the reason water polo is so popular is because it can be played professionally throughout Europe. Similar to our professional sports leagues, Europe is home to the LEN Champions League (Ligue Europeenne de Natation), consisting of professional teams from up to 18 countries. It is an incredibly competitive league where the best of the best play. You must be of the highest caliber to be a member of a team (Olympic and/or national team status representing your home country).

Many young European players have the opportunity to play in this professional league, or alternatively in a lower U-19 level (equivalent to minor league baseball). Only the top young talented athletes play on the professional level; however, if you don’t make the professional cut, and you are young and want to continue to play, there is nowhere to go. These young athletes do not have a European university system that provides opportunities for athletes to train and become a better player before heading back into the international scene. We are seeing an increase in International student-athletes because our collegiate athletic system is exactly what they need and want: a high level training ground that promotes athletic growth, a healthy well-balanced life-style, as well as educational opportunities.

The Arroyo Grande High School Girls Water Polo Team embracing international integration by traveling to Italy in the Summer of 2013.

The influx of international student-athletes is seen on both the men’s and women’s side of collegiate water polo. As a player did I think this was unfair? Well, it definitely changed the landscape of collegiate water polo. The level of play increased dramatically when international student-athletes, many of whom were current Olympians or junior national team members for their country, played on college teams. But, my teammates and I tried to stay positive and embraced it. By playing against international student-athletes, they were just making me and my teammates better water polo players.

Many teams are also embracing the international integration. In the summer of 2013, Coach Steven Allen of Arroyo Grande High School took his Lady Eagles to Italy for two weeks of training, competition and culture. His goal was to bridge the gap between the United States style of play and the European way, exposing his athletes to a different way of training and game execution. The young athletes learned a fast paced style of the game, including a swim speed that is not often seen on the central coast. But most importantly, they learned the local culture at a deeper level than just seeing the sites or playing against a foreign team. The athletes were completely submerged into the culture, even residing with local Italian water polo families during their two weeks. They came home with a heightened appreciation for another culture and learned to value the international differences in the water and out.

So why is water polo extremely popular in Europe but has a difficult time holding its own in the United States? Well, it’s up for debate. My opinion: the lack of our professional sports in Europe, such as football, basketball and baseball, allows for Olympic sports to gain exposure. But, with increased television exposure of water polo (thank you NBC and PAC-12 network) along with the live-streaming of many collegiate and even high school championships, water polo in the United States is surpassing other Olympic sports. I don’t think it will ever be as popular as it is overseas, but it is certainly gaining momentum.

The 2014 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Final Four Championships will be held December 6-7, 2014 at Canyonview Pool on the campus of UC San Diego. Four of the best teams in men’s collegiate water polo will gather to determine the national champion. 

A few years ago, I married a sports nut. But he’s not the typical sports nut who only cheers for his teams and the sports he likes to watch or play. My husband is an ultra-crazy sports nut: one who appreciates all different types of sports, never discriminating between male and female, mainstream and Olympic, professional, college, high school and age group. My husband is open to watching and supporting anything that falls in the realm of athletics — anything. It’s actually the best type of sports nut to marry.

When Dave and I first started dating in 2008, he was quickly thrown into the world of water polo. He had seen a few high school games prior to meeting me, but it was limited exposure. His first game experience with me was a UC San Diego alumni game, where he was lucky enough to meet my closest friends (all former Triton teammates) and see us relive our glory days. Maybe it wasn’t the best environment to expose a new boyfriend to, but he clearly had no idea what he was getting himself into…especially witnessing my aggressive style of play.

Lucky for me Dave was still on the pool deck after that first game, and as our relationship progressed, Dave accompanied me to many more water polo games at UC San Diego. Always willing to go to the pool and learn the game, Dave showed an amazing appreciation for the sport and the work that goes into training for a game and a season. I felt lucky that I found someone who genuinely cared the same about the sport that I love.

But, truth be told, you don’t have to be an ultra-crazy sports nut to love watching water polo: the intensity and athleticism of the game alone will captivate you. 

Water polo, in my opinion, is one of the most fan-friendly sports to watch. Games are about an hour long (compared to a basketball game that can last up to two hours, or a football game that is pushing three. Don’t even talk to me about baseball!)

Collegiate games are comprised of four, eight minute quarters, with a two minute break between quarters, and a five minute break at half time. The game is fast paced thanks to a 30 second shot clock, always challenging the athletes to pass and shoot quickly. The swimming is impressive and the athleticism these athletes portray would be difficult to achieve on land, let alone in 15 feet of water.

The game might be confusing at first (in the words of my husband “I have no idea what just happened.”) Whistles are blown every five seconds, hundreds of ordinary fouls are called, and players get ejected for unknown reasons to the untrained eye. In addition, the sport has also adopted rules that seem unnatural to any sport: if a defender shot blocks a shot on the goal, the ball is rewarded to the defense (where as in most sports, last person to touch the ball is penalized, and the ball is rewarded the other team-usually the offense.) Amongst all the quirks and confusion to the game of water polo, however, the great thing is fans know when an athlete steals the ball, when a great pass takes place, and when a goal is scored. Fans know when a team is playing well and winning, and they can feel the energy on the pool deck.

I am lucky enough to have a career in collegiate athletics, where I witness students coming to Canyonview Pool at UC San Diego every year to watch their very first water polo game. These students, many of whom are not well versed in athletics to begin with, turn into ultra-crazy fans by the end of the game. They don’t know why there was a foul, or why someone got kicked out, but they feel the energy of the players. They see the intensity in the student-athlete’s eyes, are in awe of their physique, and can’t believe the athletic moves they are seeing. They leave recharged and ready for the next game, because for the whole 60 minutes they never took their eyes off the pool.

If you get an opportunity, I challenge you to go watch a water polo game. Whether it is at the high school level, or on the Pac-12 network, watch for at least a quarter. I can’t promise that you will understand everything that is going on, but I can promise you that you will enjoy 60 minutes of a sport that shows a heightened level of athleticism and passion that you might not see every day. Just remember that being an ultra-crazy sport nut is not required; simply being a fan of sport is.

Editor’s Note: On December 6-7, the NCAA men’s water polo championships are being held at Canyonview Pool at my alma mater — UC San Diego. Having lived with a goalie on a Final Four team while in college and covered water polo at the UCSD Guardian while in school, the sport holds a special place for me. Watching what looked like guys basically drowning each other the entire game.

So, with the Final Four coming up, I’ve asked a fellow Triton and former Arroyo Grande Eagle — Danielle Boyle Melman — to get us warmed-up for the upcoming Final Four by helping fans understand a little more about the sport that I think might be the most underrated one out there. – OM

Danielle Boyle Melman (with the ball) winds up during the 2003 WWPA championships.

Water polo: a fast action sport frequently compared to an alligator feeding frenzy from a spectator’s viewpoint. Above water, fans witness rigorous swimming, a flawlessly-passed ball that rarely touches the water, treading of water that appears as if the pool is only three feet deep, and the intensity of athletes playing their heart out for four, eight minute quarters. I love this game. But what many fans don’t realize is what happens under water, stays under water.

The game of water polo is different than most Olympic sports in the fact that it can only be assessed by referees who are positioned on the pool deck. Referees call appropriate fouls when above waterline play is deemed unjust and does not uphold the 179 rules FINA and USA Water Polo established for the sport. Everything that happens out of the water is seen and judged by referees. But do you ever wonder what goes on under water that cannot be managed by the referees or even held accountable by the fans when play is deemed unfair?

As a former age group, high school, collegiate, and now master’s water polo player, I have seen it all; I have experienced it all. After countess ripped water polo suits, four broken fingers, a handful of stitches, a few corneal abrasions, and bruises that seem like permanent body art, the question should be, what doesn’t go on underwater?

Water polo players endure kicks, punches, scratches and being held under water for what seems like eternity. We have all found ourselves swimming with a stronger kick than normal, hoping to fend off any opponents on our tail. We have found ourselves adding a few breaststrokes kicks, or perhaps positioning our bodies to gain leverage on the player we are defending. At the end of the game, the practice, the day, the fact of the matter is, what happens under the water, stays under the water…and for the most part, is all perfectly legal in the eyes of the sport.

My collegiate teammates would tell you I was one of the more “assertive” ones on our team. We played hard and aggressive; however, we were skilled at our craft and relied on our ability to pass, shoot and defend rather than our ability to kick, scratch and claw. The latter came with the game; the former was the foundation of being a successful teammate on a prosperous team. I am certainly guilty of giving black eyes to teammates, or dishing out “donkey kicks” during an intersquad practice, but that’s what we all signed up for; that is why we love the game.

Next time you find yourself watching a water polo game, try to keep a close eye on what is happening below the waterline. You might not see the punch, the kick, or the suit grab, but you might see that little pause in a counter attack, or that small athlete struggle as one athlete asserts themselves over another. Continue to have appreciation for the athleticism these athlete’s possess and the hard work it takes to train for the game of water polo; but now you know the secret to the game of water polo.

Danielle Boyle Melman played water polo at UCSD from 2000-2003. Her 60 assists in 2003 ranks second all-time at UCSD and her 101 career assists puts her in the career top-10 for the Tritons.