Paloma Szivos, 28, of Coral Springs, passes to an open teammate while competing with the South Florida Water Polo Club's Women's Open team during the 25th annual Sunshine State Games Water Polo Championships at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.
(photo/gary curreri/correspondent)
Gary CurreriSpecial correspondent
Coral Springs’ Paloma Szivos swam the butterfly stroke in high school when she was introduced to water polo.
The 28-year-old gave the sport a try and soared into a solid career — first as a collegian, then in Hungary and now as a player-coach for the South Florida Water Polo Club’s Women’s Open team.
Her squad was one of 56 teams that competed in the 25th annual Sunshine State Games (SSG) Water Polo Championships.
The showcase event took place at both the Pompano Beach Aquatic Complex and the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.
Teams came to the Sunshine State Games from as far away as Trinidad and Tobago.
The three-day tournament featured competition in nine divisions.
The water polo coach at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where Szivos graduated in 2009, first noticed her potential when she was on the Eagles’ swim team.
“(Coach) said I looked like I would be a strong water polo player and they needed a center,” said Szivos, who is a Hungarian. “I tried it and after one practice I never looked back to swimming.”
Szivos, who started out in the sport at age 17, subsequently carved out a nice career at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“There are strategies to focus on and teammates you can work with unlike individual sports and I love that,” she noted. “It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s endurance. It’s strength. It’s everything and I think it is a great sport.”
Another aspect of the sport that Szivos enjoys is what is hidden from public view.
“I would say 60 percent of the game is underwater,” Szivos said. “Depending on how you are able to manipulate your defender is how well you can play offense. (Your) size doesn’t matter, it is all about the technique.”
There was naturally a learning curve for Szivos, who went from being a swimmer to playing for the South Florida Water Polo Club for 10 years. Once she adapted, which didn’t take long, she went on to being named an All-American in high school and as a collegian at St. Francis she erupted for six goals against California Lutheran University in 2012.
“I loved the sport so much I absorbed everything I was taught basically,” Szivos said. “It was also a huge learning thing in college, but I loved it.”
Natalie Mahalec, age 18 and a recent graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, is headed to St. Francis College thanks to the recommendation of Szivos and South Florida Water Polo Club head coach Mike Goldenberg.
“Water polo is really fun because it is a mix of different sports,” said Mahalec, who has been a member of the South Florida Water Polo Club since the eighth grade. “I love water polo because you are not just swimming. You can show how aggressive you are and it doesn’t matter what size you are, your speed or strength.”
The South Florida Water Polo Club Women’s Open team reached the semifinals at the Sunshine State Games. The squad (2-2) dropped a hard-fought 8-6 decision to the eventual champion Miami Riptides.
The club’s 16-under boys team won its division, while the 14-under and 18-under boys teams both finished runner-up. The club also took third place in both the girls 18-under and Men’s Open Divisions.
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