The Varsity Water Polo team has seen some mixed results to start this season.
As of deadline, the Lightning held a season record of 9-5, including an impressive 19-8 victory over Dana Hills. On Oct. 1, the team endured a heart-breaking 10-11 overtime loss in a home match against Laguna Beach.
“I feel like where we need to be. Earlier in the season, the two losses were just unfortunate ones, but again, we’re really early into the season. We are heating up for the busy part of the season,” Water Polo Head Coach Pavle Filipovic said.
After a successful season last year, Lightning Water Polo is looking forward to an even more successful season. Filipovic emphasized how they need to continue to grow as a team to achieve success.
“We have some returners, but we have a lot of new players,” he said.
After last season, the team lost standout goalie Billy Ray but is revitalized with six new freshmen on Varsity, with three or four of those freshmen playing key roles. The Lightning also added a new strong transfer to the roster, Junior Luke Weichert, who was ineligible to play the first month of the season due to CIF rules for transfers.
“We have a lot of Freshman recruits. They have been doing wonders for us. I am excited to see what we will do in the future,” said sophomore Ethan Guan, who plays center and center defender. In addition to Luke, another talented player this year is senior Dylan Rosmann, who is verbally committed to play for UC Irvine next year.
“They are already our two top players and captains,” Filipovic said.
“The team needs to help develop the skills of the freshman players through practice and discipline,” Ethan said. “I think we need to be more disciplined in practice, put the effort in, and increase team chemistry and team bonding. I think if we can do both those things, we can go really far and win the league.”
With already a slew of victories against formidable opponents, the team’s biggest priority is maintaining the momentum they have already built. The team’s next home match will be with Portola on Oct. 8.
