Water polo starts journey as new sport

Photo: margarita rangel

LOOKING HOPEFUL. Sophomore Anakin Miracle gets ready to pass to his teammate during water polo scrimmage at the Woodlands natatorium on Oct. 4, 2022. Although the team is new to the sport their eagerness trumps the worries they have during the process. “I’m looking forward to seeing how much the team improves and how we’re able to stay calm under pressure,” Miracle said. “I got put into the class by mistake but I’m looking forward to learning.”

Kimberly Cruz, Boys Sports Editor
Nov 7, 2022

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Photo: margarita rangel
NEW TO THIS. Junior Marko Elvira goes after the ball after the Woodlands team tries to score a goal on Oct. 4, 2022. Few minutes before the match begins, the Woodlands split up into groups to teach the new members strategies for the game. As being the only current goalie of the team Elvira was taught by two people on how to manage the ball. “I felt overwhelmed the whole time, I’ve never done this before,” Elvira said. “I’m hoping to get better.”

Starting this year water polo will be a sport for the first time in school history. It will be coached by Christopher Day, who will also be an assistant coach for swimming.

Water polo is only doing practice scrimmages to prepare themselves for UIL varsity competitions in the next year. The players will have to learn along with Day, who is new to coaching water polo. Day used the summer break to get a heads up on what to expect and get ready for the season.

“Preparing for Water Polo will be a day-by-day growth since it is brand new to our school, this is from the coaching to training,” Day said.

Day is ready to have fun with the aggressiveness of the sport and make memories while setting the bar with the team.

“I am excited to be the first coach of water polo,” Day said.” It is brand new to us and it is my job to set the expectations for future teams.” 

All the moments throughout the season will be significant to the team as they learn and grow together as “a family.”

“We are not just a team, we are a family,” Day said.

Although Day has had management, corporate sales, corporate oil and gas, as well as law enforcement positions, he believes coaching is true to him. 

“Coaching gives me an opportunity to leave a positive impact on the world through these kids,” Day said. “This has been the only job I can honestly say I love.”

Day looks forward to the future of the water polo and swimming program and seeing it continue to grow with Chase Crampton as the head swimming coach.

“We have a new coach that I am actually friends with on the outside,” Day said. “He will bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the program.”