Today marks exactly two years since we launched—Valentine’s Day, 2024. It all started with a “silly” little 10u practice in that unwanted 2:15pm Wednesday time slot. We didn’t have much back then, but we had a pool and a plan.
Thank YOU for being part of this small but mighty club.
I want to give a special shout-out to the Original Youth Team—the athletes who jumped into the water with us that first February. Their fearlessness paved the way for every player who has joined since:
- The Pioneers: Audrey K, Cal S, Declan W, Ellie S, Emery F, Hannah S, Leo FG, Miles I, Morgan G, Ori C, Whitney W, William A, and William M.
- The OG Women: Alexis B, Aly M, Amy F, Ann G, Ashley B, Cari B, Corey P, Erica G, Erin K, Gina S, Jennifer H, Jenny B, Jenny T, Jill S, Jordan D, Kim S, Kristen A, Lauren L, Laurie S, Missy H, Paige C, Val I, and Yassi Z. Veronica A and Kelly C get partial credit for joining mid-season 🙂
Our first Yolo “Pizza Point” – William M. to Declan W., March 23, 2024
There are a million logical reasons why Yolo shouldn’t exist. But it does, largely because of a “friends and family” discount. Bill Brown, a godfather of NorCal water polo, offered my daughter Kendall a deal on his learn-to-swim program. It wasn’t until I checked her in that I realized “discount” actually meant free. When he later asked if I could help coach splashball in the summer of 2016… well, reciprocity is a powerful motivator.
Our Vision
A massive thank you to our board members: Corey Pigeon, Katie Walsh, Jeff Moeller, John Gunderson, John Roemer, and Kyle Nichols. The old cliché “you get what you pay for” definitely doesn’t apply here. These uncompensated leaders have shaped Yolo Polo into a non-profit that chases the audacious goal of being both inclusive and extraordinary.
The Home Team
Finally, an enormous thank you to my wife, Le. When she married me, she didn’t realize our anniversary would always land in the middle of Junior Olympics—and now the club’s anniversary is on Valentine’s Day. She might still be wondering why I invest so much time into this “passion project,” but her support is the only reason I can keep chasing it.
YOLO,
Coach Kevin
p.s. A trip down memory lane—here is the “we are live” email I sent the board exactly two years ago today:
On Wed, Feb 14, 2024 at 8:50 AM Kevin Friedman wrote:
YP Board,
We are LAUNCHED!
Just a quick note to say thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for your support for getting us to this day!