USA Water Polo's Holiday Cup skills competition wants you!

Huntington Beach, Calif. - November 23, 2009 - The 10^th Holiday Cup will open for the first time ever with an International Skills Competition. The event is scheduled to take place Tuesday, December 8 at 6pm at the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center on the campus of Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. The competition will feature members of each of the six participating nations matching their prowess in a series of water polo skills. In addition, members of the media are invited to suit up and test out their water polo skills for bragging rights among fellow journalists in Southern California. Can you score a skip shot or win a sprint? Test your mettle at the Holiday Cup International Skills competition.

For the International athletes competing skills will be designed for field players as well as goalkeepers and may include: Fastest Sprint; Most Accurate Shot; Goalkeeper Shootout; Penalty Shot Tournament; Obstacle Course; Goalkeeper High Corners; and Trick Shots. The festival-like evening will also feature several local water polo clubs in attendance on hand to cheer on members of Team USA, compete in their own tests of skill, win prizes, and meet their favorite athletes. To get a member of your organization involved in the skills competition contact Greg Mescall at gmescall@usawaterpolo.org or (714) 500-5455.

About the 10^th Holiday Cup

The United States of America, the reigning World Champions of Women's Water Polo will welcome five of the top ten ranked nations to Newport Beach, California this December for the 10^th Holiday Cup. Silver and Bronze Medalist of the 2009 World Championships Canada and Russia will join defending Olympic Gold Medalist the Netherlands, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Italy, and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Australia in competition. Set for December 9-13, Corona del Mar High School will play host to the most anticipated women's water polo event since the final buzzer sounded this past August in Rome, Italy.

A rematch of the protested Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada highlights five days of water polo action that will see the best in the world mix it up. Three matches per day begin on Wednesday, December 9 with an international skills competition serving as a tourney appetizer on the evening of Tuesday, December 8.

The Holiday Cup has historically been an event dominated by the host United States, however it was Italy claiming the crown during the event's last run in 2007. Prior to 2007 it was six consecutive titles for Team USA in an event that has evolved from a four team showdown hosted in summer months to six teams squaring off in December.

Saturday, December 12 will see three games of competition followed by a fundraising dinner at the Hyatt Regency-Newport Beach featuring guest speaker Lisa Leslie. Leslie, a four time Olympian, three-time WNBA MVP, and two-time WNBA Champion just recently completed a stellar basketball career retiring this past fall from the Los Angeles Sparks. For more information or to attend the dinner contact Jennifer Rottenberg at jrottenberg@usawaterpolo.org.

For more information including Holiday Cup schedules and results please visit www.usawaterpolo.org. For media interested in attending the Holiday Cup or contacting participating athletes and coaches please contact Greg Mescall at (714) 500-5455 or gmescall@usawaterpolo.org