The 2019 USA Water Polo Olympic Development East Regional Tournament will feature 16 teams each in both boys and girls water polo with athletes coming from all across the United States for a weekend of high level competition.
Greensboro, North Carolina, is known as a top-notch town when it comes to hosting sporting events.
That reputation was further enhanced when USA Water Polo announced that Greensboro will be the host city for the 2019 USA Water Polo Olympic Development East Regional Tournament, to be held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, January 11-January 13.
The tournament will feature 16 teams each in both boys and girls water polo with athletes coming from all across the United States for a weekend of high level competition.
The tournament serves as a key part of the identification and selection process for the USA Water Polo Pipeline National Teams including the Developmental, Cadet and Youth National Teams. These teams lay the foundation for what will eventually become the USA Water Polo Men’s and Women’s Olympic Teams.
“While water polo is often thought of as a west coast sport, we have experienced increased growth in the Eastern United States; so, it makes a lot of sense for us to stage one of our premier Olympic development tournaments in the east. We have been so impressed with the Greensboro Aquatic Center, and we know the athletes who will be competing there will be very happy with the venue,” said Ryan Cunnane, USA Water Polo director of events.
At 32 teams, the 2019 USA Water Polo Olympic Development East Regional Tournament is believed to be one of the largest water polo competitions ever held in the state of North Carolina. The Greensboro Aquatic Center will be able to accommodate up to three water polo games being played simultaneously.
Hill Carrow, chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the event, said, “We are so excited to have the Greensboro Aquatic Center and the city of Greensboro designated for this tournament! There has never been an event like this – in terms of magnitude – in the Carolinas! We actually think one of the best aspects of the event will be its significant legacy, as USA Water Polo plans to use this event as a launch point for growing the sport substantially locally and regionally.”
USA Water Polo intends to help position the Greensboro Aquatic Center as a hub location for growth of the sport in the region. Towards that end, USAWP, with the help of their equipment sponsors/vendors, will donate to the aquatic center additional goals and equipment designed to get young athletes interested and participating in the sport.
Hosting of the 2019 USA Water Polo Olympic Development Tournament is a joint effort among USA Water Polo, the Greensboro Aquatic Center, and Sports & Properties, Inc. Tickets for the Tournament are expected to be very reasonably priced and will be available for sale beginning later this fall.
