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Thursday, November 18, 1999 Page: 10A
I have been reading with amazement the comments of some of the callers to
Fan Fare regarding the Wyoming Valley West girls water polo team’s recent
state championship. It is beyond comprehension that some of the good people of
Wyoming Valley would begrudge this team the respect and recognition it
deserves.
It seems many people feel that, since water polo is not a well-known sport
in this area, winning the state championship is not a big thing.
A state championship is a state championship, no matter what the sport.
These young women worked very hard to achieve this goal, and they deserve the
good wishes of the entire community. The fact that the sport is not well-known
does not and should not diminish their accomplishment in any way.
Both the boys and girls water polo teams practice very hard – between 20
and 25 hours a week, including at least two 6 a.m. practices each week. Most
of them have, at their own expense, attended water polo clinics at Pepperdine
University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton University and a Pepperdine-run
clinic in Wilton, Conn. They are hardworking, dedicated young men and women,
and their achievements deserve to be applauded, not ignored or put down.
There is some high-quality water polo in Pennsylvania, including teams from
Gov. Mifflin, Wilson, Cumberland Valley, Cathedral Prep, McDowell, Souderton,
Upper Merion, Wissahickon and others. Wyoming Valley West has also played
teams from Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, and even some
international teams, including the Puerto Rican ju nior national team. The
competition is very good. Water polo is a very physical, aggressive sport that
requires a great deal of strength and stamina. In fact, college and university
athletics directors have selected water polo as the most physically demanding
sport.
Last year, a number of Wyoming Valley West water polo players were named to
all-state teams, and two of them were named All-American. This year, seven
young women and five young men were named to All-State teams. All-American
teams will not be announced until spring, but chances are good that Wyoming
Valley West will have several All-Americans.
The Wyoming Valley West girls’ water polo team has won the state
championship, and we, their families and friends, are very proud of them. The
boys’ team placed third in the state against some very tough competition. They
made an excellent showing, and we are very proud of them also.
We are grateful to WNEP-TV Channel 16 for their film on the girls’ team
naming them the Sports Stars of the Week, the West Side Leader for the
terrific article on both teams, and to Fox-38 for its coverage of the girls’
championship. We also thank those callers who offered support for our teams.
A state championship by any team in our community is a source of pride for
all of us. I would hope that the people of Wyoming Valley would have it in
their hearts to share the excitement and happiness of these young athletes.
Cheryl D. Panowicz
Vice President
Boys WVW Aquatics Club
Forty Fort