By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Todd Clapper wanted more than an ordinary training camp for the Sun Devil women's water polo team this season. He wanted a bonding experience away from the comforts and trappings of home.
"This team is already pretty close but I think when you go somewhere to train and spend basically 10 days together, you're hoping that sets up a really good team dynamic," Clapper said. "You're going to have draw on that in March and April, toward the end of the season when you really need to keep the focus and keep positive."
The Sun Devils had originally secured a commitment from a club team in Shanghai to cover some of the team's costs for a trip last summer, but with so many players committed to their respective national teams, Clapper was looking at taking a squad of just eight players so he canceled the trip and found the club team a suitable replacement.
"We still wanted to do something," he said. "Not only for the team and an experience, but to increase our presence internationally for recruiting."
That's when Predrag Mihailovic, the father of senior Lena Mihailovic, stepped up to fill the void. Predrag was a professional water polo player until 2005, and then a coach. He changed clubs often, so while Lena was born in Belgrade, Serbia, she has also lived in Montenegro, Italy, Turkey and Australia.
Mihailovic's parents still live in Sydney. Predrag coaches at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS). Lena is part of the Australian national team program. Predrag offered to put together a tournament and training schedule with some financial and logistical help from the Cronulla club team so the Sun Devils took off Thursday on the long, pan-Pacific flight to Sydney.
"From an ease standpoint, it sounded good," Clapper said. "Everything will be close -- where we are training, our hotel -- so we won't spend a lot of time in a car or a bus. It's a chance for us to do something different for our training camp and get a few games in early."
ASU will train in an outdoor pool (Sutherland) about 25 kilometers south of Sydney, and play matches near Sydney.
"The nature and the ocean surrounding the places where we train are really beautiful!" Lena Mihailovic said. "We are also staying right across from Cronulla Beach which is a really long sand beach with amazing waves."
Given the massive time difference -- Sydney is 18 hours ahead of Phoenix -- the team arrived Saturday morning and was scheduled to train that day, and then twice on New Year's Eve Day.
On Wednesday, they'll play a game against NSWIS. On Thursday and Friday, they'll face Queensland Academy of Sport and the Drummoyne Devils, respectively. On Saturday and Sunday, they'll take part in a tournament.
The Sun Devils also plan some sightseeing excursions around Sydney including the zoo, Bondi and Bronte beaches, the famed Sydney Opera House, perhaps the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. They'll also take in the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks.
Clapper said the players were excited and nervous as they departed. This is freshman Meghan Beaudet's first trip overseas so the cultural experience will be an eye-opener for some.
Competing and training in the Australian women's water polo culture will also offer both sides an exchange of ideas. Australia (3) and the United States (5) are the only teams to win more than two medals at the women's Olympic water polo tournament since its introduction in 2000. They also sit second and third respectively in World Cup medals. Australia has 11, the United States has nine and the Netherlands has 12.
"I think this trip will benefit us a lot," Mihailovic said. "We will have some hard sessions and practices as well as play some strong teams which is what we need in order to be ready for the season.
"Also the beautiful summer weather brings up a mood and adds to the atmosphere. It's a great trip for team bonding. I think it is very important to have a good atmosphere and team spirit."
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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Todd Clapper wanted more than an ordinary training camp for the Sun Devil women's water polo team this season. He wanted a bonding experience away from the comforts and trappings of home.
"This team is already pretty close but I think when you go somewhere to train and spend basically 10 days together, you're hoping that sets up a really good team dynamic," Clapper said. "You're going to have draw on that in March and April, toward the end of the season when you really need to keep the focus and keep positive."
The Sun Devils had originally secured a commitment from a club team in Shanghai to cover some of the team's costs for a trip last summer, but with so many players committed to their respective national teams, Clapper was looking at taking a squad of just eight players so he canceled the trip and found the club team a suitable replacement.
"We still wanted to do something," he said. "Not only for the team and an experience, but to increase our presence internationally for recruiting."
That's when Predrag Mihailovic, the father of senior Lena Mihailovic, stepped up to fill the void. Predrag was a professional water polo player until 2005, and then a coach. He changed clubs often, so while Lena was born in Belgrade, Serbia, she has also lived in Montenegro, Italy, Turkey and Australia.
Mihailovic's parents still live in Sydney. Predrag coaches at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS). Lena is part of the Australian national team program. Predrag offered to put together a tournament and training schedule with some financial and logistical help from the Cronulla club team so the Sun Devils took off Thursday on the long, pan-Pacific flight to Sydney.
"From an ease standpoint, it sounded good," Clapper said. "Everything will be close -- where we are training, our hotel -- so we won't spend a lot of time in a car or a bus. It's a chance for us to do something different for our training camp and get a few games in early."
ASU will train in an outdoor pool (Sutherland) about 25 kilometers south of Sydney, and play matches near Sydney.
"The nature and the ocean surrounding the places where we train are really beautiful!" Lena Mihailovic said. "We are also staying right across from Cronulla Beach which is a really long sand beach with amazing waves."
Given the massive time difference -- Sydney is 18 hours ahead of Phoenix -- the team arrived Saturday morning and was scheduled to train that day, and then twice on New Year's Eve Day.
Sun Devil Water Polo is ringing in the New Year in Australia and wishing all of our fans a happy New Year! Stay tuned for an update on their adventures! pic.twitter.com/n1ug0Z7kk3
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) January 1, 2018
On Wednesday, they'll play a game against NSWIS. On Thursday and Friday, they'll face Queensland Academy of Sport and the Drummoyne Devils, respectively. On Saturday and Sunday, they'll take part in a tournament.
The Sun Devils also plan some sightseeing excursions around Sydney including the zoo, Bondi and Bronte beaches, the famed Sydney Opera House, perhaps the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. They'll also take in the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks.
Clapper said the players were excited and nervous as they departed. This is freshman Meghan Beaudet's first trip overseas so the cultural experience will be an eye-opener for some.
Competing and training in the Australian women's water polo culture will also offer both sides an exchange of ideas. Australia (3) and the United States (5) are the only teams to win more than two medals at the women's Olympic water polo tournament since its introduction in 2000. They also sit second and third respectively in World Cup medals. Australia has 11, the United States has nine and the Netherlands has 12.
"I think this trip will benefit us a lot," Mihailovic said. "We will have some hard sessions and practices as well as play some strong teams which is what we need in order to be ready for the season.
"Also the beautiful summer weather brings up a mood and adds to the atmosphere. It's a great trip for team bonding. I think it is very important to have a good atmosphere and team spirit."
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