6-6-08

Road trip!  THE road trip!

This is what we work so hard for... our annual trip to Utah.  The bus ride.  The intense competition.  The chance to show each year that this team just gets better and better.

You must get your paperwork and trip fee to Grier no later than June 14th.  If you have not received an e-mail with the cost and forms, please contact your home location coach, or Grier, right away.

Here are more details on the trip.  Our chartered bus will pick up players at two stops:

Thursday, June 26th

     The bus departs the Brothers BBQ at I-25 and Arapahoe (east side of the freeway, north side of Arapahoe very close to the northbound on-ramp) at 6:00am.  Please arrive by 5:45am so the bus can depart on schedule.

     The bus will then stop at the Village Inn near I-25 and Highway 7 and depart that location at 6:45am.  

     We arrive in Kearns, Utah around 4:00pm.  We will most likely go right to the pool and get in the water.  Both the Boys 18U and the 15U A team have games Thursday night.

      The pool is at the Oquirrh Park Fitness Center in Kearns, Utah.

      Check in at hotel around 9:30pm.  Country Inn & Suites, 10499 South Jordan Gateway, South Jordan, Utah,  84095.  Phone: 801-553-1151.

Friday, June 27th - Saturday, June 28th

     Wake up 6:30am.  Breakfast in hotel.

     Games throughout the day, most likely having lunch at the pool.

     Various team meeting may be held on deck and that evening at the hotel.

     Lights out at 10:00pm

Sunday, June 29th

     Wake up 6:30am.  Breakfast at hotel.  Take all gear with you on the bus, we will not return to the hotel.

     Bus leaves Kearns around Noon. 

     Bus arrives at Village Inn location at approximately 8:30pm

     Bus arrives at Brothers BBQ location around 9:15pm

We'll have a fun, and hopefully our most successful, trip yet!   

Updated 6-16-08
Aurora captured the Spring League title with a win over Arapahoe Saturday, June 14th, at Denver University's Natatorium.  Aurora won 13-4 behind strong play from Sean Custy and Bijan Ghaffari (pirated from Boulder, of course).  Cory Pansini and Dustin Owens both played well for Aurora in and out of the goal, while Jordan Degenhart and CSU's... uh.. well, Sean Custy's "little sister" did a great job defending Arapahoe's hole sets.  (Aurora would, of course, never bend the rules so far as to include college players just to win the Spring League)

Thank you to everyone who participated.  This competition helped us gear up for Utah.

Game results:

• May 31st: Aurora vs. Boulder - Aurora 9, Boulder 3
• June 7th: Arapahoe vs. Boulder - Arapahoe 7, Boulder 4
• June 14th: Aurora vs. Arapahoe - Aurora 13, Arapahoe 4

Our Summer League begins mid-July.  Boulder captured the Winter League.

Updated 5-2-08
Hinkley High School's pool will be closed for repairs again this summer.  Aurora workouts will move to Gateway High School at 1300 S. Sable Blvd as of Tuesday, May 27th.  We will return to Hinkley once repairs are completed, likely towards the end of summer.

Tuesday and Thursday practices at Gateway will start at 7:00pm and run until 9:00pm.  For players paying Aurora dues, you will still make out your monthly checks to 'Aurora Public Schools.'

If you have any questions, please e-mail Mark.

4-21-08
Six more Pirates will be competing in a national tournament as part of their age group's traveling team.

Heather Frank, Bailey Gadd, Kalina Grabb, Tori Holtestaul, and Cecilia Paciaroni all made the traveling team for the Mountain Zone Girls Junior Team for girls born in 1991 and 1992.

Mitra Ghaffari made the traveling team for the Mountain Zone Girls Youth Team for girls born in 1993 or later.

The girls Junior Team tournament will take place in Irvine, California over Memorial Day weekend.

The girls Youth Team tournament will be in San Juan Capistrano, California on the same dates, May 23rd-26th.

Of the 24 Pirates who took part in the first Mountain Zone tryout at Hinkley High School back in March, 12 have made their traveling teams and will play in a national tournament.  That is an oustanding individual, and team, accomplishment.  Congratulations to all of you!

4-17-08

Six Pirates will now have the chance to compete in a national tournament as part of their age group's traveling team. 

Matt McCurdy qualified for the Mountain Zone Junior Boys Traveling Team.  The Junior Team national tournament will take place in Annapolis, Maryland over Memorial Day weekend May 23rd-26th.

Marshall McCurdy qualified for the Mountain Zone Boys Youth "A" Team.

Jake Anderson, Wyatt Oerman, Ryan Schmid, & Conner Skeen-Gaar qualified for the Mountain Zone Boys Youth "B" Team. 

There are two teams this year for the Boys Youth Team because the Mountain Zone will host the national tournament in Kearns, Utah over the Memorial Day weekend.

Congratulations Pirates!  And good luck at Nationals!

Updated 3-27-08

17 Pirates qualified for their Mountain Zone teams this year, the most in team history.  Each of the chosen players is invited to their Zone Team Training Camp for more training and a chance to make the zone traveling team.   Players chosen for their traveling teams will compete at a national tournament against other zone teams from across the country.  At that tournament, national team members will be chosen from each age group. 

Congratulations Pirates!  Good luck at your zone camps!

Pirates on Zone Teams:

          Boys Youth Team - Coached by Mike Goldhart & David Grovdahl

•           Jake Anderson
•           Sam Buchholz
•           Kyler Epperson
•           Marshall McCurdy
•           Wyatt Oerman
•           Ryan Schmid
•           Conner Skeen-Gaar

          Girls Youth Team - Coached by Robbie Bova & Manu Ghaffari

•           Courtney Bundy
•           Mitra Ghaffari

          Boys Junior Team - Coached by Robert Wills & Mark St. John

•           Bijan Ghaffari
•           Matt McCurdy
•           Riley Skeen-Gaar

          Girls Junior Team - Coached by Ryan Castle

•           Heather Frank
•           Bailey Gadd
•           Kalina Grabb
•           Tori Holtestaul
•           Cecilia Paciaroni

Check the Mountain Zone Web Site for details on dates and locations for zone camps.

***If you have not heard from your zone coach, contact them as soon as possible.

4-16-08

These are a couple of in-state camps this summer you might be interested in:

CSU Water Polo Camp: For information go to csurams.com, and then click on the tab ATHLETICS and scroll down to where it says CAMPS.  You may also contact coach Mike Moody at (970) 491-7127.

Air Force Camp: June 16-20.  Go to www.goairforcefalcons.com and scroll down to summer sports camps.