Rain threatened—but did not interrupt—an end of year celebration last week for five Brooklyn Water Polo Club athletes who will graduate from the club this summer. Not that a little rain would matter; given their expertise in the water, spring showers could not dampen what was a raucous end to this quintet’s noteworthy careers with their club.
Nicholas Chopliani, who started in 2018; Forrest Coughenour—a newcomer to the club this year; Tetsu Lakner, who first hit the water in 2017 along with McCulloch (Cully) MacPherson and Oscar Radu, who was with the club for a decade, were feted in an outdoor courtyard space at Long Island University, where the club practices.
Doing the honors of recognizing these players, four of whom will enter college next fall, were club president Oleg Gershkovich, Hustle coaches Mike Byrd and Irakli Sanadze and Mihai Radu, parent to Oscar was well as Calvin, a 16U athlete. As part of the festivities, 80 some odd athletes and parents celebrated a successful return to competition by the club, which this year sent age group teams to multiple tournaments up and down the East Coast, including the 2022 South Florida International Water Polo Tournament.
Following are remarks about this “fab five” who have had significant impact during their time with the Hustle.
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Forrest Coughenour
Forrest started playing in 2015 when he was 11, because he liked to swim, but didn’t like swimming as a sport. He went to his first JOs in 2016 with the Park City, UT team. Since then, Forrest has played with various youth and masters teams in North Carolina, Singapore, UK, Massachusetts and now New York.
He has been coached by former UCLA goalie Peter Gordon, former Olympian Genai Kerr, National High School Championship coach Eric Gordon, and US International, International Pro and collegian All American, Lauren Presant.
His favorite thing to do in water polo is to block a shot from Graeson, his twin brother!
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Nicholas Chopliani (presented by coach Irakli Sanadze)
Nicholas, you’ve come so far in your development as a polo player as well as a person. From the shy boy forced to come to the pool to a high school senior who is a confident and valued member of our club, you are a tremendous success.
It must be noted that among our top group, you have the best attendance; no one else among the high school players has been as dedicated as you to getting better.
Your perseverance and development as an important contributor for our club is nothing short of spectacular! As a member of the Brooklyn Hustle and the son of Georgian immigrants I, your coach, salute your accomplishments.
Congratulations on a great career and here’s to a great future.
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Tetsu Lakner (presented by Mihai Radu)
Everyone knows Tetsu; he’s the demon in the water who plays with passion and ferocity—even when he’s tuning out his teammates and coaches. You’ve stayed true to our club, becoming a consistent presence at practice, making various travel trips—who can forget Tetsu in the cold outdoor water in the Poconos two summers ago, freezing but refusing to leave the pool?!
Everyone knows you, and you will be missed because our club / your teammates needed you as much as you needed to be a member of the Brooklyn Hustle, especially after the long layoff meant that so many of our players had to wait to compete.
Congratulations on a great career and we look forward to what your future holds.
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McCulloch MacPherson (presented by coach Mike Byrd)
As the biggest player on our team, and the final line of defense for our 18U team, you are (almost) larger than life. That you willingly accepted the most important position on that squad is a testament to your commitment to your teammates. That you turned hard work and persistence into inclusion on the Connecticut College squad is a credit to you, and nothing short of incredible.
Now, you’re aging out—and will leave a significant void when your time with the Hustle ends. We’ll all miss your sense of humor and your spectacular play—and your goofy pranks—but will celebrate all that you brought to our program the past few years.
We all look forward to your future success backstopping the Camels of Connecticut College.
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Oscar Radu (presented by Oleg Gershkovich)
Oscar, you are the Hustle’s original player. Starting as an eight-year-old, you were always in the middle of everything our club does. A strong, sociable, consistent presence, your teammates always followed you everywhere.
And now, you’re about to start something new, a decade after you started with us. In all sports there are certain players that are irreplaceable, and for our club, you are the one.
Even though you’re gone, you will never be forgotten—and we all look forward to what the future brings for you.
Thoughts from Carl Quigley to Oscar (via email)
Time flies by so quickly.
I remember when you and your brother just began playing @SFC.
Be thankful to your dad, he loves you so much that he finds ways to introduce you to the things (water polo!) that helped you grow into the young man you are today.
Wishing you continued success as you go forward.