The Women’s Water polo team faced new challenges this year as they stepped out onto the pool deck of Lott Natatorium on Valentine’s Day for their first practice. In the past, the team suffered from a lack of both experience and participants, in addition to competing against powerhouse Division I teams like Brown University. This season brought brand new players, both experienced and neophytic, and a new league-restructuring that would make the lady Camels more formidable.
The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), the largest single-sport athletic conference in North America, decided last year to restructure the women’s Division III league. This unprecedented event marks the first instance ever of an NCAA conference dividing its competing members by division, despite women’s water polo being a non-divisional NCAA sport. In previous seasons, the lady Camels would compete against heavily-recruited DI teams like Hartwick College with little contest. Since the team has played only DIII teams this season, the women’s water polo team is a formidable competitor in the league with a 5-5 record.
Head Coach JJ Addison, who is in his seventh season, stated, “For me as a coach, [the restructuring] is exciting. Before, we would play games we knew we had no shot at winning. This year, the games will all be more competitive and closer, which will hopefully make the girls play harder, knowing that they can win.”
There is a downside, however, to this restructuring. The team, now only facing other DIII teams, has condensed their season to a mere three weekends of tournament play. With around five games being played in each of these three different tournaments, the team has been forced to transition to a more intense swimming game focused on enduring fatigue.
“Personally, I have a great deal of respect for the women’s team. Sprinting up and down a bottomless pool, treading for hours and playing numerous games in a weekend is a lot tougher than you might think,” commented an anonymous fan. “Considering you’re also traveling to Illinois and upstate New York to take this kind of abuse, it’s really admirable.” “The girls are doing great this year,” said Connor O’ Brien ’11 of the men’s water polo team. “They have a pretty good record considering who they have played in the past and the challenges they face. Pam Lovejoy ’13 has really stepped up in goal and Phoebe [Bakanas ’10] is always kicking ass as usual. ”
I am also in support of the women’s team, and I wish the best of luck to graduating seniors Phoebe Bakanas and Jordan Kohnstam as they return this weekend from the last games of their college careers.
