Stanchi chosen to represent USA at FINA World Championships

After a grueling nine-month try-out process, Bellevue’s Marco Stanchi (’15) was chosen to represent the United States at the upcoming FINA Youth World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey! On August 2-10, Marco and thirteen teammates will compete against the best youth players in the world at the biennial tournament.

Marco is the first BHS athlete ever selected to represent the United States in international competition. He is also one of just three athletes in the history of Washington water polo to earn such distinction.

The selection caps a meteroic rise for the rising senior co-captain. Focused on swimming through his freshman year, Marco did not begin playing competitive water polo until May 2012. During the past two fall seasons, he helped the boys team capture state titles while earning First-Team All-State and Offensive MVP honors. Now, barely two years into his water polo career, Marco will compete at the highest level of international play as one of two centers for Team USA!

Joining Marco on the Youth Travel Team is Roosevelt High School junior goalkeeper Conrad Gordon. Stanchi and Gordon, teammates at Rain City Water Polo, are two of four non-Californians traveling to Istanbul. Rain City, based in Bellevue and the Eastside, is the only club program with multiple athletes on the travel team. Both players will also compete against Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago at the UANA Junior Pan American Championships on July 8-15 as a tune-up for the FINA Youth World Championships.

Please join us in congratulating Marco on this incredible honor! The entire BHS Water Polo Community is so proud of you!

For more information about USA Water Polo’s Youth National Team, click here. For a complete roster, click here. To watch a video featuring Marco and the four non-Californians on the Youth Travel Team, click here.