Water polo: Bowlus, Jendrusina named to U.S. Junior National team

Tony Altobelli

Garrett Bowlus, UCLA-bound, 6-foot-6, 2-meter specialist from

Corona del Mar High, has been named to the United States National Youth

Water Polo Team and will compete in a worldwide tournament in Europe this

summer.

“This is a great honor to be selected for this team,” Bowlus said.

“Water polo in Europe is like baseball over here in terms of popularity.

They take it very serious over there. I remember playing in Hungary when

I was 15 and there were 7-year-old kids good enough to play high school

varsity.”

Bowlus helped the Sea Kings win back-to-back CIF Southern Section

Division II titles and was the division’s Co-Player of the Year as a

senior, joining teammate Michael March, who will compete with the U.S.

National Junior Water Polo Team.

“We’ve got four days of training for this before we head over,” Bowlus

said. “Any time you get an opportunity to play overseas against such a

high level of players, it’s very hard to turn down.”

Last year, Bowlus 88 goals, dished out 33 assists and posted 33 steals

for CdM and was an All-American selection as well.

“Everyone who plays in Europe is so big and they can play any position

in the pool,” Bowlus said. “I’ll be going up against people my own size

with better overall skills, so it should be a great learning experience

for me.”

Joining Bowlus is Newport Harbor product and UC San Diego-bound Steven

Jendrusina.

“I’m really fortunate to be able to be a part of this,” Jendrusina

said. “The Europeans have great shooting skills, so that’s something I’ll

be trying to take back home with me.”

Jendrusina had 52 goals, 47 steals and 39 assists and helped the

Sailors win the Division I title, the first title for Newport since 1984.

Jendrusina was a first-team, All-CIF Division I standout and was a

two-time All-Sea View League choice as well.

The trip kicks off July 2 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and heads into

Bucharest, Romania and wraps up in Athens, Greece.

“Their League of European Nations Tournament will take place soon, so

this is their opportunity to get ready for that,” Bowlus said. “We’ll be

competing against their 18-and-under teams and we might even go up

against some 20-and-under teams, too.”

The U.S. National Youth team is coached by Capistrano Valley skipper

Jason Lynch.