Official Name: LAZERS Water Polo Club
On The Web: lazerswp.clubspaces.com
Director Of Club: Sharon Grant
Club Coaches: Matt Croghan, Nate Brandon, Kate Faix, and Tom Hicks
Age Groups & Genders: 14U Co-Ed, 15 and up Boys, 15 and up Girls
How Did They Get Started?: The Livermore (CA) Area Parks and Recreation Department opened a facility, the Robert Livermore Community Center in 2005 and it had a pool designed for water polo. In addition to that the local water polo community was disappointed with high school water polo seasons that featured few victories and gathered together in 2008 to bolster the sport in Livermore. As the club tells it after their initial beginning,
"The LAZERS Water Polo Club was formed to support the teams run by LARPD. The Club's mission is to promote water polo in Livermore and assist the LARPD LAZERS water polo teams. Using the USA Water Polo benefit clubspaces, the LAZERS created and maintains a website, LAZERWP.clubspaces.com. The support committee holds monthly meetings and helps the teams by advertising in the schools and newspapers, helping at tournaments hosted in Livermore, publishing newsletters, fund raising, and holding team building events. The Club has held two "annual" banquets, attended by over 150 water polo athletes and fans, facilitates season kick-off activities and team parties, and entered a LAZERS float in last year's Livermore Holiday parade. Money raised by The Club helps keep the cost down for LAZERS athletes, supporting and improving the program."
Where Is Home Base?: The Robert Livermore Community Center Pool
Who Do They Play?: The club takes part in scrimmages and matches in the Bay Area and competes in 'B' tournament. Also as a first this year the club sent a team to the S & R Sport Junior Olympics when their 14U squad competed this summer in Los Angeles. The club also hosted a fall and spring tournament series for the 14U age group this past year.
Five Years From Now: The club hopes to promote the sport of water polo in the East Bay, increase the number of water polo athletes, and improve the quality of play in Livermore, California.
College Connection: This year, athletes who started their water polo career with the LAZERS will be playing at Diablo Valley, Harvard, Marist, and Ohlone.
How To Get Involved?: Registration is handled through the Livermore Area Parks & Recreation District. Visit their website
www.larpd.dst.ca.us.