Justin Pickering and his Salem University team to contest NCAA National Collegiate Championships

Last year's New Zealand Water Polo Coach of the Year, Justin Pickering, recently left his head coach position at Auckland's Sacred Heart College to move to Salem University in the US. He has struck immediate success by coaching Salem University to reach the finals tournament in the top US competition, the NCAA National Collegiate Water Polo Championships. His Salem team will play top seeds UCLA in this week's final round. 

It's a first for Salem University and also a milestone for a New Zealand coach to progress from the conference championships to the national finals tournament - the National Collegiate Championships.

Congratulations to Justin and Salem University, and good luck for this week's final round!

The only New Zealand player to have actually won an NCAA championship in the past is Clarke Tamariki, who played for UC Berkley in the late 1990s.

So, an exceptional effort for Justin Pickering!