Italian Hosts Give Harvard Water Polo Lesson

Members of the Harvard Water Polo Foundation returned Wednesday morning from a two-week tour of Italy with more than suitcases full of dirty laundry to show for it.

The defending Southern Section 2-A Division champions came back toting the experience of international water polo at the European club level. Although Harvard won just two of its 18 matches and tied another, Harvard Coach Rich Corso was pleased.

“We didn’t take a team to conquer Europe,� Corso said. “We went to learn water polo. Now they know what good water polo is.

“It’s good to see great water polo in Europe instead of the kids hearing me talk about it or showing it to them in videos.�

Brian Border, a sophomore on the Saracens’ championship team last season, was among the 15 players who toured Italy.

“We learned a lot from the Italians,� Border said. “Just learning their style of play. Things we can bring back to the United States and put into our game.�

Harvard, after going to the 2-A Division final the past two years, has joined the Del Rey League, a member of the 3-A Division. With the upgrade in divisions comes a new challenge for Corso, who will begin his fourth season at Harvard in the fall.

The Italian tour, he said, will aid in that transition.

“I told the kids that we were the students when we went over there,� Corso said. “We were going to learn the game. The club teams in Italy were very complimentary on how young we were and how we came back to the pool with new energy every day. So far, it’s been an excellent summer of training.�

A Bergamo, Italy, club, which served at Harvard’s host, likely will tour the Valley next summer.