Berkeley Men’s Water Polo Determined To Break NCS Curse

For four out of the past five years, the Berkeley High men’s water polo team has been under a curse. “We’d win league and then we would lose in the first round of NCS,” varsity co-captain Sam Carpenter says.

This past year, BHS broke the curse, but not in the most positive manner. “We lost league and didn’t go to NCS … to hop back on that train would be amazing,” says varsity co-captain Hunter Maverick-Irvin. According to all of the varsity captains, Carpenter, Maverick-Irvin, and Niall O’Malley, a league championship and an NCS berth are both goals for the team.

The season, which started on August 16 and continues into the end of October, is shorter than that of the winter and spring sports, which means more frequent games(three a week), and more frequent practices; which according to junior Robert Raya, are “swimming, swimming, and more swimming.” Even as the swimming team captain in the spring, Raya has encountered the everyday practices as a challenge. “I’ve found myself going out of the water in the middle of the practice, having to take a break … you're always tired.”

Carpenter does admit that the practices are tough, but thinks that it's all worth it in the end . “We're pushing these guys as hard as we possibly can.”

With the team participating in both on land and in-pool practices, it has been a brutal few weeks of practice, all of which leads up to their first game of the season today against out of league rival James Logan. With this year’s new recruiting class of freshmen and a few upperclassmen, Carpenter believes that their goal of NCS is in reach, “We have so much potential and so much talent, we want to be able to take this team to the highest point we possibly can be at.”

With new blood circulating on the team, junior Ko Costarella is anxious to get in the pool, and earn his place on the varsity team, “We have a lot of talent and I’m really excited for the upcoming season.” Although he is one of the veterans of the team, Costarella has found limited success on the team in the past, but feels this year will be different. “I sat on the bench most of last season and I’m ready to get back in the water and have some fun.”

Redemption is also present in the mind of captain Maverick-Irvin. After losing two critical games against Alameda and Piedmont last season, Maverick-Irvin has been waiting to play those two teams, “To redeem those games against Alameda and Piedmont would be great, and is definitely a personal goal for myself.”

The team may have already scared Piedmont. One of Piedmont’s top players came to a BHS practice to scout the team. Carpenter believes that Piedmont now knows what they are dealing with, “They only saw us practice with the balls for ten minutes, so they see how much we are swimming and conditioning for the season.” All in all, the BHS men’s water polo team is armed and ready for the season that lies ahead. Maverick-Irvin added, “It’s going to be a challenge, but there’s no way that they’re ready for us.”

The players can all agree on one thing about water polo, “It’s fantastic.” Costarella admits. “It’s a lot of work and time, but it’s worth it,” Raya affirms. The team wants everyone to see how great it is. “Even if you’re not familiar with water polo, it’s still one of the most exciting things you can watch, even if you don’t know what’s going on,” says Carpenter. The season can be even better with the support of the BHS community at their home games. Maverick-Irvin wants all of BHS to see how great the team can be, “The games are going to be crazy and everyone should come out and show their support!”

Photos:

• Water Polo (Phoebe Wong)