Junior Olympics comes to Felton

For the first time, San Lorenzo Valley High School will be a host pool for the United States Water Polo Junior Olympics that runs July 28 through August 5.
During the tournament, the pool will be closed to public swimming and the school will host 12 teams per day from around the United States.
“We’ve never done this before, so it’s kind of exciting,” said SLV water polo coach Wally Brondstatter who is helping organize the SLV site.
Stanford University is the official host for this year’s games that will feature 547 teams and more than 8,000 athletes from around the country.
In Santa Cruz County, pools at Cabrillo College, Aptos High, Santa Cruz High and SLV will be used as competition sites. The majority of sites are in San Jose, including Stanford and San Jose State universities. 
The Junior Olympics are divided by gender — boys teams will play August 28 – July 31 and girls teams from Aug. 2-5.
SLV will host the 12-and-under boys championship on July 28, 14-and-under’s on July 29, 16-and-unders on July 30 and 14-and-under again on July 31.
For the girls tournament SLV will host the 16-and-under’s on Aug. 1, 12-and-under’s on Aug. 3, and the 14-and-unders on Aug. 4 and 5. Games will take place most days from 8 a.m. until 7:15 p.m.
Teams qualified for the tournament by winning their geographic zone.
Hosting the tournament acts as a fundraiser for the school’s programs, said Claudia Dodson, a USA Water Polo organizer. There are admission costs at the gate and the school can run a snack bar for the athletes, spectators and families. Tickets are $45 for and adult tournament pass, or $15 per day. For children and seniors the cost is $40 and $10. 
For information and schedules, www.juniorolympics.com