Following the Gryphons’ triumph in the water polo state championships last year, the coach, Mr. Eddie Walsh, has altered their regiment in order to defend their title as state champions this year.

Additional practices and conditioning sessions were the first steps taken to compensate for the changes that occurred from last year’s team to today’s. During their transition period at the beginning of 2014, the team lost alumnus Calla Michalak, Brynna Barlett, Will Adkins, Wil Barton, Michael Kutteh and gained eighth-grader Jake Notowich and freshman Hudson Beaudry.

There are significantly less seniors compared to last year’s team. This means that there are a larger number of younger players who are new to the sport.

“We have an empty bench this year,” unior Jared Whitaker said.  Compared to last year’s team, their team has decreased from 16 players to 11.

This year, players were recruited in person more often than emails to make recruiting more personal.

“We need to devote time to teaching them the basics before we can move on,” Whitaker said. “Last year, we had players that had played water polo before.” With all of the new players, the team had to take time out of practices to teach crucial elements of water polo such as treading water, ball handling and guarding.

“Right now we are two and one, about to be four and one,” junior Payton McGough said. Their confidence was justified with their performance on Saturday, April 18, when they emerged victorious over MUS and Arlington.

The week of April 20 held three games that served as regional championships. Winning against MHEA and CBHS but losing to SBA, the St. George’s water polo team is in the second seed for their state championships, which will be held the first weekend of May.

Last weekend held the state championships. The Gryphons finished third after losing to SBA and beating Seveir by one goal made in the last three seconds of the match.