The swim team plays a large part in the campus culture here – their annual Black and Gold inter-squad competition is specifically talked about among swimmers and non-swimmers – but what about the lesser-known water polo team? Water polo is a recent addition to UIL sports, officially recognized in 2022. Teams consist of seven players, including one goalkeeper, who attempt to score by throwing a ball into the opposing team’s goal while treading water in a pool. Players can only use one hand to pass the ball, cannot touch the bottom of the pool during play, and the team with the most goals after four quarters wins.
“The game is hard to learn and play, but well worth the time commitment,” senior Madeline Richey said. “We get to have an actual team sport, where we spend the time to connect and work together to score points, and the time we spend working on it has a direct benefit.”
Different paths have led students to water polo. Each player brought different backgrounds and interests, but all found something special in the unique combination of teamwork and athleticism that water polo demands.
“I joined in particular because of my close bond with my teammates on swim,” senior Owen Allen said. “I wanted to spend even more time bonding with them and getting to appreciate my time with them.”
These shared experiences of triumph have managed to bond the teams even further and have created the foundation for a strong program.
“Even when we’re losing, our team unity is such that we can come back from a point deficit in games and manage to win,” senior Maddie Gayden said.
Looking toward the future, these players are excited about what lies ahead for NHS water polo. The water polo program at NHS may not be the oldest, but with dedicated athletes leading the way, the team is making waves in the dragon community.
“We’ve worked so hard in practice and preparation,” junior Livia Whitaker said. “I know that the entire team is excited to see hard work pay off.”
See Coach Carrie Scroggins or Coach Derek Theiss if you are interested in joining next year’s team.
