SENIOR NIGHT VICTORY Senior David Yacoub makes an incredible save during the senior night game against St. John Bosco. On Oct. 16, the Varsity Boys Water Polo players worked hard to secure an 8-4 victory against the Braves. It was an emotional night as the seniors played one of their last games as Monarchs. “This was a very fun game to watch and sad watching the seniors play their last game,” Brendel said. Photo by Brooke Carmondy.

Water polo has been a competitive sport since the nineteenth century. This sport has evolved over the span of over 100 years, becoming highly competitive, especially in Southern California. The competitive nature of the game has translated into the teams at Mater Dei, allowing the training and competence of all the athletes to evolve. This includes changes in coaching styles, day to day practices, and outside of the pool activities.

Mater Dei Water Polo is a program that started more recently than some of the other sports. The team has been very successful since its start with seven CIF Division One Championships. As the world of water polo has changed, the team continues to invest hard work and dedication to achieve these accomplishments. Freshman Broxton Brendel, who is a member of the JV Boys Water Polo Team, attends practice everyday with an additional weight block in order to develop as an athlete. He reflects on the team’s rigorous practice schedules in preparation for the season. 

“We hop in the pool and do a quick swim set to stretch out,” Brendel said. “Then, we usually do a warm up shooting in four different cages split between the teams. The coaches split us up into two or three teams, and we scrimmage.” 

Although this routine is how practice is run now, it was different when alumni, Coach Wyatt Benson ‘18 attended Mater Dei. The Boys Water Polo program; specifically at Mater Dei, was not the only thing changing. The sport itself is evolving. Only a few minor rules have changed in the time that the current athletes have been playing the sport. Brenndel has only been playing water polo for four years but he recalls the two meter rule changing. 

“The two meter rule that got put in means a red zone that extends from the goal line to the two meter line in depth and two meters beyond each goal post in width,” Brendel said.

There are many levels of experience in the game, but despite that there is development in strategy and how they play the game in every practice. The program not only focuses on evolving how the boys perform in the pool but outside as well. They try to live by the Mater Dei motto, Honor, Glory, and Love. The program strives to teach the players to embody these qualities and traits through the sport and come out of the program as a well rounded individual who follows this Monarch motto. 

Freshman Ryan Clougherty is on the fresh/soph team this year.  He has already learned to embrace the spirit of both the sport and the motto the team employs. When not training for competition, the team works to give back to the community by helping others. One of the team’s biggest contributions is hosting the annual Halloween Boo Bash alongside the Down Syndrome Society of OC. The event is for individuals ages 13 and older with Down syndrome.

“The Boo Bash is something I enjoyed at Mater Dei because it gave me a chance to go out into my community and help others by putting a smile on their face, while being around my teammates and having fun.” Clougherty said. Although water polo has created a successful outside of the pool program to help the players grow closer in certain things like the Boo Bash and get stronger in the weight room. 

Waterpolo is a sport with many aspects to it. Over the course of many years have evolved, especially at a high school level. Both Clougherty and Brendel enjoy playing water polo at Mater Dei, especially with new ways of playing. With intense practices and off-season swimming they create a bond outside of the pool that makes the hard practices fun. This is a timeless game that will continue for generations to enjoy.