JoJo DeSalvo Signs with Salem
BCWP player JoAnna (JoJo) DeSalvo signed her letter of intent to play water polo at Salem University. DeSalvo will join the Tigers in the fall of 2020, with her first taste of collegiate action scheduled to start the following spring. In addition to being an ODP All-Star, recipient of the Nick Johnson Inspiration Award, and a West All-Section First Team Player, DeSalvo found ways to attend numerous camps as well as regularly attend BCWP practices and tournaments. We recently sat down with JoJo to get her thoughts on her new college team.
Q: WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU ABOUT THE SALEM PROGRAM?
A: Coach Kassab. I know you shouldn’t pick a school for the coach, but it’s hard not to. It’s amazing to see what he did as a new coach just starting out with 8 girls. He has 10 this year and will hopefully have 15 next year when I start.
Q: YOU TOOK A GAP YEAR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED THE RECRUITING PROCESS?
A: It’s been good and bad. I had offers to play starting this year. Some of them were willing to work with me and understood my gap year plans and some of them were not. So that helped to narrow down the field. At this point into my gap year, I have no regrets.
Q: YOU'VE ATTENDED A LOT OF CAMPS AND PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF BCWP THROUGHOUT YOUR PLAYING CAREER THUS FAR. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PLAYERS CONSIDERING TAKING THIS ROUTE? WERE THERE SPECIFIC CAMPS/TEAMS THAT REALLY IMPACTED YOU?
A: Yes I have attended quite a few. I always looked at it with the attitude of, “Would I regret not attending?" All the camps had an impact at different levels. But the one that most improved my abilities in my opinion was Barcelona International Water Polo Academy (BIWPA). I learned about both the physical and mental aspects of the game from the coaches. I’m also extremely excited to have the opportunity to attend Tony Azevedo’s first ever Elite Training Academy in Southern California this coming January thru June!
Q: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT COLLEGIATE PLAY?
A: Playing at the next level with girls that also have the drive, determination, and skill set to compete at that level.
Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BRING TO THE TIGERS?
A: My abilities on the mental side of the game and my ability to shoot with both my left and right hands.
Q: WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE UPON?
A: Physically, my swimming speed and my explosiveness in the water. On the mental side, confidence in my abilities.
Q: YOU MENTIONED TONY AZEVEDO'S ELITE TRAINING CAMP. WHAT IS THAT? WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?
A: Tony has started an opportunity for a small group of 5 hand-selected girls from outside of SoCal. We will start the beginning of January and it will run through June. Mr. Tony, Kami Craig (female Olympian), Mr. Ricco (Tony’s Dad), Ken Schroeder (Tony’s trainer) along with other guest coaches will be helping out. We’ll be training about 2 hours a day, practicing / scrimmaging with local teams 2 + hours daily then in the gym for at least an hour 5+ days a week. Then when club season begins in March, we’ll join a local club and practice and compete with them. I’ll be joining a masters team. During off time we’ll attend women’s national practices and games, and college games.
Q: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?
A: Besides being coached by Tony Azevedo? Taking my water polo play to a higher level and what I can bring to my future collegiate team. And the fact that I’m blessed to be part of the first group of girls in this program.
By Kevin Heinrich, 01/01/20, 8:15PM CST