ODP - A Player’s Perspective

Being a part of ODP and the Mountain Zone Team for these past 5 years have been a huge part of my life. Every year, I tried out, worked hard, and made the team.  This gave me the ultimate opportunity to go out to California and play against the best players from around the country. I wasn’t one of the best players on my team every year, but in my third year, I got selected to attend NTSC, which is the Nation Team Selection Camp. What I had lacked in height and muscles I made up for by being fast and smart in the pool. NTSC is a great honor for anyone that plays because of all the steps you have to make it through in order to be selected. That year I was the only one selected from my team and hoped I would serve my zone proud. Now as the years have passed, I just completed my last tournament being a part of the Mountain Zone Team as an ODP player. It's sad to think about, but remembering the friendships I made, the skills I worked on, coaches who believed in me, were all worth those 5 years of hard work.  I may have Cali-hair, but I’m a Colorado boy at heart and I really do care how water polo has affected my life!

Written by Jespyn Bishop