Elk Grove, Rolling Meadows stay positive with Triple Negative fundraiser

The Rolling Meadows and Elk Grove girls and boys water polo teams are rivals in competition.

But they are also teammates in opposition to a common enemy - cancer.

For the second straight year, the teams from both schools will unify in a fundraiser for Triple Negative Breast Cancer as the varsity teams compete Tuesday at Elk Grove.

The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., with the boys to follow at approximately 7 p.m.

The issue hits home for both programs, as former Elk Grove girls varsity coach Alexa Rodheim battled through breast cancer treatments while continuing to lead her team last season. Rodheim previously excelled as a player at Hoffman Estates High School.

Since Elk Grove and Rolling Meadows both share the pool at Elk Grove for practices and games, it's the perfect setting to bring everyone together.

In the girls game, Elk Grove and coach Jason Spjuth are looking for their first Mid-Suburban East win of the year against an improved Rolling Meadows team coached by Kelli Lussow.

In the boys game, Elk Grove and coach Keith Kura have won twice in the MSL East while Meadows and coach Art Senteno are after their first divisional triumph.

The teams will be selling T-shirts and baked goods, along with forwarding gate proceeds and donations to the Triple Negative cause.

"We really want this to be a positive experience for our students, players and the community," said Lussow.