After a 16-4 overall record, an undefeated league score and a chance to compete in C.I.F. quarterfinals last year, the Girls Water Polo team is determined to do even better this season.
The team started the preseason strong with a win against Charter Oaks on Dec. 1. With the score tied at 8-8, the game went into overtime. The Rams scored three goals while the Chargers scored one, thus ending the game at 11-9.
Their next game yielded similar results. On Dec. 3, the Lady Rams won 14-7 against Montebello. The team secured a lead of 6-1 lead by the end of the first quarter and easily maintained it. Their first defeat of the preseason came on Dec. 8 when they played against Bonita and lost 6-12 because members were not as mentally prepared as they hoped.
“We are working extremely hard everyday at practice to stay in shape and improve as a team, to be able to compete and to continue to be successful in our season,” Junior Sydney Airitam said. “This year will be a really competitive season for us and we are really giving every practice our 110% to be the best athletes we can be.”
Airitam and her teammates hope to remain undefeated when the official season begins. The team is determined to do the best that it can and is working very hard in order to achieve its goals.
Coach Oscar Dorado, also expecting the team to do better this season, is confident that the team will advance farther than they did last season in C.I.F.
“The team’s greatest strength is the camaraderie it has while playing; they play together and enjoy what they do,” Coach Dorado said. “The only weakness is they need to improve their swim condition.”
The girls practice every school day from 3-6 p.m., and increased their cross training and conditioning to stay fit. Since last year was so successful, they have continued the same training plan and hope it will work just as well this year.
Although the official season has not begun yet, the girls are giving it their all in preseason games to prepare for anything that comes their way. The close ties between the players are what make this team a well-oiled machine that works together in and out of the pool.
“Our biggest strength is how close the team is,” Junior Gabriella Sicat said. “It will be a good year because of how well we get along. Both new and old players alike work very hard and our main goal is to always have fun and bond as a team.”