From underdogs to beasts, the GA girls’ 2023-2024 water polo team (GAGWOPO) has been brewing since August. After endless workouts and swim sets, the girls have stayed determined. Let’s take a dive into the past and analyze the season.
At Beast of the East in early September, they won against Reading School; however, they lost to Episcopal, which helped them to gain fuel for future matches. EA’s win did not last for long…
On Oct. 10, the girls bounced back. Beating Episcopal to double overtime, 9-8, Emma Merrill ‘24 scored their winning goal in a sweep shot, redeeming themselves from the preceding EA game. Impressive? It does not stop there.
Fast forwarding to Oct. 27, on their senior night, GAGWOPO beat Episcopal, displaying their true grit.
“It was a long time coming, the girls over the past couple of years have demonstrated not only that they are talented water polo players, but then they have the confidence they need to win in those matchups; the way the team works together and supports each other” Ms. Sarah Lloyd, GAGWOPO head assistant coach said.
In their win against Episcopal , the score was 18-6; they tripled the number of points EA scored. Representing the team, this win depicted the girls’ determination and ambition throughout the season, proving hard work pays off.
“It was a really fun day to celebrate the hard work they put in,” said Mr. Mike Koziol, GAGWOPO varsity head coach.
Especially pointing the spotlight at the seniors: Emma Merrill ‘24, Rachel Khavinson ‘24, Gertie Lafferty ‘24 and Lucia Smigiel, ‘24 who were able to see their hard work pay off on a night dedicated to them.
“We saw those fruits; it was a really, really exciting game to watch, the spirits were high, and Emma’s game-winning goal was sick” says Lafferty.
Speeding forward to Easterns on Nov. 3 and 4, the girls competed at the high school water polo Easterns Championship, which collected different teams across the East Coast, including GAGWOPO. Playing Lawrenceville, they came across a win with a score of 10-8.
The girls dominated the pool. Layla Gentile ‘25 had 17 saves as goalie, and others contributed to the whole team on both offense and defense. Considering an earlier loss against the same opponent on Oct. 3, 2023, they lost to Lawrenceville 4-11. However, although it was a tough loss, the girls didn’t give up, which was expressed during the following game.
Overall, the girls finished 2nd in Easterns, a massive achievement for both the athletes and the coaches. The 6 am practices, long swim sets, and late afternoons in the pool were worth it in the end and showed how their dedication carried through.
The bonds and trust possessed by the team proved not only their hard work physically but how they grew as a team, discovering more about each other and themselves than ever before. he endless debriefs, giggles, and smiles in the locker room and on the pool deck, the girls showed what it means to be a team, and the infinite happiness that sprouts from being a good one.