|
|
|
 |
|
| Portrait of a Master: Russell Hafferkamp (USA) |
| Written by Meghan Lynn |  It is hard to know where to start when describing the passion and achievements of Russell Hafferkamp (USA) in water polo, especially regarding Masters development. In September of this year his efforts were acknowledged when he was inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF); an honour well-deserved for a true pioneer of the Masters Water Polo movement in the US. In short, he has competed in seven FINA Masters World Championships with his team (The Olympic Club of San Francisco) since the late-eighties. He is also an 18-time All American and 7-time MVP of the United States Masters National Championships (30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, and 50+). Essentially, his sporting ambitions have helped foster the advancement of American Masters water polo for over 30 years.
Masters water polo in the US: endless growth
The dedication of Mr. Hafferkamp and others like him have paid off. "We are very active here in the United States encouraging older athletes to continue playing water polo at the Masters level," he says. "We now have over 90 teams competing in men and women divisions at tour Masters National Championships. The US teams now have won FINA Masters World Championships in every age group up to 60+ and there is no end in sight to the growth of the sport here."
Mr. Hafferkamp has been supporting an improved Masters Water Polo movement in the US and within USA Water Polo since he was named to the NCAA First Team All American in 1976. In fact, his pre-Masters water polo career is not only a story in itself, but is interwoven into his Masters accomplishments. For 14 years post-college, competing at the Open level, he achieved a record of success that included being a member of eight national championship teams, a 12-time All American selection and the MVP of the national championship tournament 3-times.
His exploits have included extensive travels, including participation in the World University Games, the Can-Am-Mex tournament series, and various other international tournaments leading up to the boycotted Olympics of 1980. He also made a name for himself outside the US; winning tournaments and coaching in Canada, Australia and Hawaii. Perhaps most notably, in 1989 Russell participated in, and won, what is considered the first sanctioned Masters Water Polo tournament in the US, the 2nd Annual Masters ‘Waterman' Championships in California. He has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Olympic Club of San Francisco, the oldest athletic club in the US.
His spirit for the game is evident: "Water polo is also a very competitive sport so it really gives you the opportunity to get in and ‘mix it up' within your own age groups. Playing at the FINA level, it has also afforded me the top-level of competition that I enjoy and I've gotten to witness many terrific tournaments and games around the world, as a result." His message about why water polo can and should be a life-sport is clear: "I would highly encourage everyone who has played water polo as a competitive athlete to continue to be part of the Masters movement. The new friends you meet and the old friends you get to see again is the best part of the competition."
 Hafferkamp in action, rearback
Devotion to sport both in and out of the pool
Growing up, Mr. Hafferkamp's athletic career was defined by typical youth sports like basketball, football and baseball. He didn't find the pool until his senior year, and then the ball followed him into the water. His first coach, David Gray, a national and world Masters record holder in swimming, provided him with early fundamental training in both swimming and water polo. A 6'5" natural left-hander and an athletic individual since childhood, Hafferkamp was positioned centre-forward, the ‘hole-set' that generates most of the offensive scoring. Over the next ten years his skills developed under some of the world's respected water polo coaches: in college by Dante Dettamanti, on the US national team by Monte Nitzkowski, and by Peter Cutino and Denny Harper at the Olympic Club. As exhibited by his career, he benefited greatly from these guiding figures.
Presently, aside from playing, Mr. Hafferkamp does his part to ensure the success of Masters water polo in the future. Beginning in the early nineties, he was very active in governance of USA Water Polo, serving as Chair of the Athletes Committee and member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. During this time he advocated on behalf of the athletes and was instrumental in authoring legislation, and funding, for the formal creation of Masters water polo in the US. He has helped coach or has participated directly with six separate Masters teams and has served on multiple national committees, cultivating new opportunities for athletes to continue playing after college.
Professionally, he is the founder of Career Athletes, Inc., which assists young men and women athletes with their transition from college athletics to the workplace. "I mentor young athletes with my company," he explains. "We specialise on the transition of competitive athletes to the workplace and help them direct a balance between finding a successful career endeavour and continuing their athletic pursuits, largely as a Masters athlete or within club teams." He is also a water polo expert, serving as the water polo research and broadcast statistician and analyst for NBC Sports on the Olympic telecasts in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Additionally, he possesses one of the highest coaching certifications within USA Water Polo, having coached men and women at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Berkeley, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Balancing family life with training, winning, and camaraderie
"Masters water polo is still very much a part of my life," Mr. Hafferkamp says, explaining that because the national tournament seasons are essentially in the late spring and summer, he relies on occasional practices and scrimmages throughout the year with his club team to stay fit. "I really gear-up, however, when the FINA World Masters Championships are held as it is the premiere event for my team and everyone wants to do very well at this tournament." He takes care to note, however, that he really tries to balance out his family life with training. "I only swim a couple of times a week and during the off-season and only play one or two days a week in-season, so I guess you can say I do not have a rigorous training schedule. I work during the day at many endeavours and have two daughters, Kelsey and Molly, who also play water polo in college and age-group."
 Hafferkamp with his daughter Molly in Italy 2004
"Barring any unforeseen injury," Mr. Hafferkamp guesses he can see himself playing water polo his whole life. "The good part of this game, for me, is that they keep changing the rules on how the 2-metre position is played so I think I can remain fairly relevant in position for quite some time, as long as I adapt. Plus, the 25 metre course is perfect for older players as it mixes transition opportunities with a lot of front-court play."
Overall, he concludes: "I thoroughly enjoy playing well and standing on the medal stand with my teammates after a good tournament. There is nothing that can match the excitement of having that World Championships medal placed around your neck and looking around at all the happy faces. What's next includes staying healthy, happy and competitive but also always looking to enhance the personal relationships in my sport...I think meeting all the great people is my motivation me to continue to participate." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
