Undefeated Horsewomen of the Water

The rules: Each game of Water Polo has four quarters, the time varies depending on age and skill level, however, according to Nicole Wiktor, the Women’s Water Polo team plays seven minute quarters. Two minute break between quarters and five minute break in the half. Each team can have 13 players, seven on the playing field at a time. 

Positions: There are five positions in Water Polo, a goalkeeper, two wings (just like hockey), two drivers, a holset, and point. Wings and drivers are strategic players but the most strategic is the point. Points still need to be physically strong as well as the holset, as they are the ones who go for the ball.

Penalties happen if you hit someone over the head, easily seen pushing someone under the water or crawling on someone’s back, being called major fouls. Each major foul is 20 seconds in the corner, like a penalty box in hockey. If a player racks up three major fouls, they get ejected from the game.

No one besides the goalkeepers can touch the wall except for being taken out of the game. Each team will have 30 seconds to make a shot on the goal, if not, then they’ll turn over the ball. 

Currently, the Taft Women’s Water Polo team has a record of 14-10, with an undefeated conference record of 6-0. They participated in the CPL, The Chicago Public League. They were eliminated in the semi finals and lost the 3rd place game, leaving them ranked #4 in the tournament.

Water Polo coach, Science teacher, and Taft alumni, Nicole Wiktor, explained her pride as a coach, “My proudest moment was watching my team play in an actual water polo pool and play and interact with each other.”

Taft senior who plays wing and drive, Molly Donlin, made her breakout known, “I was a really shy player but suddenly I’ve gotten really confident in my abilities. My confidence helps me a lot especially when I have a great bond with my team this year.”

Utility player and sophomore Sofia Gonzalez talked about her rookie status on the team, “This is my first year, it was a lot of fun, and my team is really good. I’ve been messing around with a lot of the girls but we’re able to lock in and fight at game time.”

Although Sectionals against York was the end of this year’s season, hopefully the team will repeat their conference dominance next year.