Tara Prentice, US Water Polo Olympian, Leads NYC Parks Clinic
It’s been a scant few months since US national team water polo athlete Tara Prentice’s Olympic dreams ended in stunning fashion at the Paris Aquatics Center. A last-second goal by Sabrina van der Sloot of The Netherlands in the third place game denied Prentice and her teammates a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Not only did that defeat end the American women’s impressive streak of medaling in every Olympic they have participated in [six between 2000 and 2024], it also closed the door on a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the US denied a fourth-straight Gold.
But Prentice is as resilient as any participant in one of the greatest Olympic runs our country has ever seen. A star performer for Head Coach Dan Klatt at UC Irvine, she spent the previous two years preparing for her Paris Olympic moment—one that is sure to continue at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles
Prentice defending against France’s Camélia Bouloukbachi in Paris. Photo: Jeff Cable/USA Water Polo
In the meantime, Prentice is doing her best to encourage young learners to embrace the sport she loves. This Saturday she’ll trade the outdoor pools of California for the indoor environs of the Northeast and lead a free clinic for young learners ages 11-17 at the NYC Parks Chelsea Recreation Center (430 West 25th Street, Manhattan). The clinic is an unprecedented partnership with USA Water Polo, the national governing body for the sport in America and New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, one of America’s top parks systems.
USAWP and NYC Parks see tremendous long-term value in their partnership, with future programming that will allow young learners access to the sport in the Parks facilities.
“This clinic sponsored by NYC Parks is a fantastic opportunity for young swimmers to expand their horizons while being introduced to the exciting sport of water polo,” said Carl Quigley, for 40 years the head coach of the St. Francis College men’s water polo team. “Having this event presented by USA Water Polo and an Olympian make it even that much more special.”
USAWP is staffing a clinic at the Chelsea Recreation Center in Manhattan. Photo: USAWP
The value of this event is not lost on those trying to grow polo at the far edges of New York’s aquatic scene.
“A clinic with an Olympian water polo player offers students a unique opportunity to learn from a world-class athlete, gaining expert insights and advanced techniques that can significantly enhance their skills,” said Lior Harpaz, Senior Director of Aquatics, Commonpoint. Harpaz, along with coach Cesar Gonzalez, is growing a group of polo players at Bayside High School, near the border with Long Island.
“Tara’ presence will foster valuable connections within the sports community, providing mentorship and networking opportunities that can impact students' futures both in sports and beyond,” Harpaz added.
Representatives of the three USAWP youth clubs currently competing out of New York City pools will assist Prentice on Saturday. Demyan Kruglov of Asphalt Green, Miriam Bradley and Selah Moore of Brooklyn Hustle and Daniel Goldgisser of YPro will get in the water with as many as 30 participants to teach drills and skills for one of the most taxing of all Olympic sports.
For more information about this or other NYC Parks programs, please contact the Chelsea Recreation Center | 430 West 25 St., New York, N.Y. 212-255-3705.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Want to become a NYC Parks member? Visit this link.