The boys water polo season ended with the team’s tournament at the Round Rock Aquatics Center. To extend their season into October, the Knights needed to win one game against LASA. McCallum lost to LASA 10-7, however, at the same tournament, fell to Austin High 8-6.
Ultimately, the Knights lost every district and non-district game, but according to senior co-captain Andrew Wong, this season was all about helping the large number of new players get used to water polo.
Even though it was my last season playing for McCallum I still had a great time playing with everyone on the team.
— senior Andrew Wong
“Even though it was my last season playing for McCallum I still had a great time playing with everyone on the team,” Wong said.
Senior co-captain Will Perkins said he is happy that the water polo team has grown in players, even if it is his last year as captain.
According to Perkins, water polo is a UIL sport that no one seems to know about. Perkins said water polo requires strong swimming skills, upper and lower body strength and smart decision making.
“Water polo is one of the hardest UIL sports out there, but no one plays it because they don’t know that much about it,” Perkins said.
Water polo is one of the hardest UIL sports out there, but no one plays it because they don’t know that much about it.
— senior Will Perkins
Water polo is played with a ball about the same size as a volleyball but with more grip. The ball is passed by throwing it to a teammate using one hand, and the teammate similarly uses one hand to catch it. Players cannot grab the ball with two hands or push the ball under water. The goal of the game is to pass the ball to your teammates or keep the ball and throw it into the opposing team’s goal. In October of 2019, water polo was declared a UIL sport, allowing scouts to come to tournaments and recruit players for colleges with athletic scholarship opportunities.
Like Perkins, Wong has been playing water polo for three years. He said he is very happy about how the team has grown since he joined.
“When I started I didn’t know anything about the sport and was nervous at first, but the community helped me learn about the game and feel more comfortable playing it,” Wong said.
According to both captains, the community of water polo is one of the best parts of the game because everyone helps each other and it’s a very team-based sport.
“Last year we went to Top Golf and did other group activities as a team,” Perkins said.
The team also has weekly dinners.
When I started I didn’t know anything about the sport and was nervous at first, but the community helped me learn about the game and feel more comfortable playing it.
— Wong
“We try to go out to eat as a team every Thursday night after practice,” Wong said.
Perkins said there are other people thinking about joining the team, but he is always looking to recruit. According to Perkins, the team is small and sometimes has no subs during tournaments.
“People should join because there are only 11 of us and a bigger team is always better,” Perkins said. “It is a very good form of exercise and the community is awesome and very nice.”
Perkins hopes that in the future, McCallum can have a girls water polo team too. He said there hasn’t been anyone interested in joining the girls team since his sophomore year, but most schools McCallum competes against have one.
“We are trying to recruit girls for the team, so if you know anyone that is interested talk to either of us,” Perkins said.
Junior players Sam Kruck and Theo Northcutt have been playing since sophomore year.
“I love water polo because the team is fun and I love showing up to practice and playing with everyone on the team,” Northcutt said.
Kruck agrees that the community in water polo is encouraging and fun.
“I joined the team because my friend who graduated played water polo,” Kruck said. “I heard it was very fun and I just decided to play.”
Delaney Lavelle • Jan 12, 2024 at 11:03 am
I like your page. I like the design of the article and the argument. I have friends on water polo at other schools but I never see them play. It’s cool to write an article about it.