The Varsity Water Polo team has a quick talk before playing in the Central Valley Showdown Tournament. Photo courtesy of senior Gaylynn Kirn.
San Luis Obispo High School’s girls water polo team is in the Mountain League this Fall season, and off to a strong start, but how do the players feel? SLOHS Expressions interviewed four athletes, to get both varsity and JV opinions.
Expressions: Why did you start playing water polo?
Freshman Reese Evanoff: I thought it would be really cool because I swim a lot and it would be
something new to try out.
Sophomore Myra Salazar: Because my dad made me, I literally don’t know why.
Senior Gaylynn Kirn: I started because my dad forced me to. He said I looked like a water sport athlete, and because I sucked at all the land sports.
Sophomore Grace Collins: Because I like water sports.
Expressions: Do you think girl’s water polo is underrated at this school?
Evanoff: Yes, 100 percent. I feel like at this school, they really cater to the football, and we work a little harder! Like bro, we’re getting drowned over here!
Salazar: Oh yeah, people say it’s easy and so they don’t come to it.
Kirn: Oh, I think it’s heavily underrated. I think that people don’t know that we’re at a D1 level; play super hard teams from out of SLO county, and yeah, it’s very underrecognized.
Collins: Yes. We don’t get enough attention because it’s the same season as football and everyone just cares about football and girl’s volleyball.
Expressions: Would you recommend a SLOHS student to come to a game?
Evanoff: Yes, 100 percent come support us! Bro, you can watch us win.
Kirn: I would totally recommend people to come to our games. It’s a very intense sport, and they realize just how hard it is and it’s a very fun sport to watch, because there’s always something going on.
Collins: Yeah, cause we’re actually good.
Expressions: Would you recommend students to join the SLOHS girls team?
Evanoff: Yes, it’s really fun and we have an amazing team! And I feel like it would be a great opportunity
to try something new.
Kirn: I think people should definitely join the team if they love water and are aggressive. If you’re not aggressive, then it really doesn’t work! But it is a fun sport and it is very fun team wise.
Collins: Yeah, if they’re interested in playing a game that’s based on team effort.
Expressions: If you could play a different sport, would you?
Evanoff: No, I really like water polo. It’s been really, really, fun.
Salazar: Honestly, no. I’m more familiar with water polo because I did it last year, and I wouldn’t want to change sports.
Kirn: No, but if I could do it, I would definitely do volleyball.
Collins: Depends on the sport, but honestly if I could play football I would play football.