After their last game on Jan. 10, the girls water polo team is ready to reflect on their experiences. Throughout the season, there were difficulties associated with having just seven players total, the minimum for a water polo team.
“We did have a couple challenges, like one time not all the players had the right suits, but we just had to let them goalie,” freshman Ameet Cohen wrote. “Or one time we couldn’t borrow subs from a team and we had to cancel the game. But we just had to play the second game without any.”
Playing together was a learning experience for the newly founded team, who had little time to practice before beginning the season. Working together helped them improve their communication skills.
“Our very first game, we played against TO, and we hadn’t even had two practices before. It was pretty bad, but our later games really went better, and our defense got better,” freshman Erin Colclough said. “Later on, we also knew our strengths and weaknesses, so we put people in better positions and ran different plays.”
Their best game occurred in January, close to the end of the season.
“Our best game was probably against Moorpark,” Colclough said. “We lost 8-7, but it was a really close game, and I think everyone had fun during it.”
While water polo is a particularly difficult sport to play, it builds many skills valuable not only in the game itself, but also in other athletic avenues.
“I’m glad that I joined this year because it not only worked on my team skills but also skills that I lacked like perseverance and aggression,” Cohen wrote.
The close-knit nature of the sport led to a close relationship between the players, who quickly bonded after joining the team.
“I remember at the beginning of the season, we were all like strangers, but after, like, the first practice, it just clicked, you know,” Colclough said.
Next year, they hope to have more players on the team, for more flexibility when it comes to games.
“We needed seven people to play and we only had seven, so it was barely enough,” Colclough said. “Next year we’re hoping to get more players so it won’t be as tight.”
After a successful first season, the team is looking forward to next year, where the program will further expand.
“I’m hoping that our team gets bigger and grows over the years,” Cohen wrote. “I plan to join in the upcoming years! And I hope that others plan to join as well.”
