Coming off a fiery season, finishing 2nd in league last year, Paly girls water polo has high expectations as they approach the 2024 season. Though the roster looks relatively the same, the team is ready to bring fresh energy, especially after working hard this summer. 

Over the break, the team not only participated in optional weekly practices, but also played in High School Champs in Los Angeles. Varsity players traveled to LA and got to stay in an airbnb together, where they not only played games, but also participated in team bonding activities.

“Having an opportunity to play in a tournament outside of regular season is a privilege not every team gets,” junior Maeva Herbert-paz said. “It allowed us to deepen our team chemistry which will be a big factor in our play this year.”

In the first official league game, Paly will face Lynbrook on September 10 at 5PM, who they dominated 14-1 last season to contribute to their 13-2 winning record. 

Coaches Deke Rowell and Tim Mulcahy prioritize intense training, conditioning, and team bonding. All players are expected to show up every day and bring the team their best effort and attitude.

“In terms of our team we are implementing much more structured practices with strength training and focused swim practices so we can get as strong and conditioned as possible by the end of the season,” senior Katie Spitzer said. 

The team is looking better than ever. With a roster closely similar to last year, the team feels comfortable with each other, enabling them to focus on smaller details that will hopefully help them win the league.

“The most important thing to find success this season is for us to challenge each other every chance we get,” Spitzer said. “Sometimes our best competitors can be ourselves.”