Nearly two weeks ago I wrote an article on a Hidden Sport of the World: Water Polo and how it effects my community in Western Montreal during the summer months. I have received excellent reception on it, more than expected and like to thank everyone who has complimented me over the past ten days. Originally there was no intention in adding any articles on the sport but due to such popular demand, it’s back…
This past weekend, the Northshore Aquatics Association (NAA) held their annual end-of-season water polo finals at Westminster pool. Over the course of two days, a total of 16 games would be played in four different categories, 14-under girls & boys and 16-under girls & boys. Saturday games consisted of the semi-finals and Sunday featured the bronze and gold medal games. Seven different community pools participated in the 16 team event. Host Wesminster had four teams- one in each level, rival Glenmore also had four, three from Valleycrest, two from Fairview and one each from Briarwood, Ballantyne and Thorndale.
Saturday was a terrible day for outdoor water polo, cold and rainy, classic Montreal weather in mid August. Teams battled out for 28 minute games, four quarters of seven continuous minutes throughout the Saturday morning into early afternoon, with their parents sitting somewhat comfortably under the rain-protecting tarp above the bleachers. All the teams from both Westminster and Glenmore won their semi-finals games, giving an interesting storyline for Sunday; Westminster vs Glenmore in all four finals.
What makes this more exciting is the history between the two swimming clubs. Over the past few years, the pools located about four kilometers away from each other, have had an intense rivalry, ranging from swimming competitions to water polo games to even soccer games. Yes, even “friendly” soccer games. A coach from each side are brothers, Vivek and George Coté, the former being the head coach of Westminster and the latter being the assistant coach of Glenmore.
Glenmore has usually won most of the events the two teams participate in, mainly swimming and the water polo is split in victories, but Glenmore won the soccer game on July 13 in what was the most intense and passion-filled soccer game I ever played in.
The day started off with the girls 14-under final at 8am, nice and early. Westminster got off to an early 4-0 lead led by Taylor Halperin and Ariana Di Nardo. After slipping a bit in the third quarter, allowing Glenmore to climb back into the game, the score was 6-4 heading into the fourth quarter of the match, where the Westminster Crocs scored three goals to give to hand them their first of possible four trophies on the day.
The 14-under boys played just before 10 am in what was probably the most evenly matched up game all day long, with coaches from Westminster claiming how nervous they were about this game before hand. The nerves were useless as the Crocs went onto a commanding 13-6 victory for a second straight title, thanks to Kevin Parker, Nico Chevrier, Neel Agarwal and Mike Calligari in nets. Two games, two gold medals.
For the girls aged 16 and under, it wasn’t that much different than the u-14 girls, with the exception of two or three older girls on both teams, Westminster ran away with it early and never looked back, finishing with a 6-1 win, but couldn’t have been done without a combined team effort and stellar goaltending byMegan Parker, who played her final game for the pool.
The main event was the boys 16 and under championship game. Friendships were put aside for nearly thirty minutes as nearly 200 people watched in the mid-day’s heat as the best water polo was being played all day. Veterans of the sport Levi Roussel-Lustgarten and Samuel James Bradshaw led the way for the team seeking a fourth final win of the day. Selfless play by the two frustrated the Glenmore counterparts, throwing them off their game and allowing Westminster to take a commanding 5-0 lead into the third quarter. Glenmore did manage to get a few shots past Calligari but it wasn’t enough as WES prevailed for a 9-3 win.
Four golds medals for Westminster Pool. Four silvers for Glenmore pool. After years of always losing in competitive events, the Crocs finally got to eat their prey, the Barracudas. Any sports fan or athlete knows the sweet taste of defeating your bitter rivals. It’s like when the Canadiens finally upset the Bruins in the 2014 playoffs. Or like when Manchester City finally won the Premier League in 2012 after being in Manchester United’s shadow for so long. The feeling the fans of the Red Sox had in 2004 when they beat the Yankees in the ALCS, en route to their first World Series in 86 years.
Nothing on this planet, in the sports world, can match up to the excitement from a victory over that one team you just want to beat. Adrenaline is mixed with joy and the person standing right next to you, the one you battled so hard next to, may just get an earful of a cheer filled with satisfaction. Now that’s the feeling of beating that one team that you’ve always wanted to beat. Any sports figure should know what it’s like.
The sense of pride was through the roof Sunday at the pool as all the present members were in awe and were proud of what their son, daughter, brother, sister or best friend accomplished that afternoon. My sister collected two gold medals in a span of three hours, more golds than I collected in a span of five years for the pool.
“It’s just incredible. For all four teams to win is something else. The last time any pool won all four golds is probably over thirty years ago.” said President of the pool, Carlo Narducci.
The boys and girls of the community-oriented pool will remember that day for a very long time. For some it was their first summer playing the sport, but for others, it was the last. Young or old, Westminster pool was united as one on Sunday, to rejoice after tasting the sweet taste of a clean sweep.
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Main Photo by Carlo Narducci, used with permission, all rights reserved,
