LOCAL NEW ENGLAND TEAM WINS 2nd ANNUAL USA
KAYAK POLO NATIONAL COMPETITION
LOCAL NEW ENGLAND TEAM WINS 2nd ANNUAL USA
KAYAK POLO NATIONAL COMPETITION
The "Spy Pond Pirates" of the New England Canoe Polo Club placed first in the 2nd annual USA Kayak Polo National Competition held in Fort Collins, Colorado last weekend. The event hosted 20 teams from both the United States and Canada. The competition also included an Invitational Open for national teams representing USA, Canada and New Zealand. The "Spy Pond Pirates", Captained by Joe Mikulsky of Watertown, Mass., won 4 preliminary games to advance to the Semi-Finals. In the Semi-Finals the "Spy Pond Pirates" defeated the "San Francisco 49's" by a score of I -0 and crushed the Austin based team the "Aquabats" with a score of 7-2. Advancing to the finals, the "Spy Pond Pirates" were once again faced by the reigning champions and local favorites "Ice" of the Mountain Kayak Polo Club. Previously losing to "Ice", the "Spy Pond Pirates" exploded onto the pool and secured their victory with a 4- 1 win.
Members of the "Spy Pond Pirates" (left to right): David Wright of
Portsmouth, NH; - Dan Weiss of Cambridge, MA; - Scott Simpson
of Arlington, MA; Tyler McIntyre of Manchester, NH; - Bill Schoolcraft
of Cambridge, MA; - Team Captain Joe Mikulsky of Watertown, MA;
and Brian Tewksbury of West Newburyport, MA.
The team practices together on Sunday nights from 6 to 9 pm at ---- Hanscom Air Force Base in Lexington, MA. They are looking to expand the New England Canoe Polo Club and welcome beginners to expert paddlers to come and check it out.
Congratulations to the "Spy Pond Pirates" of the New England Canoe Polo Club for their victory at the Nationals. Joe Mikulsky, David Wright, Scott Simpson and Bill Schoolcraft were elected to the USA team to compete in the World Kayak Polo Championships to be held in Brazil this July. ~