Written By: Olivia De Guglielmo, Staff Writer
SUCCESS: The players of the Poly Boys Water Polo team show off their skills with a fantastic season full of wins.
On August 22, 2023, the Boys Water Polo Team at Poly officially opened their season. The first game of the year took place on the Poly pool deck and kicked off a seven game winning streak for the team! With 11 home games, some days were tougher than others. After losing a game against Damien 14-16 in overtime on September 12, the boys felt discouraged due to such a close loss caused by little mistakes. Time and time again, they have used these opportunities to learn. Even when getting yelled at in the pool, they listen intently to their coach. To be successful, they have used their defeat to ensure that they grow and progress as players and people. They then went on to win thirteen more games with nearly zero losses. Towards the end of their season, the boys are looking sharp and have definitely been putting in the work which shows in their many victories.
When asked how he feels about this year’s lineup, Assistant Coach Barkley claimed that “this is one of the best teams we have had as far as a group of young men that get along well.” Outside of the pool, they spend time together and have proven to have a strong bond. Barkley also fully believes in their “potential to reach the semi and maybe even the finals” in CIF if they keep up their work. As the season continues, and CIF approaches, the boys are staying consistent and focused on their goals. They have won all four of their league games so far and plan to keep the trend going with their hard work ethic.
Caden DiVincenzo (12) going for the shot.
According to Coach Barkley, one of the hardest working players on the team is also the best one – senior Rafael Martinez, cap number 9. As stated by Coach, work ethic is one of the important values a good athlete requires, therefore the idea makes sense. Martinez never fails to put effort in towards improvements for himself as well as the team. He recently broke Poly’s record of the highest number of goals in a season, making the new one 126! His persistence also makes him a great co-captain with a great attitude.
The first Carousel League game will be held at Paloma High School on October 24, followed by their second two days later at the same location. How the athletes perform during these games will affect their opportunity to move on to play in CIF. Overall, the 2023 season is looking fantastic for Poly Boys Water Polo, and its supporters are excited to see what the upcoming games will hold for the team!
Record Breaker Rafa Martinez (12)