On 27 June 2015, exactly one month before the kick-off of the 10th CMAS Underwater Rugby Championship in Cali, Colombia, the U.S. men’s and women’s teams had their fifth joint practice.

Under the supervision of national coaches José Luis Echeverry (men) and Juan Sevillano (women), the thirty male and female players engaged in a full day of swimming drills, strategic maneuvers, and test matches.

“I feel, the work we did with the team over the last six months is paying off”, says coach Echeverry, “we’re rotating well, getting stronger, faster and more coordinated.  We’re getting ready for Cali.”

Coach Sevillano adds “the women’s team has made excellent progress in a short period of time. The players live in all corners of the country and had limited time to getting used to playing as a team. We’re not expecting miracles at the World Championships, but we’re there to play some good games.”

2015 USA Women’s Team

At the end of a long day at the Ironbound Aquatic Center in Newark, New Jersey, Adrian Breitenbach, the women’s team coordinator from the hosting New Jersey Hammerheads concludes, “we’ve had an intense day, great matches between the women’s and men’s teams and look forward to our last month before it’s showtime.”

The last national practice for the US selection will be held on July 11, 2015 in East Haven, Connecticut. And two weeks later, the teams will join the world’s best teams to play for the gold medal. One can already feel the excitement.