Three local eighth-grade water polo athletes from Carpinteria have been selected to participate in the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program (ODP) Holiday Camp, a prestigious national training opportunity held each December at the USA Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The selected athletes — Holyn Vega, Zia Ma, and Junius Fedders — are among just 150 athletes chosen nationwide, making selection to the Holiday Camp a significant national-level honor and an important step in USA Water Polo’s Olympic development pipeline.
Holyn Vega, who plays for Gold Coast Aquatics, and Zia Ma and Junius Fedders, who both
compete with Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, were nominated by their club coaches and
selected through a highly competitive national process.
All three athletes share local roots: they began playing water polo at the Carpinteria Aquatics Center at age 10, where they were introduced to the sport before advancing to club competition.
“This is such an incredible opportunity for Holyn,” said Lea Boyd, Holyn’s mother. “She’s
worked so hard over the past few years, and to see her recognized at a national level —
especially knowing she started right here in Carpinteria — is incredibly meaningful for our
family.”
The USA Water Polo ODP Holiday Camp brings together top youth athletes from across the
country for intensive training, skill development, and exposure to elite coaching at the Olympic Training Center. Participation is widely viewed as a milestone for young athletes aspiring to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
“These athletes represent the very best of our local water polo community,” said Kelsie Karam, Club Director for Santa Barbara Water Polo Club. “Zia and Junius have shown dedication, resilience, and a real love for the game.
“Their selection speaks not only to their talent, but also to the strong foundation they have built through consistent training and competitive play.”
The Holiday Camp marks the first time all three athletes have been selected for the program, underscoring both the competitiveness of the process and the strength of Carpinteria’s youth water polo pipeline.
Their achievement highlights the growing impact of local aquatics programs in developing young athletes and bringing national recognition to the Carpinteria community.