EL SALVADOR, Central America- After becoming head coach of the USA Cadet National Team last season, Red Foxes water polo head coach Chris Vidale led the Cadet Team to a bronze medal. The USA Cadet Team earned bronze at the 2024 PanAm Aquatics U19 Water Polo Championships, playing seven matches led by Vidale.

"Being apart of the Olympic movement is really, really special," said Vidale. "To know that I have an opportunity to impact these young athletes in a positive way is an opportunity I don't take for granted. My wife is an Olympian in 2008 and 2012 and she talks about her pipeline coaches who helped her shaped her playing career in the sport of water polo." 

The USA Cadet Team began its bronze run on May 21 with a dominant 22-4 victory against Chile. The Cadet team continued their dominant stretch against Colombia, earning a 24-11 win.

In the third match of the PanAm Championships, Team USA won in thrilling fashion, defeating Brazil 12-11. In the fourth match, Team USA played Mexico and triumphed 16-3.

In the fifth match of the Championships, Team USA fell against Canada 12-10. In the final match of the Championships to secure bronze, Team USA defeated Canada in a 14-12 win which went to a shootout (4-2 USA).

The USA Cadet National Team finished the PanAm Championship at 5-2 overall, earning the bronze medal.

This marks the first time Vidale won a national medal as head coach of the USA Cadet Team. In 2023, he was named head coach of the Cadet Team.

Vidale has added to his international experience in water polo. He won the silver medal with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team at the 2009 CCCAN Games. Vidale also won the Bronze at the FINA Tournament in Kuwait.

Vidale has led the Red Foxes to five MAAC Championship appearances and one MAAC championship in 2021. Coming out of the Red Foxes pipeline, Vidale coached four MAAC Defensive Player of the Year athletes, 10 First Team All-MAAC selections, and nine Second Team All-MAAC selections.