Girls Water Polo Team Rides Into Season’s Finish

As the fall season winds down, the MBHS girls’ water polo team has plenty to boast about—and plenty more to look forward to. After a series of hotly contested tournaments and league games, the team remains dedicated to demonstrating improvement, teamwork, and determination both in and out of the water.

On Friday, Oct. 3, the girls played in a big home tournament, which was one of their most impressive performances to date. “The first night we played Amador Valley, and we won in overtime,” said junior Vena Fryer, who has been playing water polo for almost five years, “it was a super fun win and a great way to start the weekend.”

The following day, the team played a tough game against Granite Bay and lost by a small margin. But they did not take long to bounce back. “Then, we had a pretty big win over Berkeley,” Fryer said, “that was special because it showed how much our team has improved this year.”

The tournament wrapped up with two more intense games against Atascadero and El Capitan. While those weren’t victories, the effort on the team brought them up four spots in the rankings, and everyone is excited for the playoffs.

For Fryer, the highlight of the weekend was a snap, “When we were playing Berkeley, I blocked a five-meter penalty shot,” Fryer said. “And my sophomore, Poe Giver, had like five steals in a row. That game really showed how well our team was coming together.”

According to junior Emilee Lange, the season has been one of growth and teamwork. “I’m really proud of how we’ve come together as a team,” Lange said, “we’ve found a lot of our chemistry, and we’re working really well together now.”

The team isn’t done yet—off to a weekend tournament in Stockton, then more league games and their final home tournament before playoff season. “We’re hoping for a quality CIF seed,” Fryer said, “if we can get some home games and just continue doing what we’ve been doing, I believe we can go far.”

As the season nears its end, emotions are mixed between excitement and nostalgia. “It’s crazy how fast it’s gone,” Lange said. “I’m hopeful we’ll make it far in the playoffs, but it’s also bittersweet since next year will be my senior season.”

No matter what happens with the playoffs, the team has plans to celebrate as a team. “We usually do a parents-versus-players game late in the season,” Fryer said with a laugh, “it’s always such fun—and then we have a team party with awards and snacks.”

With a strong record, great teamwork, and a positive team spirit, the girls’ water polo team has shown that dedication and connection make all the difference. As they head into the final weeks, one thing is clear: this team is ready to finish strong—and to make some more waves along the way.