Varsity Boys’ Water Polo Brings Winning Spirit into Season

KAYIU WONG
Staff Writer

The start of October is the start of league matches for all of AHS’ fall sports. In the world of water polo, the boys’ varsity team ended preseason with a record of 1-7. Season started officially on Oct. 1 with a game against Montebello, and the team moved into playing three other Almont League schools with a determined attitude and strategic in-field tactics.

“We have such a busy game schedule this year [that] we don’t have a lot of time to improve or show what we can do during practice. Our goal is to contest with the other teams with the strengths we see and know in each other. We just have to play to these advantages to win, ” captain Wesley Han said.

During practice, Head Coach Adrian Lopez works equally on defensive and offensive plays. Daily drills and sprinting exercises push the varsity athletes to reach their maximum speed and endurance. When it came to preparing for the season’s first game, reaction drills, counter attack plays and specific blocking tactics were primarily emphasized.

According to captain Daniel Lindley, the Montebello Oilers have a vigorous year-round season and are among the top schools when it comes to scoring goals. Knowing their style of play was an advantage to our Moors, but eventually, a score of 1-17 concluded the match.

League matches bring a much faster pace to the game of water polo and, so, setting strategic lineups has become second nature to the athletes.

“I have my team consistently work on communication between teammates, and [spread] the field so that we have space to drive or make good passes,” Lopez said.

The next upcoming water polo games are on Oct. 29 against Mark Keppel and Nov. 5 against Schurr, both at Granada Park.