by: Nelson Kramer

Editor-in-Chief

Approaching late October means the high school water polo season is coming to an end, yet the LGHS water polo teams have not thought about letting up for even a second. This season, each team has exceeded expectations. They are performing at high levels, making good memories, and building team bonds that will last a lifetime. 

During this season, all teams have demonstrated significant achievement and growth, most notably the LGHS Boys’ Varsity, which is living up to the strong showing they gave last year, winning nearly every game and making a strong campaign for CCS and Nationals. This group set itself apart from its competitors, consistently ranking at the top for an extended period of time. Many rightfully predicted their season would be tremendous and steadfast. Winning almost every game this season by a high margin, this team has made its way to the top of the list, coming second in the county, 26th statewide, and 35th nationally. 

Most recently, the varsity boys defeated Gunn (23-8) and Mountain View (16-3), while losing to Los Altos (9-6). Ultimately, they ended their season with a show of strength; the team beat Bellarmine College Prep (8-7). Overall, they have won 19 out of 22 games this season. Reflecting on the team’s strong performance, one of the top players, junior Richard Runge, shared, “This season has been going really well for me and our team. Of course, we’ve had ups and downs, but it looks like we’ll be seeded between 3-5 for CCS, which is great!” Not only is the team dominating in the rankings, but they are also getting along very well with each other. Runge reflects on the team bonding from this year, noting, “The team community has been awesome this year. I love going to pasta feeds and on trips with the team. I feel great every time we hang out, and everybody is really great to everyone else. That was apparent when we won against Saint Francis two weeks ago.” Runge concluded with advice for upcoming water polo players: “My advice for anyone getting into water polo is to focus on swim times and strength training because the tactics and game IQ will come with experience.”

Likewise, the Varsity Girls’ Team is doing just as well this season, winning matches against Gunn, Castilleja, and Leigh High School and climbing the local rankings. The team has some young talent, such as freshman Martha Kang. Kang reflected on the season so far:  “We’re improving…we didn’t do that well in the beginning, but we’re getting better.” Additionally, the girls’ team has also built a strong community. Kang says, “On Wednesdays, we usually go to a pasta feed, so we go to someone’s house and we all have a team dinner.” 

As both teams continue to play out the rest of the season, fans are excited to see what is in store for the final games leading up to the CCS tournament. Keep your eyes on LGHS water polo, specifically Runge and Kang, because they are sure to excel in the water. 

(Sources: MaxPreps)