Penny Cowan

Assistant Coach

Hometown: Stony Plain, AB

Player Position: Utility

Canadian Club Team Affiliation:

  • Parkland Polo Bears 2012-2017
  • Edmonton Tsunami 2017-present
  • Edmonton Riptides 2021-present

Player/Coach Career:

  • 17U western conference silver medalist(2022)
  • 17U national bronze medalist(2022)
  • 17U team captain(2022)
  • Edmonton Tsunami teammate of the year(2022)
  • U14 provincial silver medalist(2017 and 2018)
  • U12 provincial gold medalist(2018)
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FUN FACTS

What is your favourite sports movie?

Soul Surfer or Sea Biscuit

What is your dream vacation?

Greece or the south of France

What ice cream flavour best describes your personality?

Moose Tracks (to quote my sister, ‘you’re reliable and classic, but still full of fun!’)

How do you like to spend your free time?

reading or any lake activity

Describe yourself in three words:

Optimistic, Competitive, Adventurous

What is your favourite food?

Jambalaya or Eggs Benedict

Q & A with Coach Penny

Q: How did you first start playing water polo?

A: I did competitive summer swimming first and I swam with a few families who were a big part of the Parkland Polo Bears so my sisters and I got roped in pretty quickly.

Q: What is it about water polo that made you fall in love with the sport?

A: I’ve always loved being in the water and I’m super competitive so water polo fuelled both of those while also giving me the opportunity to be in a team setting.

Q: What is your favourite water polo memory?

A: I can’t say that it was one specific moment but the whole journey of teaming up with Surrey this past season and going from 0-10 to winning our first game at westerns and eventually taking it to beat Sask for the first time for the bronze medal at nationals. I loved getting to be apart of that team with such amazing and hardworking girls!

Q: What made you want to be a coach?

A: I have had plenty of coaches over the years and each of them has offered such a unique and valuable perspective. Each one has helped me grow through the sport as an athlete as well as an individual. I want to be able to give back to my community by sharing what I’ve learned as well as hopefully give young athletes the opportunity to fall in love with the sport that has given me so much!

Q: Who was your most influential coach?

A: Jason Krivoshein! Coach Kriv was my U12 coach and he didn’t actually have any water polo experience besides from what he knew from watching his kids play at the time. Despite that he put his whole heart into being the best coach he could for us and he was the person who really instilled the importance of hard work and teamwork for me. It didn’t matter to him how good of a player you were or how many goals you scored in each game. He taught us to always give our 100% if not for ourselves then for our teammates and I think that has had a huge impact on who I am as a player as well as a person.

Q: Who is an athlete you admire?

A: My sister Ella. She also plays water polo and we’ve played together every single year since we started in 2012. Not only do I look up to her as a sister but she is also a huge role model for me as a person. You won’t find a more dedicated, hardworking and encouraging person out there and she pushes me everyday to be a better person and athlete!

Q: What is your favourite quote?

A: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." (Aristotle)