Lacking the presence of returning senior players, the team has spent the season battling it out against opponents.

The main reason some of the returning players did not come out to participate in the sport their senior year was that they felt they had other
priorities, even though they have accumulated many hours in the pool.

“I am not playing water polo because I am focusing all my efforts on shooting,” senior Ryan Jacobs said. “My training in shooting on average is nine times a week.”

While some had time commitments restraints, others made the decision based on their post high school plans. The final decision was based on what was best for the individual player.

“I did not play polo this year because I want to focus on swimming,” senior player Dalton Boyles said. “I do not regret it because I plan on swimming in college and not playing water polo.”

Jacobs, like Boyles, states that he does not regret playing polo, because in the end, shooting, will take him farther than polo would.

Recruitment for the following years is going to be important, if the squad of players is interested in continuing to compete.

“Normally players will start swimming, and then move to water polo,” varsity water polo and swim coach Sean Taylor said. “Next year we’ll have the top dozen players all coming back.”

There was one young man, senior Andrew Gillen that came out for the team this year; however, he had no experience in polo before the season started.

“I did water polo this year because I did swimming last year and wanted to be in the water more,” Gillen said.

Being that the team lacked a senior leader, there was room for many underclassmen to step up and pull the team through the rough waters.

“With all the seniors gone, and since we have never been on varsity full time before, there was no one really left to define who would lead the team, so it is been a mess of leaders,” junior James Palmiter said.

Gillen mentions that is was a little weird being the only senior, and since, he did not play last year he did not feel like it was his place to step up and be a leader. At the same time he feels that being the senior on the team, they could look up to someone if they really wanted.

Jacobs also reflects that he believes the team will blossom into something even more dominant than before.

“I think the team is suffering a little because they lack the experience and leadership of seniors,” Jacobs said, “however, I think this will make them stronger next year because of the extra playing time.”

Taylor also believes this is true.

“The boys seem to really love to play. We lost quite a bit this season, but they were always still looking to play,” Taylor said.

Normally, a polo player, unless they are a senior, swings in both the junior varsity match and the varsity match. This year though was different for the juniors.

“We have definitely gotten better since last year, and now all the juniors play varsity full time,” Palmiter said. ”It is a lot harder being on varsity, but it is also a lot more fun.”

The experience has forced the juniors to step up and begin taking control of the team through example and hard work, fighting against the odds they were dealt this season. The team finished last this year in districts, but they have the experience to improve on that next year.