BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) varsity officiating assignor Michael Goldenberg was part of a group that toured the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, N.C., as part of the preparation for the 2029 International University Sports Federation (FISU)-Summer World University Games on July 11-22, 2029 in the North Carolina region of Cary-Chapel Hill-Durham-Raleigh-Greensboro.
The multi-sport event will occur in the United States for the second time following the 1993 Summer Universiade held in Buffalo.
Goldenberg – who serves as the Water Polo Technical Committee Chairman – was joined by Jing Zhao of FISU and Mike Tadych, the FISU Water Polo Sports Manager, for a tour of the Triangle Aquatic Center led by site Executive Director Derek Wall and Director of Operations Melissa Oman.
A long-time official on the collegiate and international levels, Goldenberg handles assignments for varsity contests at all CWPA/Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC)/Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) institutions in addition to serving as a conduit for the recruitment, management and support of the varsity officiating ranks.
Among highlights of his officiating career, he called the Gold Medal match at the 2019 World Championships and the men’s Gold Medal match at the 2020/2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The recipient of the 2022 Bret Bernard National Referee Award (Elite) from USA Water Polo, he officiated collegiate competition from 1993-to-2024 and called CWPA, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship finals. He became an international referee (FINA) in 2003 and officiated Gold Medal games on a variety of levels around the globe while also serving as the Head Coach/Administrator with South Florida Water Polo Club and the Head Coach of the Boys Team at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, both located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Melissa Oman (Triangle Aquatic Center Director of Operations), Jing Zhao (International University Sports Federation/FISU), : Mike Tadych, (NC USA 2029 FISU World University Games Water Polo Sports Manager), Michael Goldenberg (Water Polo Technical Committee Chairman), Derek Wall (Triangle Aquatic Center Executive Director)
