Picture yourself at North Penn High School’s pool: it’s 5:30 A.M. and you are preparing to dive in to complete a difficult swim set. In addition to this practice beginning before the majority of the world is awake, you have another tough practice ahead of you, not to mention loads of homework and studying to do after school. For our girls’ water polo team, this is reality; a sacrifice they make in order to reach success.
Starting the third week in August, the girls’ water polo team has two-a-days Monday through Thursday and additional practices on Friday and Saturday. Their first session usually goes from 7:00 -10:30 a.m., and the second session from 7:30 to 10 p.m. That equates to over thirty hours of practice a week.
“It’s a social life killer,” Brittney Patterson said of their preseason. It’s exhausting because we would have a hard morning practice and a hard night practice, and most of us work as life guards in between. But winning the state title definitely makes up for it.”
“We spend so much time together that we become sort of a family. It makes the season more fun,” her teammate Molly Flannery adds.
Following their grueling summer of practice, the Maidens are certainly on their way toward that state title. A 4-0 record at the September 9 Screaming Eagle Invitational hosted by Cumberland Valley was an excellent way to start off their season. Led by senior captains Brooke Else and Alex Kajari, three additional victories against Upper Merion, Pennridge, and Wissahickon have improved their undefeated record to 7-0.
Following the loss of last year’s talented seniors Mary Morris, Lindsay Musoleno, and Katie Patterson, this year’s young squad has big shoes to fill. In reflection of their season thus far, junior Jenn Halcovage said the following: “Although we’ve won all of our games so far, our biggest test will be at the Beast of the East tournament. How we do there will tell us our position in the state.”
“The girls and their coaches are pleased with the team’s performance although we realize the season is young and there is still much room for improvement. The upperclassmen have provided excellent leadership, and display a strong work ethic which will make them a force to reckon with in late October” said head Coach Bill Bartle.
As they continue on their quest for success, the Maidens will try to focus on more of the mental aspects of the game. In combination with their dedication and intense workouts, the North Penn girls’ water polo team is well on its way to achieving their ultimate goal–becoming state champs.