Players based in Hood River completed a long, committed and successful season, ending at the National Junior Olympics down in Los Angeles from July 27-30.
Continuing the momentum following their state championship in November, select members of the HRV girls water polo team have committed to year-round training and competing in water polo — and are winning.
A young HRV boys water polo team saw its season come to an end Thursday evening in Corvallis as the No. 5 Eagles lost a tough one to No. 4 Ashland, 10-7, failing to advance to the double-elimination round of the tournament for the first time since the 2013 season.
Over the past four years, the Hood River Valley High School water polo team has quickly grown from a handful of athletes who struggled to win games to a team of more than 40 players who have state tournament experience.
The HRV girls and boys water polo teams launched their conference competitive season with an away game at David Douglas. The school has a 30-year history of a dominant swimming program which feeds its water polo teams with tough, fast swimmers. This year is no different and the adage “defense wins games” was the message being repeated to the teams by the HRV coaching of staff Dave Cameron, Kellie Dunn and Dave Robinson.
The Hood River High School girls water polo team traveled to Redmond, Aug. 28-30 to complete in the Jay Rowan Water Polo Jamboree. A total of 14 high schools represented boys, girls and co-ed teams in the event. The Jamboree had the top three state finalists for the boys and three out of four state finalists for the girls.