The Ridgeview High School water polo team is starting off their new exciting season with hard work, dedication, and discipline. Water polo is more than a sport at Ridgeview, but it is a community where athletes are constantly pushing themselves and supporting each other inside and outside of the pool.
Sadie Irish started water polo after joining swim her freshman year and being encouraged by her swim coach to try it out. She plays both point and wing, but enjoys point more because she gets to score from halfway across the pool. The toughest part about water polo to Irish is the endurance since the players are forced to constantly be swimming and using their muscles. Her favorite part of the sport is meeting new people and says, “It’s a super fun sport, you get to know lots of people and especially from other teams.” Bakersfield High School and Liberty High School are their toughest competition in the conference this year according to Irish. A highlight of the season so far was losing to Liberty by ten, compared to last year where they lost by thirty points which shows improvement for the team. After game meals and bonding time is the best way to keep Sadie motivated. Unfortunately, Irish is not going to continue water polo after high school because the college of her interest does not offer a water polo team.
After swimming his freshman year, Landon Lemison was also encouraged by his swim coach to try water polo and now plays the wing position for the team. He enjoys sprinting in the water and appreciates the community that the team has made. He does admit that stamina is the hardest part of the sport in his opinion. While balancing school and athletics, Lemison states, “I make sure to prioritize what needs to come first, whether it’s stuff for water polo or if it’s an assignment.” To prepare for upcoming games, Lemison focuses on eating healthy to prevent any cramps during games and stays hydrated by drinking lots of water during the season. He also does mental health activities like going on walks and doing yoga. Ridgeview faces tough competition from experienced teams like Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield Christian High School but still Lemison has hope and says, “We have a better chance this year.” He stresses having the mindset of, “needing to improve in order to stand a chance with the tough opponents we play.” Lemison’s goals this season are to focus on scoring more and playing better against more advanced or skilled players. Lemison has enjoyed many moments with the team but his favorite from this season so far was the first game when both the boy’s and girl’s team beat Granite Hill High School. Lemison says fans can follow the team on Instagram at @rhsaquatics.
This year introduces new Coach Diego Rodriguez’s coaching water polo at Ridgeview. He never played water polo himself, but back in high school he was a part of the swim team and also played at the college level which prepared him to take on the challenges of coaching the water polo team. Coach Rodriguez has some goals for the season and says, “My only expectations I have for my team is that we are better players than we were when the season started.” Rodgriguez likes to emphasize communication, active recovery, and adapting strategies but that is depending on the opponents. The team’s biggest challenge is their, “lack of communication and lack of awareness,” however the team is working hard on new game plans for both offense and defense. According to Rodriguez the toughest opponents that the team will go against are Bakersfield High School, Highland High School and Independence High School and he reminds his players, “take it one game at a time and one play at a time.” A highlight of the season was the win against Santa Maria, which was seen as their best game yet.
As the season continues, Ridgeview’s water polo team is still proving that dedication and hard work is just as important as the scoreboard. No matter what challenges the team has to encounter, their determination sets a tone for a season full of progress.
