Varsity Boys’ Waterpolo Falls Short of Victory against Schurr

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SIDNEY AUNG
Sports Editor

The competitive mood was set as the boys’ varsity waterpolo team arrived at Granada Park on Oct. 18, anxious to play their third Almont League match against Schurr High School. Eager to demonstrate their skills and to achieve redemption for their earlier league loss, the Moors were mentally focused from the very beginning as they capitalized on their warm-ups to raise their intensity before the game.
“A good warm up is essential for the game.Not only does it prepare you physically by warming up your muscles, preventing possible cramps, but it also prepares you mentally,” varsity member Richard Lam said.
The first quarter followed promptly and the team was off to a positive start as they scored the first point. However, the Spartans quickly scored a barrage of points. Each possession was crucial for both teams as they quickly swam down the pool in aspirations of scoring. The quarter passed by quickly, as the seven-minute mark came to a close, leaving the Moors trailing. They were striving to shift the momentum to their favor and took advantage of the opportunities they had. By the end of the second half, the teams’ deficit had grown larger, and the game seemed bleak. During the second half, they were focused on staying aggressive, displaying a higher level of intensity during the third and fourth quarters. They lost 3-24 at the end of the game.
“[Our] team did not perform up to their full potential. They let Schurr determine the outcome defensively and offensively,” Head Coach Sarah Duran said.
The team acknowledged that defense would be a crucial part in determining the outcome of the game and felt that they performed weakly on that end of the field. Fatigue definitely played a role in their loss as they had no players available for substitutions, resulting in the Moors playing entire quarters without rest or replacement. They conserved energy efficiently, lasting the entire game, but realized that they needed to make adjustments to their defense.
“We need to work on communicating and being more verbal amongst each other,” varsity Captain Thomas Phan said.