Meet The Coaches

Head Coach Victoria Older has played water polo for 11 years, competing with Park City Water Polo, Olympus Water Polo, and Utah Premier. Her junior year of high school, she revived the Skyline Water Polo team after advocating for pool time with her swim coach. Victoria grew up on the bench watching her dad coach collegiate games, and she has competed in multiple Junior Olympics and attended ODP camps, always seeking to grow in the sport and learn something new. She coached at Mesa Water Polo Club, has played for multiple clubs in the Utah area, and trained internationally — spending a summer in Italy with USA Water Polo Hall of Famer Cassie Azevedo and later playing for Sesi São Paulo in Brazil. an interesting fact — she was voted Miss Avondale a couple of years ago! In 2024, she was the recipient of the Sandy Nitta Award, recognizing her dedication and impact in the sport. She's a dedicated and personable coach, committed to helping athletes grow at every level. She is excited to share her experience and love for the game.

Mariah Hagemann is the founder and director of Phoenix Water Polo, which she established in 2024 to expand access to the sport in Arizona. She began her playing career in Southern California, competing at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, where she participated in two CIF Championship seasons. Her youth career included time with Coronado Water Polo Club, and she continued playing at the collegiate level at Grossmont Community College. Mariah leads recreational water polo programming at the Avondale Aquatic Complex.

In 2025, Mariah and her staff achieved a historic milestone by taking the first Arizona-based girls’ water polo team to compete at the Rocktober Tournament. Notably, every athlete on the roster was developed entirely through Arizona-based programming, marking a major step forward for girls’ water polo in the state.

Since 2023, she has been actively developing girls’ and women’s water polo programs in Phoenix and continues working toward expanding competitive opportunities for female athletes. Her mission is to create welcoming, high-quality programs that empower athletes, strengthen local communities, and ensure the long-term growth of water polo in Arizona.

Elijah Linman has been playing water polo since the age of 11 and has competed at an elite level throughout his career. Over the years, he has qualified for ODP Nationals and participated in multiple Junior Olympics tournaments. During his senior year, Elijah earned a silver medal in the 18U Gold Division while competing with South Florida Water Polo Club. Elijah is an alumni of Topaz Water Polo Club, where he developed his competitive experience.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Elijah is a three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American honoree, reflecting his commitment to excellence both in the pool and in the classroom. He was also an inaugural member of the Avondale program, participating in its very first season last summer alongside his brother Ethan and friend Derian High to help grow the spoi within the community.

More recently, Elijah continued his athletic career at the collegiate level, going on to play Division I water polo at Mercyhurst University, he currently plays on the mens club team at ASU. He is excited to continue giving back to the game by helping develop the next generation of athletes.