Having lost seven key seniors who were a great presence in the pool last season, there is no doubt that there were some empty slots to be filled.

Looking forward, senior Theo Kratter, the team’s top scorer, said, “While you could say there are holes to fill with the seniors, all that means is that we have new opportunities for our younger members of the team.”

Kratter and the team believe that the younger players have an opportunity to step up and become leaders in the pool, regardless of their age.

Still, a lot of young talent can also mean a lack of chemistry within the team, as some of the players have only known each other for a couple of months.

“We have the potential to be great but we need to get more comfortable with each other inside and outside of the pool,” noted sophomore Kalyx Lara.

If the team can master strategy together rather than individually, then they will find beating tougher opponents will become part of their routine.
 The team’s coaching staff comes with an abundance of experience, with Head Coach Sean Grab having played Division I water polo at UC Davis and also professionally in Hungary. Coach Grab is also an integral part of Pasadena Aquatics Club (PAC), a water polo club that practices at Poly’s pool.

The club consists of water polo players ranging from elementary to high school students. One of the goals for the club is to cultivate a strong community around water polo within the Poly community, inspiring more people to get involved and join the high school team, ultimately supporting the continued success of the program in the future.

“I want people to not only have the opportunity to play and learn about water polo, but I also want to build a very competitive program that lasts year-round, not just in the fall,” said Grab.

Grab plans to lead the community with positivity, discipline, and perseverance. With his leadership, the team is looking to bounce back from early preseason challenges and confidently finish first in the league.