INNISFAIL – It was an experience that help set the future stage for Gerald Staples.
The 17-year-old water polo player from Innisfail just returned from the 2019 Junior Olympics held in Irvine, Calif. from July 20 to 23.
Staples competed with the Bainbridge Rays 18U boys' water polo team, based in Washington State.
He was picked up by the team after hearing about the opportunity from a fellow water polo player on the Canadian Junior National team.
“I applied and I was accepted on (the team),” said Staples. “They were really good players and they had their own dynamic that worked out quite well with mine.”
Staples began his water polo career several years ago in Innisfail.
“I started playing water polo when I was eight years old with the (Innisfail) Hurricanes. When I was around 12 or 13 I went up to the Torpedos in Calgary and started playing for them,” he said. "I still coach with Innisfail and try to contribute to that community as much as I can.”
All eligible water polo players for the 2019 Junior Olympics had to be 19 years of age or younger or in their senior year in high school. They had to be registered with an American team, as no Canadian teams competed in the event.
Staples, the only Albertan to compete, joined three other Canadian water polo players from British Columbia.
He said the team qualified for the Junior Olympics following a tournament at the end of June.
“I went to qualifiers with them (in Oregon). It was a good experience and I got first-hand experience with them,” he said, adding he trained with the team for about nine days before the 2019 Junior Olympics.
Although the team put forth a good effort, they came home empty-handed, said Staples, noting several hundred teams in attendance from across eastern and central Europe and the United States.
“The Junior Olympics is the largest water polo event in the world,” said Staples. “We qualified in the losing tier unfortunately, but we were (ranked) mid-tier.”
He noted his dual roles on the team, both his usual defensive position as well offensive.
“I also played a main offensive role when I was (in California) because I was probably the largest player on the team there,” he said. “I have played the role before but I’m mostly an alternate for it.
“It was quite easy in the U.S. because their style of play is quite a bit different than up here,” he added, noting he learned much from the experience.
“It was really great. I got to learn a lot from the coaches and they were excellent for me,” said Staples.
The 2019 Junior Olympics is another international tournament Staples can add to his young water polo career, having already played in several events in recent years in the United States and overseas in New Zealand.
“It was an excellent tournament. I really enjoyed myself,” he said. “I look forward to playing in the U.S. again for the Junior Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Staples continues to look to the future.
“I’ve been looking to play on the Olympic Team for Canada. That’s become my goal as a water polo player, to possibly play for the national team and go to the Olympics,” Staples concluded.
