Lamar’s water polo team has changed drastically in the last four years. From skill and management to team spirit and ethics, they’ve really put in the work. A big task for them this year was building up a new team of underclassmen. This team has been through the ringer and only came out stronger. “When I look at my team today, I see a completely different atmosphere being built,” says Coach Sally Woolweaver. “With Evan Reynolds training Brody Flanagan and Clair Browning working alongside her brother Taylor Browning, there are connections being made. I also see my freshman boys and girls getting to know each other and the upperclassmen outside the pool. It makes me proud to see not only how far we have come as a team, but how well we are working and continuing to build ourselves.”
Their everyday lives as student athletes are crammed to say the least. They start with practice first thing in the morning—girls on A days and the boys on B days. They end each day at 6:30 pm with coed practices. The water polo season is jam-packed with games since they play for only two months. Finding a balance between work and play is an important lesson that coaches try to enforce. The current captains, once freshman eager to skip practice, now make sure to utilize their time wisely. The off season is the only time for athletes to lock in on their weaknesses. Coaches don’t use this time lightly, pushing the players to try new plays and strategies.
If you’re thinking about getting into water polo, one thing to chew on is the conditioning. From early morning practice to late nights in the pool, it takes a toll on your body and mental health. A matter that the players often slack off on is time. “I think that our team compels a competitive but friendly atmosphere, always pushing one another to show up on time,” says senior Carson Banks. Of course, with every sport there’s team and individual responsibilities. A sport with no rest, you need to learn not only how to swim but fight and manage as well. “Working with my team has been the biggest challenge so far this year. Some of the players are very new or I haven’t been able to play with enough. Taking over this challenge was through consistently practicing together. In our games, we will talk to each other, and work together,” comments Banks. It’s an immensely contact sport and whether you’re playing defense or offense, you always must be aware of opponents. “Physically fighting against opponents and things like trash talking often cause a player to get in their head … What helps with these mental challenges is having a community of coaches and teammates to help guide you out of this state and further build you to be stronger than these mental setbacks,” senior Hayden Caltagirone notes. What has fostered the team countlessly is the addition of a new coach, “Coach Webb has been important for the girls’ team specifically because he brings a balance. With just Coach Woolweaver, not only was she stressed, but so was the whole team. Because of his addition it’s been a lot easier to run two pools, and he’s a funny guy,” gladly mentions Rayce Bagley.
Most players are recruited from the swim or diving team, being pressured by the coaches. Though it seems a little unreasonable, many people end up falling in love with the sport. “I hate to say this, but I love water polo more than I love swimming. With polo, I never know what to expect when I get in the pool and that’s fun for me,” says freshman Annabelle Liles. Whether in or out of the pool, there’s always something amusing in the natatorium. From 2022 to now, the team has completely turned their spirits around and harbored open arms. A new freshman player, Fernando Lantan, has really thrown himself into the team. Others mention his sweet personality and how the team has adopted him to their lunch table. Seeing how passionate the players are makes you question how there was ever a time they didn’t get along. With a new coach, new players, and a new goal, this team has gained great traction. Stay tuned to see how far they go the 2026 season.