On May 19, 2012, George Lundgren ‘16 nervously but excitedly stepped into the Lincolnshire gymnasium for the IHSA boys water polo state championship. LT was set to play Loyola, a team who had dominated their semifinal game and was rearing to go against an LT team who was inexperienced with the big stage. But Lundgren wasn’t in the pool. He was in the bleachers, alongside many of his other Lyons Swim and Polo Club teammates, watching wide-eyed as LT won its first ever state championship in dominant fashion, 14-6. Lundgren would then spend the next four years of his life inspired, and chasing the eternal glory of the IHSA record books.

In 2015, his dream became a reality. The LT Boys Water Polo team, led by Lundgren’s quick and deadly offensive capabilities, pounded its way through the IHSA state tournament, defeating Naperville Central and Saint Ignatius before arriving in the state championship to face Stevenson. A hard fought match laced with grit, determination, and overall dominance by the Lyons eventually culminated in a glorious 9-6 victory that had been years in the making.

“It was pretty crazy,” Lundgren said. “It was hard to believe immediately after it happened, but once it started to sink in we realized we had reached our goal since eighth grade and that was the coolest feeling ever. Winning state has been all of the guys’ goal since we saw that first state championship game in 2012.”

In addition to a state championship, Lundgren capped off that incredible season with a whopping 105 goals scored. He is currently one of two captains of the boys water polo team, alongside Sam Szczepaniak ‘16. The squad is currently 25-2, and ranked second in the state behind Naperville Central.

Lundgren has a long history in the pool. He has been swimming since the fourth grade, when he began racing at the Village Field Club in La Grange Park. Starting in fifth grade, however, he joined the Lyons Swim and Polo Club and decided to focus on water polo. His father swam and played polo in college, and also won a swimming state championship at Hinsdale Central.

“What drew me to water polo was my father, but also the pace of the game,” Lundgren said. “It is a faster paced sport mentally than sports like baseball, and in comparison to swimming it’s more of a game. There’s strategy and drills. It’s like basketball in the water.”

Lundgren has worked tremendously hard on his game since then. He made the junior varsity team as a freshman, and by his sophomore year was a starting attacker for the varsity team. Throughout his time at LT, Lundgren’s work ethic and intense drive for success have become characteristic.

“George has very high standards for himself and his teammates,” Head Coach Doug Eichstaedt said. “He understands what we need to do in order to win, and he pushes his teammates to play at a higher level. He brings that drive to practice, and you certainly see it in games.”

In the games, Lundgren is primarily known for his ability to create his own opportunities and also his tremendous outside shooting capabilities. His ability to stretch the opposing defenses with his range allows his teammates better chances to get open and score themselves, Eichstaedt said. A part of his game that often flies under the radar, however, is his defense. Lundgren is currently the team leader in steals, and has been instrumental in Lyons’s overall improvement in team defense this year, varsity goalkeeper Nick Rosenberger ‘16 said.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit for his defensive knowledge,” Rosenberger said. “Part of our team defense this year is for him to drop off of his guy and help on the center. There’s a lot of communication between me and him about where I need him to go to try to stop shots on goal from the middle. He does a great job listening and getting his hand up in the lane to help me make saves.”

This year, Lundgren was also named an alternate for the LT swim team that won its first ever state championship. Next year, he will be attending California Lutheran University to play water polo and further his education.