U.S. Men to Face Top Teams in the World in International Cup

It has been more than a year since the U.S. national water polo team has competed in a major international meet with all its top players.

“We need a test to see how we stand,” Coach John Vargas said.

The U.S. team will get it this week in the UPS International Cup at Corona del Mar High. The eight-team tournament will include five of the world’s top eight teams--Yugoslavia, Russia, Australia and Italy, along with the United States. Teams from Mexico, Brazil and Puerto Rico also are entered. France dropped out after failing to qualify for the European championships.

Play begins today and continues through Sunday. The meet will be a tuneup for the U.S. team for the Pan American Games later this month in Winnipeg, Canada. That will be the U.S. team’s first chance to qualify for the 2000 Olympics.

Six members of the 1996 Olympic team that finished seventh in Atlanta are back, including captain Chris Oeding, who played at Corona del Mar High and on three national championship teams at California. Other Olympians returning are Chris Humbert, Kyle Kopp, Wolf Wigo, Dan Hackett and Gavin Arroyo. Another team member, Brad Schumacher, competed in the Atlanta Olympics in swimming, winning gold medals in two relays.

The U.S. team was seventh in the FINA World Championships in Perth, Australia, in 1998.