Kirk Lazaruk Coaches USA Open Division Water Polo Squad to Gold in Israel
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
For the last 10 years Kirk Lazaruk has helped build Palisades High into a water polo powerhouse.
He and head coach Adam Blakis have piloted the Dolphins’ boys program to nine straight City titles and two Southern California Regional championship. Lazaruk coached the girls squad to its first City crown in 2019 and his advance scouting was vital to the girls regaining the title in February versus rival Birmingham.
However, perhaps no victory he has achieved in his days as a player and coach was as satisfying as the one in which the USA Men’s Open Division water polo team defeated Israel 12-6 to win the gold medal at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel on July 24, a triumphant end to a week-long competition that saw the Americans overcame numerous obstacles to prevail.
“The water polo IQ of the players and the chemistry that we created stands alone,” said Lazaruk, who was recruited to coach Team USA’s junior team at the European Maccabi Games in Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 2019 (a squad that included Pali High’s Maximo Speiser and fellow Palisadian Zach Hausner from Brentwood School).
“This is my biggest accomplishment given the challenges we faced along the way, even before the tournament started. The mindset from the get-go was we can’t come all the way over here and lose. Everyone bought in!”
For Lazaruk, the competition was not merely about the the Xs and Os but also the Jimmys and Joes.
“Two minutes into our first practice I lost my only goalie and we had to practice with field guys until we found this kid up in Davis who was available, we flew him in and I used every resource available to get him backdoor registered in four days and he ended up having a stellar final game,” Lazaruk said. “Talk about taking advantage of an opportunity… he’s sitting at home and a few days later he’s representing his country in an international tournament halfway around the world!”
Team USA opened round robin play by beating Germany 23-7 and tying Hungary 16-16. Then came a tough 14-12 loss to the host Israelis but the Americans rebounded to beat Brazil 14-12 to conclude pool play.
In the semifinals, Lazaruk’s squad scored at the buzzer to stun Hungary and in the finals the strategy he devised worked to perfection as Team USA doubled up Israel, 12-6.
“The odds were against us from the moment we got there,” Lazaruk said. “For practice, we only had half a pool for one hour whereas Israel got a full pool for five hours a day. Also, the officiating was so biased. I told my guys not to expect calls in our favor. There were 30 kickouts in the final, which is unheard of!”
Lazaruk’s biggest supporter was Pali High alum Elyana Goren, who helped the U18 girls squad capture the silver medal.
“She told me I don’t know what you’re going to do to find a goalie I just know you’ll do it,” he said. “Her team got to the finals and she was one of the best players.”
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