The boys varsity water polo team has had a solid start to the season, Head Coach Douglas Eichstaedt said. The team has seen consistent improvement in terms of how they play together. At the start of the season, the team mainly focused on establishing a strong defense and an offense with smart decision-making, even under pressure. So far, the team has competed well against tough opponents and grows stronger with each game. The team has put a top priority on game-speed decision-making, situational awareness, and competitive stamina. 

“As the season has progressed, we’ve become more connected as a group and more confident in executing our system,” Eichstaedt said. 

The team designs practices to be more dynamic and unpredictable to prepare for the quick read and react moments in games, Eichstaedt said. In practice, the team has been spending more time on specific game scenarios like six-on-fives, counterattack transitions, and communication within the defense. The team hopes to be playing their best water polo at the end of the season and to achieve their goal of a Conference and Sectional title. 

“If we stay committed to our standards and continue to grow as a team, we’ll put ourselves in a position to achieve those goals,” Eichstaedt said. 

The defense has been specifically working on their press, help-side awareness, and ability to turn stops into quick offense transitions, while the offense has focused on attacking open water, creating advantages, and making an extra pass when needed. The team supports each other, and each player has a team-first mindset. Their PRIDE values—Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence–have been a key factor in how the players train and compete with each other. 

“Our captains have done a great job setting the tone, and the team has really bought into the idea of ‘Earn it. Every Day,” Eichstaedt said. “That mindset has helped create a competitive, positive environment.”

This year, the team has added coach Mark Forde and coach Victor Perez onto the team, who bring great experience, energy, and a strong understanding of the team’s system and expectations, Eichstaedt said. The new coaches bring a great balance of consistency and fresh perspective, while working together with the other coaches to support players and continue pushing the program forward. 

“My favorite thing about the team is the close-knit bond we have created,” varsity water polo player Wesley Musgrove ‘26 said. “Conditioning can be hard at times, but we lean on one another to get through it.”

Musgrove is one of the team’s captains and plays a huge role in the team’s success. He is committed to play D1 Water Polo at the Air Force Academy. 

“Everyday in practice or in games, we push each other to give maximum effort,” Musgrove said.