Returning to defend a five year State Championship winning streak after only a three-week season last year, the St. Louis U. High water polo team is back in the pool. Though the State Championship is important, the players are more focused on making the most out of the time they have. 

“Starting the season at all was a goal, and we hit that,” said head coach John Penilla. “Making it to the fourth week will be another goal, since we were stopped after three weeks last year.”

This year’s team is unique due to the fact that it is composed entirely of players who have never played a full high school varsity game. Last year's early end meant that the seniors and juniors on varsity never got a chance to play a game, and the rest of the team was on SLUH’s junior varsity squad last season. Though the roster may lack varsity experience, it boasts five senior leaders. The team’s captains for this season are seniors Carson Cornett (attacker) and Ben Geldmacher (goalie).

The team’s game schedule will be far more inconsistent and shorter than previous years, with only about 12 potential games lined up from March to May. But the players will still be kept on their toes by the unique practice schedule; the team practices at three different pools at three different times. 

“The players have a greater understanding of the team and the community and a greater appreciation for being able to play,” said Penilla. 

Being in the “high contact” Covid category means that the restrictions for water polo are the maximum possible for a sport in the St. Louis area. 

"Covid is omnipresent. It started with having to find a pool so that we could practice. That took a lot of energy and effort before the season even started. Now that we're at three different sites, it's getting used to the expectations at all those pools,” said Penilla. “We're slowly getting there though. We're also getting into a rhythm of check in, spacing, how to be careful at practice, etc., but that will be something we are mindful of all year. Then, once games start, we'll have to get used to those protocols. It's not a lot, just different and requires everyone to be mindful.”

With the knowledge that this year’s season is still not guaranteed, the SLUH water polo players have been trying to make the most of every moment they have in the pool, working as though each practice could be their last. 

“The goal is the same as every year: play the best we can possibly play,” said Penilla. “That’s possible with focused commitment to practice and getting better each day.”