BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The membership of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) and Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) were turned to for leadership once again as Brenda Villa and former Bucknell University head coach/USA Water Polo Chief High Performance Officer John Abdou, co-chairs of the USA Water Polo Racial Equity & Reform Task Force, have announced nine appointments to join them in their efforts to expand access to water polo for all while ensuring zero tolerance of racism. Hailing from states across the country, with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, the nine appointees include: Olympic athletes, varsity collegiate athletes, collegiate club athletes, club athletes, coaches, referees, team administrators and parents.
Joining Villa and Abdou on the task force are: Ted Minnis (Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach – Harvard University – Massachusetts), Felix Mercado (Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach – Brown University – Rhode Island), Chelsea Johnson (Former Princeton University athlete/Club Coach – Florida), Clarke Weatherspoon (Club Coach – California), Angela Uno (Referee – Texas), Ivan Munoz (Club Administrator – Illinois), Mariko Rooks (Yale University collegiate club athlete – Connecticut), Scott Newberger (Parent/Club Volunteer – Arizona) and Tumua Tavana (Anae) (Olympic Champion – Utah).
“As a coach, I love putting teams together and I am grateful for all the individuals that form this task force,” said task force co-chair and four-time Olympic medalist Brenda Villa. “Co-chair John Abdou and I felt it was important to have this task force not only represent people of color but feature water polo communities and roles from around the country. We are ready to get a game plan together and execute it to make our sport more inclusive.”
As announced last month, topics expected to be addressed by the task force recommendations are:
- ZERO TOLERANCE: Ensure USAWP organizational processes at national, regional and club levels are free from racism and bias, and include meaningful remedies to safeguard accountability
- ACCESS: Increase participation in water polo among communities of color, including partnerships with clubs and other relevant organizations that will expand access to water polo aquatics facilities
- EDUCATION: Provide curriculum and other educational tools to promote a water polo community of respect, dignity, and fairness to all, especially people of color
- RESOURCES: Expand resources for the promotion of tolerance and accessibility within the sport of water polo
Information courtesy USA Water Polo
