Howard University Gets Funding for Water Polo Program

Members of the Howard Univeristy water polo program got some great news this week after USA Water Polo announced that an $8,000 grant had been awarded to the historically Black college to restart its co-ed water polo team that competes this weekend. Photo courtesy of USA Water Polo

As more and more Black Americans are finding their way into non-traditional Olympic sports, USA Water Polo is getting into the game. Today it was announced that an $8,000 grant has been awarded to Howard University to relaunch its co-ed water polo team. USA Water Polo and Diversity in Aquatics teamed up to offer the grant to the historically Black university that is located in D.C. The initiative is an important step in supporting expanded aquatic programming at HBCUs and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within aquatic sports.

"We are thrilled to partner with Diversity in Aquatics and Howard University to re-establish their co-ed water polo team," said John Abdou, Board Member of Diversity in Aquatics. "This initiative not only broadens student opportunities but also reinforces our shared commitment to diversifying the aquatics space and creating more inclusive, accessible pathways for all."

Ashleigh Johnson, who in 2016 made history by becoming the first Black woman to make the Olympic team, has been the stalwart goalie for the U.S. National Team. Johnson has said several times in the past that had she not been introduced to the sport growing up in Miami, she would have never thought she could have made a career out of it. A graduate of Princeton University, Johnson has two Olympic Gold medals in water polo and is considered one of the greatest female goalies in history.

“Yeah, I did not like swimming,” said Johnson in an NPR interview in July of this year. “Swimming was not my thing. Swimming was kind of what you had to do, and water polo was the reward. We'd go to school - actually, elementary school - walk across the park, and then we'd go from swim practice to water polo practice. So, it was just our endless cycle, day to day - school, park, swimming, water polo. And I fell in love with the sport.”

The monies will be used for equipment, the hiring of coaches and training facilities. All important logistics needed in building a water polo program. Howard’s team is already scheduled to compete this weekend at the George Washington University Fall Invitational.

"USA Water Polo is proud to support Howard University's relaunch of their co-ed water polo program with this grant. This initiative underscores our commitment to breaking barriers in aquatics and fostering an inclusive environment where students and athletes have the opportunity to participate and thrive at HBCUs and beyond." Eva Padilla Sfregola, USA Water Polo Chief Development Officer and DEI Development Grant Committee member.

Young people in Ghana have taken up water polo in large numbers with the goal of having an Olympic team. Photo by Jcoydenreports

Prince Asante Sefa-Boakye has been a tireless advocate for getting more Black people involved in the sport both here in the United States and in his parents’ homeland of Ghana. This month he has been in Kenya promoting the sport to youth in that country. He was very excited to hear the news about a grant being given to an HBCU.

“I think it is great and I’m really proud of USA Water Polo for stepping us like this,” Sefa-Boakye said. “We are all fighting the same fight to get more diversity in aquatic sports and promote water safety. I was able to connect with them a few years ago with my Black Star Water Polo program. I’m looking forward to contributing any way I can to this effort at Howard.”

He said the journey in Kenya is going well. He has run four clincs there in the past month. He is hoping Kenya can have a thriving water polo program in the future so that his teams from Ghana will not have to travel as far to compete. Chicago is the largest U.S. city with the most Black high school water polo teams for boys and girls, currently about 20, according to Sports Administration at Chicago Public Schools.

Diversity In Aquatics is committed to reducing drowning disparities and increasing swim participation in historically underrepresented communities. Through advocacy, education, and outreach, the organization works to create equitable access to aquatic opportunities for all.