MPSF Water Polo Partners With S&R Sport, Delfina, and Malmsten
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has elevated the water polo competition experience by joining forces with Delfina, Malmsten, and S&R Sport. The parties involved have entered into a four-year partnership agreement beginning in 2022-23 through the 2025-26 academic year.
Delfina will be the new official ball provider for the conference and will supply its MPSF teams with balls during the regular season and the MPSF Championship Tournament. Malmsten, founded in Sweden in 1974 and represented in the United States by President Mikael Orn and Vice President Simon Percy, has supplied products for many international events including the Olympic Games and World Championships. Every MPSF Championship Tournament will feature Malmsten FINA goals and water polo accessories, giving the host site the polished and professional style which Malmsten is known for internationally. S&R Sport, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, is one of the oldest aquatics supply companies around the world and will be responsible for supplying the Delfina balls and Malmsten equipment to the teams and MPSF.
“The primary mission of the MPSF is to support student-athletes and deliver a world-class competitive experience,” said MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis. “No matter the size of the school or its budget, student-athletes deserve access to the best equipment, and the support of our coaches in reaching this agreement has done just that. The superior quality ball and equipment from Delfina and Malmsten distinguishes us from our competition. When our student-athletes see the course set-up at the MPSF Championship Tournament, it will look just like the FINA World Championships. It doesn’t get more exciting than that. I would like to thank Steve Granick, Mikael Orn, and Simon Percy for all their efforts in making this partnership possible.”
The MPSF sponsors men’s water polo competition at eight institutions; Augustana College, Austin College, the University of California, Penn State Behrend, Stanford, UCLA, USC, and Washington & Jefferson. On the women's side, Arizona State, California, Indiana, San Jose State, Stanford, UCLA, and USC represent the seven participating schools. The MPSF has won all 51 NCAA Championships in men’s and women’s water polo combined since the inaugural year of the conference in 1992.
“S&R Sport is thrilled to bring together a partnership between Delfina USA, Malmsten USA and the MPSF,” said S&R Sport Owner Granick. “We are in the business of bringing world class products to our customers and this partnership really delivers top of the line balls, goals and water polo equipment. Partnering with the conference which boasts the Big-Four and the winner of every NCAA championship in its storied history is a great stepping stone for us and will bring important brand exposure for our products and partners. The buzz behind the FINA Olympic sponsor Malmsten’s debut in the USA as well as Pro Recco, the top club team in the world winning the recent Champions League wearing Delfina, is palpable and these conference teams deserve to play with the best.”
Orn continued, "Malmsten is passionate about water polo and has invested heavily in its water polo portfolio over the last 15 years, focusing not only on competition equipment but on enhancing the whole water polo experience. Malmsten is pleased to enhance its strong relationship with S&R Sport to expand into a partnership with the MPSF and happy to support an elite conference with elite equipment. Malmsten is a new name in the USA market, but is a strong international provider, having been a FINA partner since 2009 and a partner for the LEN Champions League in Europe.”
To learn more about S&R Sport and its partnering brands, visit the company’s website at srsport.com. Information on Delfina and Malmsten can be found at delfinausa.com and srsport.com/malmsten.