Pierce College’s Athletic Department will include a Women’s Water Polo team this coming fall and is looking for members.
The new team will be coached by 2008 Olympic water polo silver medalist, Moriah VanNorman, who graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Master’s in TESOL. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Langauges)
While playing for USC, VanNorman was awarded the Peter J. Cutino award in 2004 after leading the team to win the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship.
After retiring from the sport in the Fall of 2009, VanNorman worked at Los Angeles Trade Tech and Valley College for a couple years before coming to Pierce.
The team was formed in compliance with Title IX regulations which states that there has to be an equal amount of sports teams offered for men and women, according to Judi Terhar, head coach of the women’s swim team.
Athletic Director Bob Lofrano initiated the women’s water polo team to complement the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, after they won the 2011 Western State Conference Championship
“We have about eight players so far,” VanNorman said.
Funding for the new water polo team comes from the existing funds the athletic department already has according to Pierce College President Kathleen Burke-Kelly.
“I lived in Greece and played professionally for a year,” VanNorman said. “Our team won the European Championship.”
