As students walk by NPHS’ glistening pool, they may notice a team of athletes treading water and lobbing around a yellow ball. Outside of their chlorinated habitat, they yell chants in the team room and volunteer at the VCAS animal shelter. Swimming and developing as one has bonded boys’ varsity water polo both in and out of the pool.
Brady Spencer, senior, shares how the team has developed over the years. In the 2022-23 school year, the team had an overall record of 2-22. However, this season the team’s record is 9-12 due to a change in coaching and growth in athletes’ skills. “I think the team was very new to the sport, starting freshman year. We had high-caliber seniors that left us after that season, and we’ve been slowly coming back to greatness, and hopefully we look a lot better,” Spencer said.
A focus on defensive drills in practice has allowed Spencer to improve his role as a field player. Field players mainly pass and shoot on offense and defense. During games and practices, water polo can often get aggressive. Spencer reflects on his experience with competitiveness throughout his seasons. “I mean, the higher level you play at, the more aggressive the people just get in the sport, and more aggressive you have to be to overcome it,” Spencer said.
Head sticking out of the crowd, Magnus Ocampo, senior, can easily be found around campus, standing at 6 feet tall. Ocampo feels that the “hive mind” connection between the team helps them play as one instead of as individuals. Although aggression is a factor in practices and games, Ocampo feels that the team is very bonded. “We have to trust each other to finish the play during the game. If we don’t trust each other, then how are we supposed to be good at sports?” Ocampo said.
Due to his Filipino heritage and the directors from the Filipino national team viewing his goalie highlights, Ocampo has been offered the position of goalie on the Filipino national team. “It’s during school season. We’re gonna be going to the Philippines, and I’m going to be playing goalie against other countries like Malaysia,” Ocampo said.
Leading the team and entering her second year of coaching water polo is Isabel De Souza, who emphasizes the team’s culture and overall mindset. While training and games are the team’s main goal, De Souza has also established a way for the team to help the community by spending time volunteering at the Camarillo Animal Shelter. “I think it’s a really good experience for you to be able to be put in a situation where you’re having empathy for something that’s other than yourself and something that’s not even human, and just getting the opportunity to put in some volunteer hours,” De Souza said.
Along with participation in volunteering, De Souza aims to develop a team culture through the connection between different grade levels and teams. “Helping teach is really critical, because I think that that blends into the ‘we over me’ mindset and helping each other and making that our universal goal in our culture,” De Souza said.
As the team continues to work towards their goal of reaching CIF, the players feel that their team spirit and motivated energy will continue to drive them forward. “The family dynamic is held up through overall teamwork and trust in each other to go out there,” Spencer said.