Members of the District Blossoms water polo program are traveling to Dallas to compete in the Junior Olympics Water Polo competition scheduled for July 30 through August 2. The group is fielding two squads for the event, including a boys team and a 16-and-under girls team.
Robby Zhang, who co-founded the organization in 2023, noted that the girls squad is the only fully rostered team from the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region to participate in the tournament. Zhang, originally from the Bay Area in California, described water polo as a niche sport on the East Coast, though he observed that the activity is growing in Texas and Florida.
He described the Dallas event as the largest youth tournament of its kind in the country. Zhang stated that the athletes have been working diligently to reach this stage and expressed excitement about the opportunity for the group to compete together.
Several players shared their perspectives on the upcoming competition. Coralyn, 14, of Clarksburg, acknowledged that her team is considered an underdog but remains confident in their abilities. She believes the squad is equal to other competitors and feels that hard work will lead to success.
Vaughn, 11, from Bethesda, expressed enthusiasm for the trip, looking forward to both the competition and local cuisine. Suriel, 15, also from Bethesda, highlighted the social benefits of the sport, noting that water polo has helped her build friendships and develop as a person.
