Water polo is often regarded as one of the most physically demanding sports, and for good reason. Two teams of seven players battle each other for 32 minutes, hoping to score in the opposing team’s net. All of this is done in a swimming pool, with each player trying to keep their heads above water the entire time.
Water polo began as an aquatic version of rugby in the 19th century. Originally, teams were allowed to hold other players underwater, and the goal was to fight for possession of the ball. The game evolved, and by the 1880s, it began to closely resemble what it is today. The swimming, passing, and scoring have remained the baseline for the current game, but players cannot be held underwater anymore. The invention of the “dry pass,” a pass through the air that avoids touching the water, revolutionized strategy in water polo and has become a standard fixture of today’s game. Newer fouls were added in the mid-1970s, and have since been reformed in terms of distance from the goal and time allotted. Overall, water polo is strikingly similar to a soccer game adapted for a swimming pool, albeit with the additional physical taxation of needing to stay afloat. One unique aspect of water polo is the headgear; the caps allow for drainage of water, display player numbers, and provide head and ear protection from the ball.
The Saint Francis boys’ water polo team first participated in the CCS championships in 1990. They were competitive in Division II throughout the 1990s, with a Division I appearance in 1993, but it took until 1998 for them to win their first Division II title. They won their first Division I title in 2002 and have never looked back. Since then, they have won the Division II title in 2004 and the Division I title in 2008, 2010, and 2014. Bellarmine and Saint Francis have notably had a constant rivalry throughout both of their tenures in CCS, something worth watching for this upcoming season.
The Lancers return 13 players from the 2024 season, where they were runners-up in the Open Division for CCS boys’ water polo. The 2025 team will depend on ten seniors, all of whom have had varsity experience, to take them over the top this season. Last season, Saint Francis lost the final to Sacred Heart Prep by a single goal; this year, they hope to avenge their loss. So far, the team sports a 10-3 record, and are 2-1 in WCAL. Major upcoming matches include a home bout against Junipero Serra High School on October 8 and a rematch of last year’s CCS final against Sacred Heart Prep on the road.
An exciting schedule awaits the Lancers, who will start competing in WCAL playoffs starting October 28 and CCS playoffs starting November 18. They hope to see you at their matches at the pool this fall!
