O.C. girls water polo players and swimmer Teagan O’Dell excel on international stage

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Orange County’s strength in high school aquatics continues to show on the international scene almost two months since the conclusion of the Paris Olympics.

Former Edison standout water polo player Alys Moore (formerly Alys Williams) recently made her debut as a U.S. head coach by leading the women’s national youth team to a fourth-place finish at the World Aquatics under-18 championships in China.

The U.S. squad fell to Hungary 14-13 in the bronze-medal match. Spain defeated Greece 11-9 to claim the gold.

The Americans, who finished 4-2 at the tournament, featured Orange Lutheran junior Allison Cohen. The All-County attacker racked up 14 goals in the tournament, including seven in a 16-14 victory against Australia in group play.

Newport Harbor senior Harper Price, another All-County selection last winter, also was part of the U.S. roster.

In swimming, Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell won the 200 individual medley and placed second in the 200 backstroke at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Australia last month.

The senior, who is committed to Cal, blazed her 200 IM in a lifetime-best 2 minutes, 11.57 seconds, which would have placed fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials earlier in the summer.

O’Dell clocked a 2:08.31 in the 200 backstroke.

She also helped Team USA earn gold in the 400 and 800 free relays.

Earlier this month, the three-time Register O.C. girls swimmer of the year was selected to the U.S. junior national team in five events: 100 and 200 backstroke, 200 and 400 IM and 200 freestyle.

In Paris, reigning Register male athlete of the year Ryder Dodd of JSerra helped the U.S. men’s water polo team claim the bronze. The effort came just a few months after Dodd graduated high school.

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