By: Katie Nelson and Ainsley Northrop

Center Editor and Editor-in-Chief

The LG Girls’ Water Polo Team has gone 5-4 in league and 7-6 overall, having recently beat Castileja in a narrow 10-9 victory and dominating their game against Gunn 11-1. 

Explaining the team’s ambitions, junior Charlotte Brown said, “I think some goals for our team in general is just to keep improving. And we really want to beat Harker on senior night, so we’re practicing really hard for that.” Outside of the pool, the team has bonded and is now closer than ever. They had their annual team sleepover, and Brown said, “[it was] my favorite when we made bracelets [and] key chains as a team–it was really fun. And then we got to sleep in tents outside.” Junior Jaz Charnaw said she appreciated both new and old traditions, such as the talk about the memories of alumni Tessa Joy Davis and Peter Kleis and the new giant candy salad activity. 

When asked about goals for the rest of the season, Charnaw said, “Even though there’s not a lot of us [on the team], we can really put in the effort and work really hard to [be] the best we can, especially because I think our defense is really good.” She added that her biggest hope for the team is “making ourselves proud. I can really see us putting all the work in and becoming an awesome team.”

Currently undefeated in league play and holding a 13-2 overall record, the LG Boys’ Varsity Water Polo Team is living up to their record-breaking season last year. Recently, the team traveled to a tournament in Granite Bay. Senior Thien Mai explained: “We had three games…and during the entire tournament, we played pretty well, especially our first game, where we came out with the most energy we have ever had this season.” Mai expressed particular happiness with the team’s win over Jesuit High School because they “were a strong team,” but LGHS played “better and with more energy,” asserting themselves as fierce competitors in the tournament.

Junior Nicholas Huang, recently moved up to varsity, described his first varsity game against Mountain View on Oct. 3: “I got a lot of playing time, and I also scored my first goal on varsity…But it’s definitely a lot faster paced and a lot more difficult and intense than JV was.” The team concluded the game, crushing Mountain View 18-8. Detailing his excitement about the team, Huang reasoned, “It’s a really great team. I’ve known a lot of the players for quite a long time, so it’s great being able to play with them and bond and just being able to get together.”

As the season progresses, the team hopes to make a name for themselves not only in their league but across Northern California, with difficult non-league games against Bellarmine, St. Francis, and Santa Cruz on the horizon. Mai said, “We obviously have a really strong, talented team this year, and I do believe that we win as long as we come out strong like we did against Jesuit, as long as we play at our highest level.” The team is particularly looking forward to their Game of the Year against Santa Cruz on Oct. 18.

Come support these Wildcats at the LGHS pool as they continue their impressive seasons.