Fresh off a highlight experience, Burnaby’s Gareth Jones is looking to top it.
The 17-year-old water polo player is hoping to use last month’s win at the Junior Pan Am Games as a springboard to another major competition next month in Montenegro. While there is no correlation to the two events, both different age groups and one minus the eastern European powers who have dominated the sport, the symmetry is nice.
First of all, Jones says the primary initial task is to retain his spot on the u18 team. And he is working hard to do just that.
“It’s a lot different than (the junior) camp, where the guys are a lot bigger,” said Jones in a telephone interview last week with the NOW from Edmonton. “Here, we have younger guys, there are expectations but right now it’s more teaching and strategy in the classroom. We’ll pick it up (this week).”
Earning a spot on the Canadian roster for the FINA World men’s youth (18 and under) water polo championships is another step in a process for the recent St. George’s School graduate. He is committed to spending the foreseeable future focused on his sport.
He has already accepted an invitation to relocate to Calgary and train with the men’s senior program over the next year.
Last month’s victory at the Junior Pan Ams was confirmation that the course is true.
Jones was a key member of the Canadian men’s u19 team which shocked the U.S. with a 17-16 victory in the final in Edmonton. As the hole set, the Burnaby native utilized his speed and skill to score four times in the last game, and was a force with the ball throughout the tournament.
“As hole set I played in the middle, and because I’m one of the faster guys I’d take the swim-offs… That was probably my best experience playing water polo in my career,” said Jones. “It was really exciting and intense – it went right down to the end.”
He noted that it was just the second time that Canada’s national junior team had won that tournament.
There’s no illusion about the next task, with the likes of Greece, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia among the elite on the world water polo stage.
“There are a couple of guys, like me, who are hoping to go from (the juniors) to the youth Worlds,” he said. “It’s completely different level of competition, and historically (Canada) doesn’t do well at it. But we seem to be in a good cycle.”
Canada will launch the worlds in a round-robin pool with Colombia, Greece, Kazakhstan and Russia to advance to the next round, with action starting Aug. 26 in Podgorica.
His commitment to the sport is constantly encouraged by his family, who’ve supported him and cleared the path for him to pursue his dream at every stage of the game.
“It’s not just about me making sacrifices, my parents make sacrifices and have done it because they love me,” Jones said. “I love the sport and I’m just grateful to have my parents’ support.”
The one-time Burnaby Barracudas prospect said his journey into the elite lane came quickly, from playing club to the provincial training club Pacific Storm.
“My first year playing (with the Storm) my coach saw me and recommended me to try out nationally. I went after it that first year and made the under-15 national team that went to Serbia.”
While the travel is a nice benefit to competing internationally, the training required, along with the physical nature of the sport, is a major test of character and resilience. But at this stage nothing could shake him from his focus.
“I just love the sport. Water polo is so physical and exciting, there’s an intense atmosphere in the water when you play, and most of the contact comes below the water.”
