Coaches from rival aquatic sports programs in the area are combining efforts to introduce water polo to younger age groups.

Erik Zador and Lauren Koury of Turul Water Polo Academy, formerly Ripon Renegades, fielded four teams this month during the three-week California Super League, including 12-under and 10-under coed squads.

Zador coaches the water polo and swim programs at Ripon High and is coaching director for the Ripon Sea Lions recreational swim team. Koury heads the Sierra High water polo and swim teams as well as the Manteca Dolphins.

Interest in water polo continues to rise at the high school level, but Zador and Koury are sharing their love for the sport with the younger athletes from their rec teams. Many of their water polo players on Turul WPA are products of the Ripon Sea Lions and Manteca Dolphins.

“After looking at the overall talent out here, we see that there’s a huge need for fundamentals at younger ages,” Koury said. “A lot of the kids don’t get introduced to the sport in our area until they’re in the eighth grade or freshman year.”

The coaches were pleased with the growth and enthusiasm from their 12U and 10U coed teams this winter. Programs from throughout the Central Valley — from the Sacramento region down Fresno — competed in the CSL that started on Jan. 4-5 and ended with the finals on Jan. 18-19.

The 12U contingent went 3-3 in North Conference play during and made the CSL top-eight championship bracket, downing Big Valley 11-4 in the seventh-place game Jan. 19 at Atwater High.

Turul finished fifth out of six teams om the 10U division, holding off Madera Tritons 10-8 in its finale.

Turul’s 14U girls qualified for the top eight, placing seventh after edging Placer Water Polo Foundation, 12-8. The 19U girls also took seventh.

“We’re hoping to expand to other age groups so that these kids can be more competitive at a younger age and have more experience entering high school,” Koury said. “(Age) 14 is a huge jump athletically for water polo, so if we can get them in the sport at 10-and-under, there’s a good chance of them really grasping the sport by the time they get to high school.”

Both Zador and Koury are coming off successful seasons at their high schools. The Ripon boys team won its first-ever NorCal championship, while Koury’s Sierra girls claimed their first Valley Oak League title and made its deepest postseason run, reaching the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinals.

Turul WPA practices are held at Ripon High’s Ervin Zador Aquatics Center. Follow the team on Instagram @turul_wpa, or email turulwpa@yahoo.com for more information.

The club’s name is a nod to the Zadors’ Hungarian heritage. The Turul is a mythical bird and national symbol of Hungary. Ervin Zador, Erik’s father, famously competed in the 1956 Olympic Games, leading Hungarian water polo team to the gold medal.