Packaworld makes a splash at Quarry Scramble water polo festival

An old quarry in the forests of Ohio is gaining cult status among water polo enthusiasts as the venue for one of North America’s most unusual outdoor festivals.

Known as The Quarry Scramble, the two-day tournament combines water polo, camping, cliff jumping and rafting on the former site of a free-loving hippy haven that sprung up after the Nelson Ledges Quarry near Garrettsville was abandoned.

This year’s festival, held on 3-4 August, was the Scramble’s fifth anniversary. It saw a record 230 water polo players travel from across the United States and Canada for what is becoming an annual pilgrimage.

Organisers Kacy Pugh and Kyle Ford said the tournament differed from other water polo events because teams are made up of people who don’t know each other beforehand.

Players register individually, or with up to two friends, before being “scrambled” together into teams of 12-13 players who compete together throughout the event.

Organisers Kacy Pugh and Kyle Ford said the tournament differed from other water polo events because teams are made up of people who don’t know each other beforehand. Players register individually, or with up to two friends, before being “scrambled” together into teams of 12-13 players who compete together throughout the event.

“The Quarry Scramble is all about bringing players together from all over for a huge water polo party that is looked forward to all year,” Kacy said.

“It brings the polo community together in ways other tournaments can't and forces the players to meet and develop relationships with people other than those they travelled with. The quarry is absolutely beautiful. Instead of sitting on a pool deck all day waiting for your games, you can float around on a raft, enjoy some cliff diving, or drink a beer in the sun.”

The record turnout for this year’s event meant organisers required an extra water polo playing field and goals. After investigating options they settled on an inflatable water polo field and goals from Packaworld – a decision Kacy said made set up easy.

“The biggest advantage of the inflatable setup is the ease of storage and transportation. Our main field has regular AntiWave goals and multiple three-metre inflatable noodles to keep boundary lines afloat, which means we have to rent a trailer to transport it all.

“With the Packaworld set up, I threw three bags in my car and simply drove to the venue. It was surprising how quick the fields blew up.”

As well as water polo, this year’s tournament included live music acts, a professional DJ, and for the first time ever – fireworks. At the end of the weekend’s festivities, “Stacked Kitties” emerged as the winner, with “Kelli Scott’s Tots” taking second place.

Kacy said the growth of the tournament and success of this year’s event meant there was no doubt The Quarry Scramble would return in 2020.

“When we first started years ago we thought it would end up being a fun scrimmage between our local teams – we never could have imagined that it would grow into what it is now. We hope to eventually have players from every state, as well as multiple countries.

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Video: Water polo action at The Quarry Scramble