On Wednesday, October 9, the Irvington Vikings Boys Water Polo team versed the American Eagles Boys Water Polo team, resulting in a challenging defeat in their match despite their efforts.
For the players, their loss highlighted their areas for growth, and for the coaches, it underscored both the challenges and the potential of the team. “I felt disappointed about this game, but I liked how we were able to work as a team together, even though we didn’t get the result we wanted,” reflected Team Captain Cameron Kong (12).
“It was really tough,” Avyukt Bhardwaj (11), a pointer guard for the team, shared his thoughts on the game. “We definitely could have been playing better. Half the time, we were making bad passes, and our shooting was off. We need to get more out of the water, aim better, and not shoot straight at the goalie.”
“We were able to draw a lot of fouls, which was great, but we just couldn’t finish the plays. We were good at getting back on offense, but our passes weren’t connecting,” Ryan Lee (11), a sprinter, added.
The loss revealed areas needing improvement, such as awareness, conditioning, and physical strength. Kong emphasized that the team’s ability to communicate and maintain a positive mindset was one of its strong suits.
The other Water Polo Team Captain, Kainoa Casem (12), also commented on the match. “Today wasn’t our best. We got countered a lot, and some of our passes were off. It was demotivating seeing the score, but we kept playing hard,” he said. Despite these challenges, Casem remains optimistic about the team’s potential, focusing on improving their swimming and stronger passes.
“There has been a ton of improvement.” Head Coach Max Houlihan said, acknowledging the boys’ progress. Houlihan also mentioned the rough conditions they had to deal with throughout the season. “We don’t have a big team or even our own pool, but these boys are learning the fundamentals and developing their game tactics,” Houlihan said in frustration.
The team’s season has had its share of highlights, though, many players shared their thrilling victory in a tournament at San Leandro High School being a standout moment. “With two seconds left, I was playing goalie, and I threw the ball across the entire court—it went in. That was unforgettable,” Kong recalled his personal highlight of the season.
Looking forward, the team is committed to addressing its weaknesses. Conditioning will be a top priority, and players will focus on sharpening their water polo IQ. “Next season, we’re going to go in with a winning mindset and take practices a lot more seriously,” Kong said.
Despite the loss, the Irvington boys’ water polo team is learning and growing with each game, preparing to come back stronger next season. Their determination and grit will undoubtedly serve them well as they continue to face the challenges ahead.
