City of Commerce Department of Parks & Recreation
HALL OF CHAMPIONS APPLICATION Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2020
PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT ALL INFORMATION
NOMINEE: Sandy Nitta
CURRENT ADDRESS:
2P CODE
CITY: PHONE NUMBER:
E-MAIL: DATES COMPETED (example 1980-1985) 1972-1979
NOMINATED BY: Liz Garcia
ADDRESS:
CITY: Commerce ZIP CODE: 90040 PHONE NUMBER:
E-MAIL:
NOMINEE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS & DATES
(example 2010-2015): City of Commerce sports, high school, college, professional; other:
Began the water polo program at the City.
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS OR RECORDS & DATES COMPETED:
(AAL, Junior Olympics, Highs School, College, Other All Conference, State, National awards, MVP, Records, Milestones) Won Jr & Senior Nationals. Won Junior Olympic - Won SPA Age Group Championships PROFESSIONAL OR OLYMPIC ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Member of the USA Hall of Fame - Award winner of the International Hall of Fame Paragon Award USWP award named after me. I was a member of the 1964 Olympic swim team swam for Commerce RECENT INVOLVEMENT WITH COMMERCE ATHLETICS (donations, coaching assistance, volunteering, etc.) *Required Supplemental Documentation: Please submit 2-5 clippings, programs, or other printed materials that document some of the records and achievements listed herein.
ALL FORMS SHOULD BE All forms must be mailed or received by COMPLETED AND MAILED TO: April 30, 2020 6:00 p.m.
Department of Parks & Recreation All information is subject to verification.
Hall of Champions False accomplishments will result in immediate disqualification. 2535 Commerce Way
Commerce, CA 90040
Sandy Nitta
Founder of Commerce Aquatics Program
USA Head Coach Junior & Senior National Teams
Sandy Nitta began her water polo career first by participating in competitive swimming and developing her swimming skills. A member of Hall of Fame Coach Don Gambril's City of Commerce Swim Team, she became a member of the 1964 USA Olympic Swim Team competing in the breaststroke.
After her competitive career, she coached swimming for a few years, but soon turned her attention to the coaching and development of water polo, which has stayed with her ever since.
In 1971, Sandy started the City of Commerce Water Polo program and coached the team to many national championships. She soon moved into positions of leadership, serving as the USA's Women's International Chairperson from 1976 to 1978. From 1980 to the present, she has given water polo clinics all around the world including New Zealand, Australia, England, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, India, France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico. In 1977, Commerce hosted the first-ever Women's International Tournament in the United States and Sandy was the Tournament Director. She was one of the original coaches who began the push for the inclusion of women's water polo at the Olympic Games, which became a reality in 2000 during the Sydney Games, which included Commerce resident Brenda Villa.
Sandy's greatest influence to her water polo players under her guidance is her character. As a competitive swimmer, she was short, making it difficult competing against taller swimmers. She would be leading by a body length before the turn and come out of the turn a half body length behind. But her drive and toughness led to a position on the Olympic Swim Team. She fought for the "underdog".
When she began coaching the City Of Commerce Water Polo Team, it consisted mostly of lower income, Hispanic families who also were not tall nor came from competitive backgrounds. Yet, they achieved success. When coaching the USA Women's National Team in the 1980's, she had 125 to 150 players across the entire United States. Even when coaching them outside of the California hot-bed of water polo, Sandy achieved success from her players. It shows greatness and sound character.