Aragon water polo goes off to CCS

Dedication to the team brought them together. Practice and hard work brought them success.

The Aragon water polo season was much different this year. With renovations to the new pool, the varsity teams practiced at CSM and played their home games at Burlingame High School’s pool.

The girls’ water polo team clinched a spot in CCS. The team finished off their season with a win to earn a place in CCS. The team practiced hard each day in order for a chance to compete in CCS. They had to win their last game to clinch a spot this year.

The last game against Woodside came down to the wire. Aragon was down early, and during the second quarter, they were losing 6-2.

Senior Priscilla Young says, “The team was starting to panic and was sort of scared.”

Aragon started to catch up, and by the end of the third quarter, the game was tied 8-8. The fourth quarter was Aragon’s last chance to win and get into CCS.

Senior Miya Oto scored six goals in the game and Aragon’s final goal, which made the game 10-9.

Coach Nick Gonzales substituted senior Nichole Kwee in for goalie late in the fourth. Woodside had one last shot on goal, but Kwee was able to defend it.

The girls won the game 10-9 against Woodside and are now preparing for CCS. The team is watching films of their games from the season and practicing a lot for their first game against San Lorenzo High School. The game was on Wednesday, November 10 at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino.

The boys’ varsity team competed in the ocean division this year. Only one team makes it to CCS from this division.

The team finished 7-5, which put them in third place.

Boys’ varsity, however, defeated their rival, Hillsdale, both times this season. In remembering one of his favorite moments, Junior Christian Larsen says, “When we played Hillsdale and we beat them by 7-6. They had the ball with thirty seconds left and we stopped them.”

Senior Josh Chan says, “Water polo is the most intense sport because of games like Hillsdale.” To prepare for the intensity that games bring, the players work hard each day in practice.

Every day in practices, the players work extremely hard and stay dedicated to the sport. For two hours after school, Monday through Friday, the boys and girls teams practice at CSM because of the renovations to Aragon’s pools this year.

While the different pool does not affect the players in practice, in games it is a different story. Three-year varsity boys coach Arjuna “June” Manning-Laisne says, “We played Half Moon Bay the first time and lost 14-5. The next game we lost, but it was closer, 10-8. I think if we had another chance to play them, we would win because we would have finally been adjusted to the pool.”

Manning-Laisne said, “This year’s team has been the most rewarding [to him].” He went on to say, “[The players] are dedicated and talented and fun to coach.”

Also, other varsity players spoke about their love for the team.

Junior Blake Tandowsky said, “The team is like family to me. I don’t have brothers, but they are like that to me.”

Chan remarked, “I’ve made great relationships with everyone and we are like a family.” The atmosphere surrounding the team is very strong and everyone is closely bonded. Most of the players have been together for at least three years, or since their freshmen year.

Some players also recalled their favorite and most memorable moments this year. When asked about his favorite moment, junior Will Loewenthal stated, “It was during our game against San Mateo. I scored my first goal of the season.”

Close wins and sometimes losses have capped off the season. However beyond the wins and losses, is the team and the people who make it up. These individuals make up a family-like bond, which is the real underlying reason that everyone plays, and especially enjoys the sport of water polo so much.