LCF Teen & her Water Polo Team Headed to Championships

La Cañada resident Ivanna Bilaver and her Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Girls Water Polo 8th Grade and Under Team have won the opportunity to compete in the 2011 USA Water Polo Turbo Champions Cup in Bloomington, Indiana, November 5 – 7 - the first time in the history of the club that a girls team has qualified to travel outside of California to compete in this prestigious championship.

The team achieved this opportunity by successfully competing against Southern California’s (excluding San Diego) top teams in the regional qualifier held in Commerce, CA on October 8 – 9.

At the National Championships in Bloomington, the team is guaranteed to play at least five games. Games will be held at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center at Indiana University against top teams from every zone from all over the United States, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California and Texas.

“We look forward to representing Rose Bowl Water Polo, as well as the entire San Gabriel Valley at the National Championships, “ stated Adam Roth, Head Coach, Girls Water Polo. “Only the top two teams from every zone qualify for this Championship and for our team to qualify so early in the season shows great potential. We will be competing against the best-of-the-best.”

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Girls Water Polo 8th Grade and Under Team is comprised of team members: Ivanna Bilaver (La Canada), Lindsay Powell (Monrovia), Chloe Barrocas (Monrovia), Kaitlynne Navarro (Monrovia), Kira O’Donell (Temple City), Georgia Bogle (Pasadena), Kathryn McCullough (San Gabriel), Maggie Ireland (San Gabriel), Audrey Taylor (La Crescenta), and Annah Brice (Los Angeles).

“We can hardly contain our excitement but it’s important now that we stay focused and work even harder during practice to prepare for the Championships,” stated Georgia Bogle, a two-year member of the girls water polo team. “I am so honored to be a part of this team and I look forward to competing with this amazing group of talented girls. Indiana better be ready for us!”

The team calculated that trip expenses will total $7,000 to represent the club and the community at the National Championships. The girls and their families will be engaged in a variety of activities over the next two weeks in an attempt to offset the trip’s expenses.

The team welcomes donations. Tax-deductible checks of support can be made out to: Rose Bowl Water Polo and sent to Rose Bowl Water Polo, Turbo Champions Cup, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103. The non-profit’s tax-exempt number is 91-2169311.

About Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Water Polo

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Water Polo Team is dedicated to providing the finest aquatic opportunities for boys and girls 8 - 18 years-of-age, through instruction, training and competition. The program is led by Head Coach Daniel Leyson, former assistant coach of the 2004 USA Men’s Olympic Team and current UCLA Men’s Water Polo assistant coach. Try-outs are held Monday – Friday 7:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

For more information or ways to contribute, please contact Adam Roth, Head Coach, Girls Water Polo at 310.663.3384 or email aroth@rosebowlaquatics.org.