The Seaholm Women’s Water polo team has a chance to make history, as they attempt to make it to the state tournament for the first time, in Seaholm history.
“We’ve been focusing on getting the polo program back to respectability within the state, this year,” coach David Riddle said.
To make it to states The Maples will have to win their first game in the League Tournament, and then win their regional. Seaholm opens tournament play Friday night at Saline.
Only eight teams make it to states and the Maples believe they can be one of them.
“I think this is very realistic,” junior Katy Kaugher said. “It all depends on our attitude and the effort we put into it.”
Seaholms first game of the league tournament is Friday at Saline High School.
“We don’t know who we’re playing yet,” junior Lindsey Laporte said, “but it will most likely be Grand Blanc.”
Seaholm lost to Grand Blanc on April 29th, 8-9.
The Maples struggled in the first half, but scored six unanswered goals in the second, but still fell short.
“We didn’t play as well as we know we can,” junior defender Franny Gagnier said, “we know we can beat then if we focus.”
Riddle is also optimistic about their possibilities.
“The team has worked very well on staying together and keeping everyone on the same page,” he said. “We just need to realize we are just as good as anyone in order to build confidence to achieve our goals.”
“I think this is very realistic,” junior Katy Kaugher said. “It all depends on our attitude and the effort we put into it.”
The Maples have been very successful leading up to this game.
“With the way we’ve been playing the last few games its extremely possible, that we make it to regionals,” Laporte said.
“We had a big win over Haslett (10-0) and over Troy Athens (6-3),” Riddle said.
“We’ve been coming together a lot more in the pool this year,” senior captain Mallory Glazier said.
Another major motivation for the Maples is that they are hosting regionals.
“It would be a lot of fun to do well on our home turf,” Gagnier said.
“It’s a huge advantage playing at your home pool,” senior captain Molly Stacey adds.
The Maples are also motivated by last year’s disappointing loss to Groves in the District Tournament.
“Last year was extremely disappointing,” Kaugher said, “but it turned the team around and we are better because of it.”
“We are more successful than last year because our team is closely knit, we understand what needs to be done and we work harder than any women’s polo team has at Seaholm,” coach Riddle said.
Seaholm has also made some major changes from last year that greatly impacted their success, including new head coach Riddle.
“My senior class has had three coaches in the past four years,” Glazier said, “but he’s our favorite by far, he really cares about the sport and he cares about us, he brings confidence to all of us.”
They have also worked better as a team this year.
“We’ve had a lot of problems the last couples years,” Stacey explains, “but we’ve gotten to be a much better team this year outside the pool”
The Maples have also changed their training techniques
“Our workouts are pretty intense,” Glazier said, “we swim in sweatpants and shoes, and sometimes with weight belts.”
“We’ve been working on new plays, passing, and different shots,” Stacey adds.
The Maples have been working extremely hard this season but Riddle believes focus will confidence is the key to winning.
“We just need to realize we are just as good as anyone in order to build confidence to achieve our goals.”
