On Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, the Poly varsity water polo team took on Flintridge Preparatory, their biggest rivals. In the first half, the lead switched back and forth between the two teams with a margin of only one or two points.
Then, immediately into the third quarter, the Panthers took control of the game by scoring four goals in succession. Beginning by winning and scoring off the sprint, the method of determining possession at the start of a quarter, the Panthers then successfully counterattacked three times in a row. Center senior Nathan Yagura scored twice, and left side attacker senior Kalyx Lara and right side attacker junior William Connolly each scored once. These four points culminated in a six-point run, leading the Panthers to a 16-7 win.
Currently, the Poly boys varsity water polo ranks first in the Prep League with a 5-0 league record and a 16-5 overall record, and they are on track to compete in the CIF playoffs. Head coach Missy McCreary, a former collegiate water polo player herself, said “Our goal for these young men is to be the hardest working team that values discipline, takes accountability, works for one another, does things the right way… if they continue to meet that standard every day [that] we are together, this group will do exactly what it is we set out to do, which is be in a CIF final.”
As the game against Flintridge Prep shows, the Panthers have high-powered, balanced scoring depth across their roster. This strength has contributed to their victories and distinguished them from many of their opponents. The team has especially implemented the offensive technique of posting up, for instance, in which a player swims towards a defender but quickly opens up to receive the ball.
While further advancing their strength in scoring, the team has also actively worked to progress their defense. While the Panthers trust their offensive abilities, junior goalie Ajani Durham emphasized, “Our biggest priority is making sure that we’re locked down on defense and really staying disciplined. It’s like covering for a team.”
Beyond the pool, the water polo team agrees that their camaraderie is a valued, central aspect of their team identity. Members of the team might be found having lunch in a Poly classroom or at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, as they have traditionally done.
