Bearcats water polo coach assists in Olympic program selections

McKendree University water polo coach Gregg Emde will be among the coaches assisting with the selections for the Junior National Team at the USA Water Polo National Team Selection Camp to be held through Monday in Irvine, Calif.

Emde has been involved as a coach with USA Water Polo through its Olympic Development Program (ODP) for 13 years. He currently serves as the Midwest Zone coach for the Junior National Team. With that squad, Emde coaches the top high school juniors and seniors from the Chicago and St. Louis areas. The current Midwest Zone team is comprised of 14 players.

“I’m honored to have this association with USA Water Polo and ODP,” said Emde. “It’s great to have the opportunity to work with some of the best young players in this part of the country in their development as they look to represent our country. It’s also nice as they get to learn about McKendree as well.”

Emde will join fellow ODP Junior National zone coaches as well as Junior National head coach Alex Rodriguez at the five-day camp. Participants will spend seven hours a day in the pool to hone their skills in hopes of being selected for the Junior National Team. That squad will then train together in the summer and participate in international competition in July and August.

McKendree announced the addition of men’s and women’s water polo for the 2016-17 academic year. Emde was named as the head coach for both Bearcat programs back in August. The new McKendree programs will practice and hold matches at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, a multi-purpose facility currently under construction in O’Fallon.

News-Democrat

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 10:15 PM with the headline "Bearcats water polo coach assists in Olympic program selections."