Advantage,
TIGERS!
North Allegheny water polo team builds upon a tradition of success.
BY JENNIFER BROZAK
By combining aspects of soccer, basketball, swimming and hockey into one game, water polo is one of the most thrilling sports to participate in and watch— and the Tiger Water Polo Club team is no exception.
Founded approximately 10 years ago, it is a youth club for athletes age 16 and under. The club was launched after Kirk“ Corky” Semler, a PA High School Hall of Fame swimming coach, established the North Allegheny High School boys and girls water polo teams. The foundation of Tiger Water Polo originated in the 1980s, with the launch of the Pittsburgh Renegades Water Polo Club, and many of the original“ Renegades” still serve as team mentors and coaches. Its primary pool location is the North Allegheny High School pool; as such, the program has a close relationship with North Allegheny athletics.
“ NA Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto has been very supportive of our growth and efforts,” says Jim Staresinic, coach and club president.
The success of the program builds upon the impressive background of its coaches. The team’ s head coach and programs coordinator, Nikola Malezanov, is also the head coach of the North Allegheny varsity teams. He served as assistant coach for the U. S. Naval Academy Water Polo program as well as with the Navy Water Polo Club. Malezanov also works with the USA Water Polo Development and National Team programs. He served as USA National Team assistant coach at the 2011 World League in Costa Mesa, Calif., and also in 2009 at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Malezanov began his career as a youth player in Serbia, where he spent 10 years honing his skills before becoming a coach.
“ He built his coaching skills under the tutelage of some of Serbia’ s and Europe’ s top coaches. Through his early years as a coach, he coached at many different levels, including professional teams,” explains Staresinic, who has been with the club for seven years.“ Some of Nikola’ s players have reached the highest level of the sport, including one player from his hometown of Nis, Serbia, who played in the Olympics this year for the Serbian National Team.”
Today, Malezanov, who’ s been with the club for five years, is considered one of the top coaches in the United States.
“ I believe that coaches leave a mark in one child’ s development both as athletes as well as people,” says Malezanov.“ I hope my influence on their development is positive.”
In addition to its standout coaching staff, numerous club players have achieved
20 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | North Allegheny