CLUB HISTORY - WATER POLO
At Praetorian Water Polo Club, our mission is to cultivate a community of athletes who embody loyalty, respect, and consistency—values that are central to our philosophy. Established in 2012 in Fresno, California, by alumni of the Fresno Pacific Men's Water Polo program, our club began with a focus on masters-level competition and has since expanded to include youth development. We are committed to providing athletes of all ages with opportunities to grow in the sport of water polo, emphasizing not only physical development but also character growth, to prepare them for success both in and out of the pool.​
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Our youth programs are designed to increase participation in water polo throughout Central California, aiming to develop future high school and college-level players who will positively impact their communities. Under the guidance of experienced coaches, including Micha Pavlovic, Erik Baymiller, Kyle Eoff, Kara Pavlovic, Rick Eoff and many others, we focus on teaching correct fundamentals and team strategy, while also instilling the importance of time management, hard work, and being a good teammate. We collaborate closely with local high schools to ensure our athletes receive comprehensive training that complements their school programs. ​
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Praetorian Water Polo Club is dedicated to fostering an environment where athletes can challenge themselves and grow, both as individuals and as part of a team. We believe that through consistent effort and a commitment to our core values, our athletes will not only excel in water polo but also develop the character and skills necessary to become confident and productive members of society. Our ultimate goal is to provide opportunities for our athletes to play at the collegiate level and to carry the lessons learned through water polo into all aspects of their lives. ​
ABOUT OUR SWIM LESSON FAMILY
Kara and Micha Pavlovic both have a love for aquatics. They met while playing water polo at Merced College in 2006. Years later they began coaching together at Clovis North High School and the rest is history. In 2017 Kara and Micha decided to expand Micha’s Masters water polo team, Praetorian, into an age group club team. A year later they decided once more to expand and create their swim lessons portion of Praetorian.
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Kara has been teaching swim lessons for the past 12 years and has always had a passion for it. She began working as a city employee, a pool manager and eventually an Aquatics Coordinator. Kara understands the importance of learning how to swim and believes in teaching children and adults the steps to becoming a strong swimmer as well as rescue swimming.
All of the swim lesson instructors at Praetorian are hard working, caring and dedicated teachers. We have a great group this year and they can’t wait to start teaching this summer!