PRINCETON, N.J. – Ukrainian American water polo player Raisa Ihnat, age 13 ½, participated in this year’s U.S.A. Water Polo Junior Olympics held in California’s Orange County on July 30-August 2. She was honored to be chosen to play on a team that consists mainly of athletes age 16-18.
Miss Ihnat was one of the youngest members of her team, Princeton Tigers Aquatics Water Polo, which played in the Girls’ 18U (age 18 and under) Classic Tournament. The team, coached on this trip by Derek Ellingson of Princeton University, won three games and moved up to the semifinals. Tigers Aquatics put up a valiant fight and tied the semi-final game 7-7, but the game went into a dramatic shootout and the Tigers lost to West Side Aquatics of Santa Monica, Calif.
Water polo is considered a “boutique sport” on the East Coast, where the number of clubs that sponsor teams is small. The sport is most popular in California, where athletes play year-round in outdoor pools. Players from California dominate the sport.
Miss Ihnat commented: “I learned so much from playing against older, more experienced players. It was also difficult to play all of the games in outdoor pools. East Coast players are not used to the challenge of playing in hot temperatures and full sun. The entire experience made me stronger.” She added, “I love this sport. It’s a passion of mine.”
Miss Ihnat, who has played water polo since third grade, is the daughter of Peter Ihnat and Andrea Odezynska.
Founded in 1978, U.S.A. Water Polo is the National Governing Body for water polo in the United States of America. The organization hosts a variety of national championships including Junior Olympics, Masters Nationals, the U.S. Open of Water Polo and other competitions.
The U.S.A. Water Polo Women’s National Team won the FINA World Championship on August 7 with a 5-4 win over The Netherlands. It was a record fourth world championship win for the United States. FINA, or Fédération Internationale de Natation, is the International Swimming Federation.