(scroll down to see rosters from past years)
2018 ROSTER
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach - Jon Haga
Coach Jon Haga has been around the sport of Water Polo for 20 years as a player and as a coach. He has competed and succeeded at all levels from middle school polo, through collegiate. Along the way gathering experience, knowledge and fundamentals from some of the best coaches in the Midwest and throughout the nation….not to mention a few championships along the way! It is from these coaches and playing experiences that he has a unique grasp of the sport and what it takes to be successful in this sport. One of the unique things about Haga as a coach is that he is also a 3rd grade teacher. Being a 3rd grade teacher brings along its own challenges but it applies to coaching greatly. In teaching you need patience, expert knowledge of the subject area and, most importantly, to understand the different ways to teach to different learning styles. As a coach, he brings all of these skills to the pool on a daily basis. Haga is a firm believer that if you have knowledge, you should pass it on to those who do not. He also believes that playing sports as a young adult not only builds character and confidence but also gives players a sense of accomplishment. It prepares them for life: to work as a team or as a team player and not as an individual. The athlete needs to be given opportunity to develop his skill level in a structured learning environment that constantly challenges the athlete while providing both encouragement and support. Each athlete needs to develop his core skills constantly to provide a solid base to progress in this sport. The athlete will benefit when exposed to challenging drills that require effective decision making and precise execution under pressure. In his personal time Haga spends as much time with his two beautiful children and amazing wife. Oh, and he’s a Spartan through and through. GO GREEN!
Coach Jon Haga has been around the sport of Water Polo for 20 years as a player and as a coach. He has competed and succeeded at all levels from middle school polo, through collegiate. Along the way gathering experience, knowledge and fundamentals from some of the best coaches in the Midwest and throughout the nation….not to mention a few championships along the way! It is from these coaches and playing experiences that he has a unique grasp of the sport and what it takes to be successful in this sport. One of the unique things about Haga as a coach is that he is also a 3rd grade teacher. Being a 3rd grade teacher brings along its own challenges but it applies to coaching greatly. In teaching you need patience, expert knowledge of the subject area and, most importantly, to understand the different ways to teach to different learning styles. As a coach, he brings all of these skills to the pool on a daily basis. Haga is a firm believer that if you have knowledge, you should pass it on to those who do not. He also believes that playing sports as a young adult not only builds character and confidence but also gives players a sense of accomplishment. It prepares them for life: to work as a team or as a team player and not as an individual. The athlete needs to be given opportunity to develop his skill level in a structured learning environment that constantly challenges the athlete while providing both encouragement and support. Each athlete needs to develop his core skills constantly to provide a solid base to progress in this sport. The athlete will benefit when exposed to challenging drills that require effective decision making and precise execution under pressure. In his personal time Haga spends as much time with his two beautiful children and amazing wife. Oh, and he’s a Spartan through and through. GO GREEN!
Assistant Coach - Alex Savage
I have been involved with the awesome sport of water polo for the past 15 years as a player and as a coach. In high school I played for Rockford, earning two State Championships before graduating in 2012. I was also a part of the Midwest ODP team for four years, being a member of the travel team each season. I then went to Miami University where I earned a degree in Integrated English Language Arts Education and a minor in coaching. At Miami, I was the player coach for the men’s club team for four of the five seasons I was there, and head coach of the women’s club team for those same four seasons. I have both played and coached at the middle school, club, high school, and collegiate club levels, and I use these experiences every day as a coach and mentor to these young athletes. As a player, I earned Second Team All Great Lakes Conference in my final season, and as a coach I earned Coach of The Year honors in two seasons. I am no stranger to the Championship Tradition that Rockford upholds, and I know that I can bring new perspectives and a fresh personality to the team. I look forward to seeing what this team can accomplish and assisting in any way that I am able!
I have been involved with the awesome sport of water polo for the past 15 years as a player and as a coach. In high school I played for Rockford, earning two State Championships before graduating in 2012. I was also a part of the Midwest ODP team for four years, being a member of the travel team each season. I then went to Miami University where I earned a degree in Integrated English Language Arts Education and a minor in coaching. At Miami, I was the player coach for the men’s club team for four of the five seasons I was there, and head coach of the women’s club team for those same four seasons. I have both played and coached at the middle school, club, high school, and collegiate club levels, and I use these experiences every day as a coach and mentor to these young athletes. As a player, I earned Second Team All Great Lakes Conference in my final season, and as a coach I earned Coach of The Year honors in two seasons. I am no stranger to the Championship Tradition that Rockford upholds, and I know that I can bring new perspectives and a fresh personality to the team. I look forward to seeing what this team can accomplish and assisting in any way that I am able!
Assistant Coach - Craig Peterman
Craig Peterman graduated from Rockford High School in 2008. He and his wife Holly have been married for four years are expecting their first little one this October. They are having a little boy and hopefully a future water polo player! In 2016, Peterman graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in Language Arts and Integrated Science. After graduation he began his teaching career as a long term substitute in Sparta. Peterman is now teaching at Pine Grove Learning Center where he is now in his second year of teaching middle school students with special needs.
Peterman is entering his 10th year as part of the coaching staff at RHS, having served as the assistant Varsity coach and head JV coach. Over the years he has been able to gather experience, knowledge and fundamentals from many coaches around the water polo community across the United States. Peterman has been part of eleven state championships, four were as a player and the other seven as a coach. Peterman has been the head coach for the middle school boys during the Spring seasons for 10+ years. He started his own polo career on the Rockford middle school and high school teams where he played from 2001-2008. He was honorable mention all-conference, second team all-region, and third team all-state all season. He has also played for the master’s team in the Grand Rapids area. Peterman is currently the administrator of the Rockford Aquatic Club which is the summer water polo program run through Rockford water polo.
Craig Peterman graduated from Rockford High School in 2008. He and his wife Holly have been married for four years are expecting their first little one this October. They are having a little boy and hopefully a future water polo player! In 2016, Peterman graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in Language Arts and Integrated Science. After graduation he began his teaching career as a long term substitute in Sparta. Peterman is now teaching at Pine Grove Learning Center where he is now in his second year of teaching middle school students with special needs.
Peterman is entering his 10th year as part of the coaching staff at RHS, having served as the assistant Varsity coach and head JV coach. Over the years he has been able to gather experience, knowledge and fundamentals from many coaches around the water polo community across the United States. Peterman has been part of eleven state championships, four were as a player and the other seven as a coach. Peterman has been the head coach for the middle school boys during the Spring seasons for 10+ years. He started his own polo career on the Rockford middle school and high school teams where he played from 2001-2008. He was honorable mention all-conference, second team all-region, and third team all-state all season. He has also played for the master’s team in the Grand Rapids area. Peterman is currently the administrator of the Rockford Aquatic Club which is the summer water polo program run through Rockford water polo.
Assistant Coach - Dave McWatters
Dave swam distance freestyle for Grandville High School, although with nothing too much to brag about, except for his coach frustratingly yelling at him one practice, “McWatters, some day you will be a much better coach than you ever will be a swimmer!” (which Dave reminded his coach when defeating him years later.) Dave began coaching swimming and water polo at Rockford in the early’s 1990’s, taking over as Men's Water Polo Head Coach in 1998 and also taking over the Jenison High School swim program for three years when Jenison opened it’s new pool. Dave has been on the Rockford coaching staff for 12 Water Polo team State Championships and has coached over 40 All-Americans in swimming and water polo. Now retired from full-time work after 30 years in ministry, education and coaching, Dave will be serving as a part-time coach, helping out wherever needed.
Dave swam distance freestyle for Grandville High School, although with nothing too much to brag about, except for his coach frustratingly yelling at him one practice, “McWatters, some day you will be a much better coach than you ever will be a swimmer!” (which Dave reminded his coach when defeating him years later.) Dave began coaching swimming and water polo at Rockford in the early’s 1990’s, taking over as Men's Water Polo Head Coach in 1998 and also taking over the Jenison High School swim program for three years when Jenison opened it’s new pool. Dave has been on the Rockford coaching staff for 12 Water Polo team State Championships and has coached over 40 All-Americans in swimming and water polo. Now retired from full-time work after 30 years in ministry, education and coaching, Dave will be serving as a part-time coach, helping out wherever needed.
2017 ROSTER
