Pittsford Tops Fairport for Polo Crown

November 29, 2001

Pittsford, NY - Pittsford unveiled a new-look, high-scoring offense to capture the Pittsford Invitational Water Polo Benefit title this past weekend in the Sutherland pool.

This was the 28th year of competition for the water polo benefit that was started by retired Pittsford swim coach Fred Rockow. As in past years, funds raised at the tournament were presented to the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association for its summer youth campership fund.

The teams play 24-minute games broken up into four six-minute quarters. In the first and third quarters, the team's seventh-, eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders play. In the second and fourth quarters, the juniors and seniors play.

The Panthers scored 50 goals in Friday's round-robin games against Penfield (2-1), Webster (1-2) and Honeoye Falls-Lima (0-3) to advance to Saturday's semifinals along with Penfield.

Results from the afternoon round robin were: Pittsford over HF-L 19-2, Penfield defeating Webster 13-7, Penfield nipping HF-L 12-11, Pittsford routing Webster 17-8, Webster rolling over HF-L 13-6 and Pittsford sinking Penfield 14-3.

In Friday's morning round robin, Greece Arcadia emerged as the overall leader with a 3-0 record, thanks to the help of several Fairport swimmers who filled in to keep the Lightning afloat. Arcadia beat Fairport 11-10, McQuaid 21-0 and Athena 13-10. Other morning scores included Athena over McQuaid 14-0, Fairport topping Athena 11-9 and Fairport stunning McQuaid 14-4.

The Fairport players returned to their own team for Saturday as Fairport moved up to the No. 1 seed and Athena was No. 2.

In the first semifinals, Pittsford defeated Athena 14-6. Fairport doubled up Penfield 12-6 in the second semifinal.

Athena came alive in the consolation match to nip Penfield 13-12.

The championship match was a classic bout between longtime water polo rivals Pittsford and Fairport. Last year, Pittsford lost in the semis and Fairport won the 2000 championship without ever playing the Panthers.

Pittsford prevailed in the championship match 16-9 to regain the title it last held in 1999.

Pittsford scored 30 more goals in the two Saturday games for a record 80-goal output for the entire tournament.

Mark Morris served as both the tournament director and coach of the Pittsford team.

Special thanks was extended to the many former players who returned to serve as volunteer referees. A special alumni game was held Saturday morning prior to the start of the semifinals.

Originally published in the Perinton-Fairport Post

2002