The team’s founding season was three years ago, in 2021. Over half of the team has been playing only this sport since then.
“When I first started, I was drowning 90% of the time,” goalkeeper Micaiah Hughes said when recalling her introduction to water polo.
“Now I’m dragging my family to the pool, talking to everyone about the sport and sharing a fraction of what an amazing transformation it has had on my life,” she added.
There’s no doubt that this sport has positively impacted these young athletes.
Chestatee High School Sophomore Frankie Arendale passes the ball to complete a goal against the Lady Wildcats.
The road to winning a state championship
The Lady Blue Devils had a stellar season but were ranked third in the state, having lost to the Southern Crescent team of South Atlanta and the Wildcats of Cobb County during their regular season.
In the state championships, coaches Mariana Lombello and Emily Stevenson knew they had to take a different approach to motivate the athletes to dig deep.
“The talent was always there for us to win the state championship,” Coach Lombello said. “The girls were conditioned, knew their plays and had the connection and camaraderie … the only thing we needed was the drive to win.”
We encouraged them to dig deep and to really believe that they could be champions, so our theme for the weekend became ‘Believe.’ We had the girls visualize themselves scoring goals, completing passes to one another and holding the trophy,” she explained.
This encouragement proved successful when the Lady Blue Devils were down by three points to the Lady Wildcats in the semi-final game with only minutes left to play. Coach Lombello called a timeout to center the exhausted athletes and recited their mantra: Believe.
“I believe you guys can win. This is it. Leave it all in the pool,” Lombello encouraged.
Norcross High School Junior Amelia Washburn looks for space to pass the ball during a regular season game against Atlanta Public Schools program.
Close game propels Lady Blue Devils forward
The Lady Blue Devils lost to the Lady Wildcats three times during the regular season, but they weren’t going to give up. The game ended on a buzzer-beater scored by Norcross High School junior Amelia Washburn.
The crowd went wild, recognizing the mental toughness and physical skill required to make a comeback that epic. The final score was 16 to 15, and Norcross advanced to the finals.
Washburn transitioned from swimming to water polo full-time in 2021.
“Water polo has taught me to not put limits on myself and what I’m capable of … to just go for it,” Washburn said.
“That has improved my confidence in and out of the pool,” she added.
Now Washburn, along with her teammates and other players all over North Georgia, plays water polo year-round. They play under North Atlanta Water Polo, the local USA Water Polo-sanctioned league founded by Elizabeth and Chris Arendale.
A special team dynamic
Chestatee High School sophomore Frankie Arendale was a pivotal playmaker in the Lady Blue Devils’ successful season. With over 50 goals scored this season (10 of them scored in the semi-final game alone), Arendale’s skill was unmatched.
She attributes her success to the positivity and shared love of her teammates.
“I’ve played water polo for several different teams, but this season was different,” Arendale said. “All of the girls really get each other. No one was down, and everyone was positive. Everything fit together magically.”
Arendale was recognized as the 2023 Georgia High School Water Polo Association League MVP and has been playing water polo for eight years.
Sophomore Micaiah Hughes blocks a shot from the goal made by a Lakeside High school athlete.
The future of water polo in Georgia is bright
It is the goal of both coaches Lombello and Stevenson, as well as the North Atlanta Water Polo club, to continue to foster a love for this sport in youths.
“Making a name for Norcross early on in the growth of the sport will be huge,” Elizabeth Arendale, founder of Norcross Water Polo Club girls’ program and North Atlanta Water Polo club, said. “We want to be affiliated with high-level water polo.”
The Happy Hitters of North Atlanta were recently honored by the Georgia State Legislature with House Resolution 700 for their work with pickleball athletes for the Special Olympics.
State Rep. Scott Hilton (Peachtree Corners) presented Karla Blaginin and Arthur Jackson, head coaches, and Kimberly Hallam-Maude, manager of Ace Pickleball Clubin Roswell, with the proclamation commending the Happy Hitters organization.
The team consisted of twelve athletes from the Alpharetta, Roswell and Peachtree Corners areas who trained for three months and competed at the Special Olympics of Georgia Winter Games in February.
“It was amazing to see how much pickleball helped the athletes grow,” said Blaginin. “They improved their skills every week, and more importantly, had fun at weekly practice.”
“There was a big team of athletes, coaches, volunteers and ACE staff who helped make the Happy Hitters successful,” added Coach Jackson.
Mimi Ngo, photo courtesy of Happy Hitters of North Atlanta
The parents of the athletes shared that all of the players benefited from pickleball, with increased coordination, athleticism and competition.
One standout of the group was Mimi Ngo, a skilled tennis and pickleball player who, under Coach Karla’s training, has entered regular competition.
The resolution
The house resolution recognized Happy Hitters for “providing athletes with special needs the opportunity to develop skills, build friendships and compete in pickleball” and the commitment of the players themselves.
Team photo courtesy of Happy Hitters of North Atlanta
It also recognized that, in addition to the athletes and coaches, the team had “the support of six community volunteers, five parent volunteers and generous donors who helped cover game fees, team shirts, and refreshments. ACE Pickleball donated space to the team for two seasons in a row for practice, events and meetings, and the Ace Pickleball Club of Roswell has lent its indoor courts and space.”
The Happy Hitters of North Atlanta team includes Cici Rose, Colin Cooperider, Dana Lu, Elijah Nunn, Gracie King, Jack Chaplin, Jake Jeffries, Kirtana Bulusu, Luke Harriman, Max Bartholomai, Mimi Ngo and Myles Henderson.
Max Bartholomai; photo credit Dave Shilling PhotographyKirtana Bulusu; photo credit Dave Shilling PhotographyJack Chaplin; photo credit Dave Shilling Photography
The training center aims to empower local youth and adults to reach their peak athletic performance
D1 Training, a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training, is opening a new location in Peachtree Corners on May 17. The group fitness facility will employ a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.
To celebrate the new location’s launch, Peachtree Corners neighbors and residents are encouraged to stop by and meet the facility’s team at its grand opening event, which will also feature a live DJ, food truck, a simulated sports combine, raffles for members and non-members and fun games for all ages.
Aligning work with a commitment to fitness
The location’s owners, Roald and Marian Richards join a roster of impressive existing franchisees, including professional athletes such as Kylie Fitts and Jordan Gay. Additional D1 Training franchise partners include notable figures such as Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, Tim Tebow and Michael Oher.
The Richards family has always embraced an active lifestyle. Marian played college basketball, while Roald was a multi-sport athlete in high school, competing in both basketball and track. Their children share that same passion: their oldest daughter competes in varsity basketball and track, and their son also plays varsity basketball. Both have played AAU basketball, along with baseball and soccer. Their youngest daughter is now following in their footsteps as a soccer player.
Roald went on to coach basketball at the local YMCA after college and continued coaching his son through childhood. Marian is equally involved, having coached several of their children’s sports teams over the years.
In addition to coaching, Roald has enjoyed a successful 29-year career in finance. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, he sought business opportunities after achieving financial security. D1 Training aligned perfectly with his interests and values, allowing him to provide young athletes in the community the chance to reach their fitness goals and become the best versions of themselves both on and off the field.
“Throughout my journey in sports, I’ve come to understand that athletics provide kids with the opportunity to build solid foundations and learn invaluable life lessons,” said Roald. “It’s about much more than just playing a game; through sports, children gain discipline and discover important truths about themselves, which can be crucial for their development.”
“I’m excited to help the youth athletes of Peachtree Corners and the surrounding communities achieve their goals and cultivate the confidence they need to excel in whatever they pursue.”
A variety of programs
D1 Training offers four age-based programs, including Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 Adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning and cool down.
Photo courtesy of D1 Training
Outside of group workouts, D1 Training also offers group, semi-private and one-on-one training with world-class coaches. The goal is simple: to continue to train athletes who are dedicated to their sport or fitness goals, regardless of age or athletic background.
“The Richards are the ideal candidates to bring the D1 Training experience to Peachtree Corners,” said the brand’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Murphy. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the D1 family and are confident in their ability to show the Peachtree Corners area what they’ve been missing out on.”
“D1 is a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that’s built around the individual and meant to help people meet their athletic goals,” Murphy continued. “Our strong network of franchisees embodies our core values to bring the D1 Training vision to life, and we know the Richards will do just that in Peachtree Corners and its surrounding communities.”
Expanding the brand
Strategically expanding across the nation through franchising, D1 Training currently has more than 100 performance centers open with over 100 additional locations in various stages of development.
The brand is currently seeking financially qualified business builders, former athletes and entrepreneurs who share a passion for fitness and youth sports and are ready to make a positive impact on their community.
The Charity Run/Walk will be part of Curiosity Lab’s annual Criterium event
Expect a day of thrilling races and family-friendly fun at the inaugural Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk followed by the Curiosity Lab Criterium on Sunday, April 27.
The day-long community event will kick off at 8 a.m., when registration opens for the 5K. The race will start at 9 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m., and the Criterium will begin at 11:15 a.m.
In addition to the running and cycling events, there will also be kid’s races, food & beverage vendors, a kids zone, a DJ spinning tunes and more fun throughout the day.
The Charity 5K Run/Walk
Presented by WerfenandSidel, with additional support provided by Atlas Collaborative and the City of Peachtree Corners, the Charity 5K Run/Walk will benefit the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and 100% of the registration fees will be donated.
While no prizes will be given for the race, bib timing will be used for those who would like to see their times. And each registrant will receive a Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk t-shirt for participating.
Following the 5K, hang around and experience the Curiosity Lab Criterium, part of U.S. Pro Cycling’s Speed Week.
Speed Week is a premiere week-long event on the U.S. Pro Cycling Circuit that draws cyclists from around the world, including Olympic medalists and world and national champions. In 2024, the professional men’s and women’s events drew cyclists from over 30 states and more than 20 countries.
photo courtesy of City of Peachtree Corners
Join in the excitement and watch as some of the world’s top male and female Criterium Racers tackle the most challenging track on the circuit.
The details
The 2025 Curiosity Lab Criterium & 5K will take place on a course located within the world-famous Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners — a 5G-enabled, 500-acre living laboratory ecosystem designed specifically as a proving ground for IoT, mobility and smart city emerging technologies.
Location: Curiosity Lab at City Hall • 310 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners
Date and time: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The 5K starts at 9 a.m and ends at 10:30 a.m. The Criterium begins at 11:15 a.m.
Parking for the event will be located at 400 and 420 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners.