With a promising group of freshmen as well as two new coaches, head coach Braeden Sanders and assistant coach Casey Surber, the boys waterpolo team is hopeful for a strong season.
“Me and coach Braeden are confident in the team’s ability to go far in the season,” Surber said. “We’re super stoked to be a part of such an amazing team.”
The team’s first tournament is on Aug. 25. To prepare, the new coaches are focusing more on conditioning.
“For this season, they’re having me learn how to pass and shoot with my left and right hand,” set guard Trey Williams said. “And they are having everyone else do a lot of shooting drills and ball work.”
The waterpolo team is a recently established OPHS sport, having only three years under their belt, but it has grown readily since its foundation.
“The waterpolo team is fairly new and we’ve already increased the head count by double the amount since we first started,” Surber said.
Having new players brings new skills to the team. Yet, as the team is still unfamiliar with each other’s gaming style, the waterpolo returners are extremely important in the foundation of this season’s team.
“I have been playing waterpolo for about seven years for a club,” freshman Theodore Huzinschi said. “I believe the biggest challenge will be that most people are new to the team so most won’t know each other’s weaknesses and strengths.”
The goals of the season include having fun, being safe and to create a strong team that can continue the program in future years.
“We [the coaches] believe that giving everything, regardless of if it’s a sport or daily task, is the most important thing a coach can teach their students,” Surber said.
