U.S. Water Polo, a Mt. SAC partner, advances
August 07, 2024 - 04:05 PM
The U.S. Men’s Water Polo Team is churning its way through the tournament pool at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics in France, and the action is being watched closely here at Mt. SAC.
The players on the U.S. squad are unofficially Mounties ever since the College and USA Water Polo formed a partnership, allowing the team to use Mt. SAC’s Aquatics Complex as its home pool and training facility.
The partnership allows current and past students, fans, supporters, and the community to witness Olympic competition on campus.
"We look forward to our new relationship with USA Water Polo and are thankful to have the opportunity to partner with them," said Dr. Martha Garcia, Mt. SAC President/CEO, said in January. "We are excited at what the future holds and the opportunities that await the College and our students. It is especially exhilarating to expose our students to these world-class athletes and for them to see their dreams are possible."
The gold medal dream is still alive for the men’s team. After finishing its group
play in third place with three wins and two loses, the team defeated Australia, 11-10,
in a penalty shootout on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. The U.S. advances to play
Serbia on Friday in the semifinals. 
The Mt. SAC aquatics complex, a sprawling 110,000-square-foot facility, epitomizes aquatic excellence. It features a versatile 59-meter competition pool, a 30-meter teaching/diving pool with movable bulkheads, and four competition diving boards. The complex, with horseshoe seating for 2,500 and the ability to expand with temporary seating to accommodate more than 5,000 spectators, will serve as a hub for medal-winning teams as well as national and international competitions. More than a sports facility, it is a dynamic center deeply connected to the community, offering teaching programs and immersive educational experiences for the Mt. SAC student body.
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters National Championships. With nearly 50,000 members, USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 member clubs and more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport throughout the U.S., fostering grass-roots expansion while providing a national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials. For more information, visit www.usawaterpolo.org.
