S. Florida Water Polo Club ensures high school players thrive as sport grows By Sharon Robb South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted February 14 2006 The future of several high school water polo programs in Broward County looks bright as long as the South Florida Water Polo Club stays around. The club serves as a feeder system and training ground for various players from Cooper City, Cypress Bay, Douglas, Northeast, St. Thomas Aquinas and Westminster Academy. The nationally ranked boys' and girls' club has provided South Florida with some of the state's top players while the sport still is trying to establish itself at the high school level. There are 77 schools, up from 69 last year, fielding teams around the state in 12 districts. "We have players that are in different high schools, but they do come together for a greater good, which is to play water polo," SFWPC girls' coach Edwin Barrera said. "The quality of water polo in the state is growing." Several high school players will compete on the same team this weekend at the fourth annual South Florida International Age Group Water Polo Tournament at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex before they go their separate ways next week when the second FHSAA season begins. On Friday, the girls' team, with top players from Western, St. Thomas and Westminster Academy, plays the Miami Riptides at 10:30 a.m. and the boys face Puerto Rico at 12:10 p.m. The tournament has several international teams, including Hungary, Jamaica and the Israeli national team, making its tournament debut. Bruce Wigo, boys' coach of the South Florida Water Polo Club and Westminster Academy, said at least six club players will sign with Division I schools this year, including John Meiners of Cardinal Gibbons, who plays despite his high school not fielding a team. Northeast lost just one starting senior off its undefeated boys' state champion water polo team. The Hurricanes are favored to repeat as district and state champions. The Hurricanes return six starters in twin brothers Drac and Janson Wigo, headed to Stanford in the fall; Christian Padilla, Darren McKay, Chris Vahey and Sean Freeman. The girls' competition will be heated between rivals St. Thomas Aquinas and Western. The girls' team that makes it to state is expected to face defending champion Gulliver Prep, coming off a 30-0 season and holders of a state-record 137-win streak.