Water Polo Runner-Up at NE Interschols
Bear Polo ended its season on a high note, earning the finalist title at Interschols last weekend at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. Entering their final competition seeded second, the boys defeated Loomis Chaffee 8-6 in their first game and lost 12-4 to Brunswick in the championship. Bear Polo’s final record for the season is 14-2. In addition, two Exeter players, uppers Jackson Parell and Taylor Walshe, were named to the Interscholastic all-star team. The finish was a significant improvement from the previous season, in which the team failed to qualify for Interschols.
The boys went into the weekend relaxed and ready to compete after a full season of practice. The night before the whistle blew, they practiced in Hotchkiss’ pool to prepare. They came into game day feeling ready to compete.
The first game against Loomis proved successful for the boys, who employed their tried and tested hard defense strategy. Bear Polo narrowly defeated Loomis earlier in the season. The boys were confident in their abilities, but were also aware that Loomis wouldn’t give in easily. “We knew that the game was ours,” co-captain and senior Liam Oakley said.
“We had each other’s backs in and out of the pool, so when it came time to play, we trusted each other completely.”
Walshe scored two goals early into the game, putting Exeter ahead. However, Loomis soon caught up, making the score 2-2, and the two teams remained close for much of the game. While both teams displayed their excellent defensive skills throughout the game, the Exeter boys ultimately wore Loomis down until their opponent gave in.
Exhausted by its first match, Bear Polo rested up in anticipation of their championship game against Brunswick, the only team to have defeated them so far in the season. Nerves were high going into the game, especially as Brunswick had won the last two championships. “We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Oakley said.
Although Exeter kept up with the Brunswick boys for the first quarter, their exhaustion from the first game and the opposing team’s skill got the best of them. Many Brunswick players had been playing the game their whole lives, and play water polo all year around, giving them an advantage over Exeter’s team. “We were overmatched by a very experienced Brunswick team,” upper Harrill Saunders said. Although our boys worked well together and gave it their all, their tenacity was beaten in the end by Brunswick’s technical ability. “In the end, I think it just came down to pure skill and knowledge of the sport,” Oakley said.
While the team didn’t get the result that they wanted, they were happy with their gameplay nevertheless. “We played some of our best water polo in the tournament,” Walshe said.
The boys were very happy with their season results overall. Team members highlighted their attitude and cooperation as key factors in their success. The team last year had not connected in the same way that the boys did this year.
“We had each other’s backs in and out of the pool, so when it came time to play, we trusted each other completely,” Oakley said.
Walshe highlighted how the team’s teamwork and persistence enabled them to overcome other shortcomings. “We were easily the smallest, least talented, most inexperienced team Exeter has had in a long time, but we played like a team and were tenacious. We worked really well together and had each other’s backs,” Walshe said.
Oakley and his co-captain, senior JP Mullins, both expressed pride and gratitude for the team. “I couldn’t be more proud of the boys. The weekend was a great end to an amazing season and it was such an honor to be a part of this team,” Mullins said.