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Ottawa Titans Water Polo Weekly Newsletter
 May 8th, 2008


2008 Ontario Summer Games
First Round of Players Announced

Congratulations go out to Titans athletes Alec Taschereau, Anthony Croteau, Benson Lai, Charles McClintock, Corbin Tremblay, David Tushingham, David Lapins, Jesse Norton, Maxim Hébert, Mike Thomas, Owen Kennedy, Audrey Caron, Catherine Laroche-Boisvert, Ceilidh Parsons, Chantal Ouellette, Christine Snidal, Emma Jackson, Jelena Pavicevic, Lia Richardson, Lulu Vulpe Albari, Meredith Wilson, Michelle Langstaff, Nathalie Gallant, Patricia Massel, Tara Hristov and Tina Tarnoczy, who have been named to the Ontario Summer Games water polo programme for 2008. Titans make up 15 of the 38 girls slots and 11 of the 40 boys slots!   The full roster announcement is here:  http://www.ontariowaterpolo.ca/ShowNews216.aspx .  

Details of the invitation and deadline for acceptance can be found at: www.ontariowaterpolo.ca/ShowNews218.aspx .  If you are interested in the program and have not yet applied, please follow the process on the Ontario Water Polo website (see second round selections below).

Deanna Barry will be the volunteer Sport Manager for water polo.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you would like to volunteer as a Team Manager for one of the 8 teams, or as a tournament volunteer, please contact Deanna at deannabarry@rogers.com or 613-741-1224.

For more information on the games, please visit www.2008osg.ca .

Second Round Selections
Ontario Water Polo has made the first round of selections for athletes to the 2008 Ontario Summer Games program, and once the athletes are contacted, they will have to respond to accept their spot (the deadline listed on the website for the first round of athletes selected is May 12). A second round of asks is now being prepared. Ontario Water Polo's announcement of the second round selection process is here:   http://www.ontariowaterpolo.ca/ShowNews217.aspx
 
The games are being hosted August 12-15 in Ottawa. Water Polo is holding a training camp for their athletes on Monday, August 11, starting at noon. All athletes (including those in Ottawa) will stay in the athlete's village in Carleton University residences. Cost will be approximately $200, which includes all meals, accommodation and transportation between pool and athlete's village, t-shirt, training camp and tournament.
Athletes who originally applied but who have not been offered a spot to date, as well as athletes who have not yet applied, should indicate your interest to David Hart at dhart55@yahoo.com by Saturday, May 10.
Titans Awards Banquet June 5
The annual Titans Awards Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, June 5, at the Centurion Banquet and Event Centre. Cost will be $25 per person. Stay tuned for further information, including ticket purchase information and a request for items to be donated for live and silent auctions. If you have time to volunteer to help out, our committee would welcome you! Please contact Deanna at INFO@titanswaterpolo.ca

Summer Camps and Programs
The following information is also available on the Titans website, under the tab "Camps and Summer Programs".

Titans Summer Stay in Shape Program
Titans Water Polo is pleased to announce Summer Stay in Shape, available to current competitive athletes (or by special permission from Head Coach David Hart or General Manager Deanna Barry). The program is offered most Wednesday and Sunday evenings, 7-9pm at Nepean Sportsplex, starting June 1. Full season pass (17 sessions) is $130. Or purchase a 10-session pass for $85 or a 5-session pass for $50. These summer training clinics will consist of approximately one hour of fitness and one hour of scrimmage. Groups will be formed each evening based on how many players are in attendance. For further information, or to register, please contact Aloysia Pinto at 613-523-8063 or avpjml@yahoo.com . Click here for details: http://www.titanswaterpolo.ca/docs/2008/StayInShape2008.pdf

Titans Summer Camp
Due to popular demand, the Titans have opened up registration to players born in 1993 (and those born in 1992 on a case-by-case basis).

Newly restructured, the Competitive summer camp option is targeted at athletes born 1993-1998 who are not already training at the level of, or participating in provincial or national summer programs. All athletes will attend a Sunday evening pool session at which time they will be streamed into working groups by our coaching staff based on gender, developmental age and skill. Note that we have reduced the camp capacity from 120 to 95 athletes (80 competitive athletes, which means the Camp will fill to capacity much sooner).  

Also available is an 'I Love Water Polo' recreational/ introductory option for players born 1996-1999.  Note early bird deadline of May 15 if you would like to save on registration fees.

For further information, please contact Titans General Manager Deanna Barry at INFO@titanswaterpolo.ca or 613-741-1224.

Out-of-Town Camps
Below are some links for information on other water polo camps.

Camp Olympia, Huntsville, ON, June 29-July 5
http://www.olympiasportscamp.com/?sport=waterpolo&orderschedule=camps&age=&bog=&type=1 <http://www.olympiasportscamp.com/?sport=waterpolo&amp;orderschedule=camps&amp;age=&amp;bog=&amp;type=1>

Navy Water Polo Camp at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, June 22-27 and July 13-18
http://www.navywaterpolocamp.com/camp.htm

Summer Water Polo Camp in Calgary, July 7-11
http://www.itsportsnet.com/leagues/15106/documents/2008calgcamp.pdf

Summer Water Polo Camp, Shuswap Lake (Okanagon Region of British Columbia), August 25-28
http://www.itsportsnet.com/leagues/15106/documents/2008shuscamp.pdf

U18 Women's Nationals in Montreal
     
Titans Piranhas
Submitted by Kasia Hart (Head Coach) & Penny Stein (Manager)

The Titans Piranhas team traveled to DDO on May 1-4 for the Speedo 2008 18+U Women's National Championships and came home with the highest ranking ever for a Titans women's 18U team – 4th place – behind Pacific Storm, DDO and CAMO. Although these girls have already made history – there will continue to be Titans teams which push the benchmark in this age category higher and higher towards a successful legacy!

The games over the course of the weekend increased in intensity and the girls banded together in spirit and resolve both in and out of the water – this resulted in some great victories and even more beautiful team-play. Some say though, that the true mark of a great team is their ability to handle the difficult moments and the team was dealt their first tough loss against Storm. With their skin thickened from that experience, they went on to beat their more familiar rivals – York with great zeal. Each game was a battle and the girls played with heart and determination in their final game against Camo. In the aftermath of the weekend, what can be gained from the events is a terrific display of elite water polo. Not only were there one on one battles in the water, but the entire team as a unit competed against its opponents – a standard of team-play excellence. Within the group, some performances were recognized above and beyond for each game: Emily Hodgson, Evie Marshall, Lisa Sharp, Rebekka Steenkamer and Rachel Stein were named as game stars throughout the weekend.

This tournament did not just mark the end of a very successful season for the Piranhas; it was also an opportunity for the team to show their appreciation and gratitude to their two graduating team-mates – Stéphanie Lessard & Lisa Sharp – who have been terrific water polo players and role models throughout their time with the Titans. As they say, once a Titan, always a Titan – no matter where you go, the culture of Titans water polo travels with you.

Congratulations to our coaches, Kasia Hart, Steve Baird and Rachel Baxter, and all our athletes for a wonderful and fruitful weekend!
Titans Stingrays
Submitted by  Evelyne LaRoche and Lyne Jutras

It was a great weekend for the Stingrays and a real learning experience for all the athletes.  It all started on Thursday against our older sister team, the Piranhas.  Despite the fact that Piranhas won the game (15-2), the Stingrays had a great performance and put together an outstanding defence throughout the game.   Early on Friday, they were back on deck after a quick wake-up run around the pool with a game against the Regina's Piranhas.  Our defence was tight and on several occasions, the Piranhas were not able to shoot within the 30-second timeframe.  Moreover, the Stingrays won all their swim-offs.  It was a great game despite the score (1-3).  The third game was on Saturday at 11:30 against the Calgary, Renegades B team.  While the first two quarters started at a slower pace, the Stingrays made a great comeback and scored six goals in the last two quarters.  They had numerous shots against the other team.  Lots of pressure on man-up to the point that several players from the other team had kick-outs (and none for Ottawa).  The team maintained its momentum and continued on its road to success against DDO 2 later on Saturday.   They won (7-6) against their archrivals.  Ottawa's fans were the best!  The last game occurred bright and early on Sunday morning against Regina's Piranhas.  By that time, the Stingrays were on fire!  They won after two overtime periods (9-6).  After what we've seen over the weekend, our Titans players are ready for the U16 Nationals!  Regina, watch out, "HERE WE COME!"

A special thanks to Steve Baird, Alison Poirier and Rachel Baxter for their leadership and ongoing support.

As a chaperone, it was a pleasure and a privilege to accompany the team and learn to know all the players.  

For more information and great pictures from the tournament, please visit the following site:  http://www.ddowaterpolo.ca/Tournaments/youth_nat2008/schedule.htm

"I AM A TITANS
SHE IS A TITANS
WE ARE TITANS ALL
WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, WE HEAR THE TITANS CALL
BITING, FIGHTING, TITANS ALL!"

CONGRATULATIONS STINGRAYS!

U18 Women's Nationals Photo Gallery


Piranhas and Stingrays pre-game cheer!


Titans cheer on their teammates from the stands!


Stingrays plot strategy


Stingrays team


Steph prepares to shoot

Lisa passes to teammate

DDO Piranhas pre-game talk

Newsletter Submissions

If you would like to contribute an item to the newsletter, please send your submission to Sue Sidebottom at news@titanswaterpolo.ca  I depend on the readers to submit articles to keep club members up to date with water polo news!   Photos from tournaments or other club events are always welcome.  Any submissions received before noon on Wednesday will go out with that week's news.