Athletes across San Joaquin County have been working for their shot at representing the USA on one of the biggest stages of water polo.
One Ripon family got their shot. Three siblings and student-athletes from Ripon High School were invited to try out for the National Team Water Polo in Brody, Reyna and Emery Biedermann. Brody took it a step further landing a spot on the United States Senior National Championships roster and will compete from now until the 2027 World Junior Championship.
"Brody is not only incredibly talented but a hard worker as well,” said Marshall Grimm, Brody’s club water polo coach at Big Valley Water Polo Academy. “I am proud to have gotten the opportunity to coach him these last two years. He is a gifted offensive talent and a determined lockdown defender. He is a big reason why our team is having a great showing this summer."
Before that, Brody will compete for Team USA making an international trip to Hungary to compete for a week against Olympian-level athletes beginning on July 30.
It’s in the family
The Biedermann trio have had successful careers for the Indians’ girls and boys water polo programs, ending the 2023-24 school year as Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 and 3 champions. From there they competed for a local club team, Big Valley, based out of Stockton which gave the athletes a chance to participate in the Olympic Development Program.
A total of 13 local athletes made an ODP team as either members of the Red and Blue Team or as an alternate. All the Biedermanns made the Red Team and balled out in the tournament from March 15-24 competing against teams across the country.
There, the trio’s shot at the National Team was born. Brody’s team finished fifth overall in the country and was awarded the Nick Johnson Award. This award is reserved for one athlete per team who demonstrates the Olympic spirit, sportsmanship, respect, and ultimately the love of the game. He ended the tournament with a tryout for the National Youth Team that would turn into a spot on the Senior National B team.
“We are incredibly proud of Brody's growth and development over the past few seasons,” said Jeff Hoornaert, Brody’s Big Valey coach last year. “His hard work and constant desire to improve have allowed him to excel in the pool. We know that Brody will make the most of this opportunity and will continue to grow as a player and as a person. We are excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Reyna also received this award after her team finished fourth overall in the country, earning her a tryout for the National CADET Team. Emery’s team on the Youth Development level also placed fourth overall landing her a tryout for the National Youth Team.
The siblings were the only three athletes from Big Valley to receive a tryout invitation this season meaning they are among the top 65 water polo players in the United States. Brody is the lone SJ County athlete to represent the USA as a National Team member this year making him a top 40 player in the United States.
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
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