THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: She's part of the family plan ... Charlie Lindsay joins her cousin in U.S. Olympic development program in water polo

Charlie Lindsay loves a lot of things.

Her Labrador, being outside, her classes as a fifth grader at Fernan STEM Academy among them.

All that while her love of the sport of water polo continues to grow.

LINDSAY, 11, began playing the sport at a young age in Brentwood, Calif., before her family moved to Coeur d'Alene in the past year.

“I got into playing water polo because my family started playing water polo,” Lindsay said. “I started when I was 5 years old, and I’ve been liking it since. And I’m also pretty good at it, so I kind of hope to grow up playing it.”

“California is kind of the hub of water polo in the United States,” North Idaho Water Polo Club team coach Mark Collingham said. “It’s kind of like what football is here. A lot of families down there play water polo and the schools have teams, so it’s a very common thing to have. A lot of Charlie’s older cousins played, so she’s just following in that family's’ footsteps. She’s seen her cousins play, and she’s pretty gifted in the sport.”

Lindsay was recently selected for a U.S. Olympic Development Program National team, where she’ll learn and train as one of 60 in her division (ages 11-13). She is the second person from Idaho to be selected to the program, joining Joslyn Dimitri — Lindsay’s cousin, a 2023 Coeur d'Alene High grad now play at NCAA Division III Austin College in Sherman, Texas — on the list.

“I was really shocked,” Lindsay said. “The first time I found out, I was on an airplane and was kind of asleep, so it didn’t really hit me. When I woke up a little more and found out, I was really happy. It’s really cool to get to go and do that.”

Charlie credits her father, Larry, who played in college, for getting her into playing water polo.

“My dad played and really enjoyed it,” Charlie said. “I think I’ll end up enjoying it just as much as he did. He gives me all the support and encouragement I need. He supports me in everything I need, and that’s great.”

Lindsay is scheduled attend the development program's training camp in May.

For the North Idaho Water Polo Club, which features high school players from Coeur d’Alene and surrounding areas, Lindsay is an attacker, playing center — the offensive position in front of the goal.

“I like to drive and make things happen,” Lindsay said. “I love stealing the ball and making goals.”

As for playing against those a little older than she is, Lindsay welcomes the challenge.

“There’s a lot of activity,” Lindsay said. “I think it’s cool playing with other kids that aren’t my age because I get to learn some really cool skills from other people so that I can turn out really good.”

COLLINGHAM, WHO coaches the North Idaho Water Polo Club, said Lindsay jumped in with the group, which has won 11 straight state titles, right away.

“She really stands out,” Collingham said. “I haven’t had someone that young make it up to the high school level before. With the high school group, we go more by talent than anything else. If someone has the talent and wants to join our high school team, I’m not going to stand in their way or slow down their program. We’ll try to move them up once they feel like they’re ready to go and their parents feel they’re ready to go.”

Then again, playing with her family, Collingham said it’s like she’s a seasoned player.

“She’s got a lot of talent and works hard in practice,” Collingham said. “She’s got some older sisters and cousins that have played in the past, and she started when she was 3 or 4 years old. Even though she’s really young, she’s been playing for the last seven or eight years.”

“She’s super open to feedback and listens great to what the coaches have to say,” Collingham said. “I can see that she’s picked up some other skills from other coaches as well, and some things that we haven’t been teaching. She doesn’t spend a lot of time with those other coaches, but she’s learned a lot and picked up those other skills in a short amount of time.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress. 

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Charlie Lindsay, a student at Fernan STEM Academy, swims toward the goal during a North Idaho Water Polo Club team practice at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday.