Two Greenwich Teens Named to USA Men’s National Development Water Polo Team

Two Greenwich middle school students were recently named to the USA Men’s National Development Water Polo team. Of the 24 field players selected after a grueling three-day tryout, Gavin West, 13, and Jack Bruce, 14, were the only non-Californians to make the National team.

The tryout had three stages.

In December, the boys were named to the Eastern Zone team which stretches from Maine to Virginia.

West, who attends Brunswick and plays for the YMCA Greenwich Aquatics, was joined by six Aquatics teammates on the East team.

Bruce, an Eastern Middle School student who plays for Chelsea Piers, was joined by two teammates.

In February, the Eastern Zone team placed 4^th out of 16 teams nationwide in the ODP National Tournament outside San Francisco.

West and Bruce were selected to move onto the National Selection Camp in Orange County, California last weekend. A total of 75 boys born in 2003 and 2004 were invited to the tryout, which lasted three days and included a 2,000 yard swim test, body measurements, and 8 exhausting hours of water polo on a single day.

“Gavin has been playing for the YMCA team for four years and is a very dedicated and hardworking individual,” said the Head Coach of the YMCA Greenwich Aquatics team, Ulmis Iordache. “Gavin represents everything our YMCA program stands for. We couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments and know that he is going to have a great water polo career.”

West and Bruce will continue their training with the National Team in California in June.

Founded in 1916, the YMCA is the largest community-based membership organization in Greenwich. Part of a well-known YMCA national network, the Greenwich Y has over 5000 members and growing. Its programs in healthy living and youth development seek to serve and to nurture the potential of everyone in our community, whether or not they have the ability to pay for its programs.

To learn more about the YMCA of Greenwich, membership and its numerous wellness programs, visit: www.greenwichymca.org.