Water polo teams rolling again By Allan Lazo IK I he Kmerelri VVlint one sport combines the strategies of baskottmii with a goalie like soccer and the hockey power-play? Oh yeah, and is played in the water? You guessed it — water polo, and according to Russ IJesIderto. coach of the Oregon women’s Club Sports water polo team, water polo is "growing and doing very well in Oregon." The Club Sports women's team is in its first year, and a men’s team was resurrected this year by Desiderio after a two-year layoff. Prior to the two-year break in action, the men’s program had been running strong for four years. The men’s team has their main competitive season in the fall, but the team was started too late to make it to the competitions. However, the heavy competitive action for the women will be coming in the spring. The Oregon team, according to Desiderio, is the only women’s collegiate team in the state, and they will lie matched up mostly with dub teams composed of community and high school members. The women's team is also hoping to make its way to a collegiate tournament with teams from California scheduled during the first weekend of May in Berkeley. Currently. Desiderio says, he has "seen a total of 20 different faces'.’ for the men’s artd women's team practices, but he would jike to have about 14 members on both squads. One of the problems in getting numbers is that it is difficult to participate on the water polo club team and also swim competitively for the Oregon swim team at the same time, says Helga {.asschuijt. co-ordinator of the women’s water polo team and member of the Oregon swimming team. She thinks once the men’s swimming season is over, more people will be able to come out for the team. I-assclunJt started playing water polo two and a half years ago when she moved from the eastern part of Holland to the western part where the sport was more popular. In Holland, she says, the sport is con siderably more popular than here. On her team in Holland, (.asschuijt says, there were 20 members on her team , and all of the private swim clubs have their own teams. I-asschuit says she came to Oregon thinking them was a water polo team, but when she got here, there wasn't one. So she started the Club Sports team and asked Desiderio to be their coach. Desiderio played water polo in high school, four years in college and was the women's water polo coach at Stanford l Inyiersity before coming to the University. During spring term. Desiderio will be teaching a water polo class that will be offered through the physical education department. "The class will teach everytihng. We will teach the fundamentals: dribbling the ball, treading water using the egg-beater kick, throw ing. catching, the straight fundamentals, so even if somebody has a swimming background, this is the.way to learn, That is why we are having the class. Wo will also lx; doing scrimmaging.” he says, adding that the class will be a sort of lead-in or feeder for the Club Sports team. Desiderio also says the class wil be a chance for people who need to improve their swimming skills because having good swimming skills is a big advantage, he says. "Definitely, the more. the. better."Desiderio says of swimming experience. CrlCS <'on,‘nu minimum 1038 Willamette • 687 0139 Vegetarian Dining at its Best VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT 270 W. 8th Mon-Thur. 11:M)am-7:30pm 342-4335 Fri. 11:30-2:00pm r LTD. "WHERE ADVENTURES BEGIN" 1S3 W. Broadway. Eugnw Downtown 683-5877 EUGENES NEWEST DOWNTOWN OUTDOORS STORE V /'s Meow Jazz & BIues Corner Jam & Blues, Recgac ^ '-» .“ITi & Gospel KEtOttds 3rd ANNIVERSARY SALE! 15 % OFF THROUGH MARCH Records, Tapes, CD's & Collectors's Accessories In tIm FifiMpt *«l Buil dint, Fifrk & PmrI • EvqiM 686-8742 High Quality COPIES 3* Print America 519 E. 13th 485-1940 All Day ★ Every Day Collating Binding