Photo courtesy of Nayah Holmes.

  As San Luis Obispo High School has battleted its way through the 2020-2021 sports season, athletes and coaches who are finished with their season are able to look back on the accomplishments that they achieved during a pandemic. Girls and boys water polo finished up their season last week. Expressions set out to ask a some of the members and coaches about this years experience.

Expressions: How was this season in terms of wins and losses?

Boys water Polo coach Grant East: Season went relatively well all things considered. We had canceled the season and then a few weeks later we were allowed to play again so I only had ten athletes on the boys side since most of them were already doing another sport by that point. Overall the boys were 2-3 with a three way tie for third place in the Mountain league. Girls were 2-4 on the season and 2-1 in the Ocean League.

Senior and varsity girls water polo athlete Paloma Dandurand: We had some very fun games this season with a pretty equal amount of wins and losses.

Senior and varsity girls water polo athlete Delaney Jones: Personally, I really enjoyed the small season we had because we were all there to have fun. At the end of the day, it really didn’t matter to me whether we won or lost a game because we didn’t even think we’d be able to have a season. I think some of the best games we had this season were games we lost because it was just fun to work together as a team. 

Expressions: How did this season differ from previous years?

East: This season was pretty different because generally in a water polo season you are playing twenty-five to twenty-eight games. This year we only played five to six. Normally you need those games to get going and warmed up and used to a game plan. We went right into the league games. Also it being my first year here at SLO it was good to get into the tiger culture and start coaching and getting to know the team.

Dandurand: This season was interesting as we practiced all year with no contact previous.

Jones: This last season compared to the past few was very different in a lot of ways. I think the biggest change was only having practice once a week compared to usually having three to five practices depending on the game schedule. Because of this, there was much less time to physically and mentally prepare for games. I don’t believe this stopped our team from giving it our all at every game, especially since there were only a few.

Expressions: What was your favorite memory from this season?

East: This year was my first year at SLOHS so I was just excited that we got to get some form of a season for our seniors. They put in a lot of work over the year trying to keep the team together and working out. So to have them get to play and then be in the brand new pool was pretty special.

Dandurand: We played pioner valley and everyone on the team made a goal! 

Jones: there were a lot of great moments in the few short weeks we had but my favorite memory is from when we played atascadero. that game was definitely my favorite just because of the energy in the pool. at some point, there was an issue with the shot clock and we had to wait a few minutes for the ref to help figure out the problem. during that time, our team and atascadero’s team started talking and making jokes in the pool. all of us were just hanging out together having a good time as if we weren’t in the middle of a very competitive game. as soon as the ref got back and started the game again, it all went back to normal and we never talked to them again. i think that moment is a good representation of the season and how we were all just so happy to be playing and socializing with one another but also enjoying the competitive spirit. 

Expressions: What are you going to miss most about high school water polo?

Dandurand: I will miss being part of a team/family with great girls the most about high school water polo.

Jones: what i’m going to miss most about water polo is the great team dynamic we have. after not playing together for over a year, we somehow just picked up where we left off like nothing had ever happened. our team is like a family and it’s really nice to know that we can rely on each other for support

  Congratulations to SLOHS boys and girls water polo teams for successfully making it through their respective sports season, even while managing the obstacles of pandemic regulations.