By Steven V. Selthoffer (Updated)
(Roma, ITA) – It’s legitimate to ask “Which one?” Joe? Gena? Olivia? This time it was Chris Wendt, USA, defender 24-years-old for the top Roma Nuoto water polo team in Rome, Italy. Chris won the MVP award for that game (and a couple others) after a tightly fought match against Promogest, Corsica scoring at 7-7 to take the lead 8-7.
Late in the match the American was pressed and doubled teamed. Outnumbered, but not outplayed Wendt took things into his own hands. A team player, Wendt had set up many plays but, a strong defense by Promogest was unrelenting and kept the match tight. Offenses both equally matched by a quick adjusting defensive play, resulted in a chess match of strategies and multiple tactics by both coaches and players. Each side was capable of executing at will. Any mistake no matter how small, was fatal. You paid for it on the scoreboard. Both teams, so deceptive and evenly matched, could threaten at any time. It was a brain game. Outside to inside passing and assists were key and made the difference in the end.
Late in the match Wendt got the ball, swam down the side and signed off with another signature, solo strike to the back of the net giving Roma a 10-8 win over Promogest.
Wendt “A thing of rare beauty”
Wendt has a shot like a cannon. Period. Much like the U.S. Navy’s new “Star Wars” Electro-magnetic Railgun to be precise. Recently deployed on U.S. destroyers cruising through foreign waters going into harm’s way (much like Wendt) it has advanced guidance (much like Wendt) and a new impulse electric power system that is so powerful it can shoot a projectile laser-straight over the surface of the water on target at about MACH 6 …just like Wendt! With Chris, its touch and BOOM!!! Back of the net. Swim away…
Italian sport television commentators called Wendt’s late last point strike “a thing of rare beauty” done with “just overflowing physical power,” much to the admiration of team mates and opponents alike.
Commentators also stated, “Wendt does more than just tip the balance of the game to his side. He can unsheathe at any time such a generous amount of talent both in quantity and quality. Always placing himself in the service of the team.” (Source: Roma Nuoto).
Wendt plays in the Italian league under the governing body of LEN, (Ligue Europeenne de Natation) the governing body for aquatics in Europe.
Coached by the best (again)
Wendt is coached by European great and 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold medalist and team champion, Mario Fiorillo from Italy. Fiorillo also competed in the 1984 Los Angeles and the 1988 Seoul Olympics for Italy. Fiorillo is also considered a leading water polo expert and game analyst in Europe and FINA. He is often interviewed on BBC, Sport Today, Il Tempo, Eurosport and other television programs.
When asked how he integrated into the Italian team, Wendt replied, “Mario is an exceptional coach. He had an exceptional career and knows water polo perfectly. I think he gives such great added value to the team because he is in tune with the players. He knows and understands everything that is going on in the minds of the players. I want to learn as much as possible from him.”
Despite learning the language, Wendt also had this to say about the Italian team, “The whole team welcomed me as well as possible. Right away I felt at home. President Nicholas Christofaro and Vice President Luigi Grossi have done an excellent job in putting together a team of young talented guys. Since the first training sessions I was able to adapt to the game at Roma. It took a few days to find the right feeling with them… I think the success with Roma is the fact that we trust each other in the pool and we love playing together. We are friends and we all get along very well.” (Source: Roma Nuoto).
Formerly, Chris was the captain of UCLA’s water polo team and an All-American athlete all four years of his undergraduate degree at UCLA. He was also captain of Team USA at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia leading them to a fifth place finish. He has been on the U.S. National Water Polo team and also played in the Pan Am Games and Junior World Championships, World Cup and other events. Wendt is now returning to UCLA this fall to begin his MBA.
However, the story doesn’t end there. It is only beginning…
With Rio 2016 Olympics on the horizon in order to appreciate Chris’ accomplishments, you need to know the background. It makes everything more interesting.
The story behind the story
Chris was coached by his dad, Joe Wendt from the very early age of five years old. Joe was a world-class water polo player for Indiana University in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Joe was one of the top players to emerge in the United States at that time.
Top Gun
Joe was considered America’s Top Gun. Joe Wendt was a three-time All-American at Indiana University. And in 1977 was Indiana’s MVP scoring 66 goals and 43 assists. Everyone in water polo from Los Angeles, California to Moscow to Budapest, Hungary knew his name.
Wendt played intermittently until the 1990’s in 6 USA Olympic Sport Festivals. At Fenwick High-School and Indiana University, Joe was a High School and NCAA All-American. And his athleticism drew the attention of Sports Illustrated and was selected in their “Faces in the Crowd,” in 1977.
Hungary and the USA
But, there was a uniqueness to Joe’s game, matched with character and an attitude that set him apart and caught the attention of the world’s best.
Hungary is considered the epicenter of water polo in Europe. Due to the invasion of Hungary by the Russian army and tanks in the 1956 uprising in the streets of Budapest, it resulted in the most infamous water polo game of all time being played out in the pool at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, when Hungary faced Russia in the tournament draw. The game was so intense and so brutal that by the end of the match, the pool had turned red with blood.
Later that year many of those Hungarian Olympians defected to the USA and relocated in New York City. Over the years they continued to play for the New York Aquatic Club.
Joe faced them when their NYAC club was playing at U.S. Nationals. Although older, their game skills had not diminished as they continually advanced through the tournament winning their group matches.
Facing Wendt’s team, who did the Hungarian players and coaches have the most respect for? Joe Wendt. It was clearly overheard in the stands and alongside the pool as the head coach was trying to get his players to contain and counter Wendt inside in front of the goal. Wendt was very tough, “most formidable” with a style of play and team leadership more like their own top players in Hungary, Italy and Yugoslavia.
Today, Joe continues to play masters polo for the Chicago Apostles and is a top coach working with younger players, helping to train and guide careers taking them to the national and international levels and beyond.
Joe’s daughter Gena and (Chris’ sister) played for IU’s women’s club team this past season. She was president and captain of the team. She earned First Team All-Conference honors and led IU to a third place finish in the Big 10. All three Wendt children, Christopher, Gena and Olivia each played for Fenwick High School and have learned the game playing in the pool in their back yard with their father.
Rio 2016 coming into view
Chris is now focusing on his MBA. But, maybe he’ll come out of retirement. With less than a year before the Rio Olympics, all things are possible.
Former Serbian head coach, Dejan Udovicic, is now head coach U.S. national water polo team. He was the most successful coach in Serbian team sports in any league, with over 500 victories and winning over 80% of his matches. Udovicic built Serbia into a water polo dynasty, winning the FINA World Championships in 2009, two FINA World Cup titles in 2006 and 2010, two European Championships in 2006 and 2012 and also won two Olympic bronze medals in the Bejing 2008 Olympics and at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Watching Udovicic from poolside win it all in Rome, 2009, you know he is a superb tactical coach. There are surprises in store for Team USA.
For Chris Wendt, Dejan Udovicic and the U.S. national water polo team- the best is yet to come.
For more information. please go to:
U.S. Water Polo