Although the girls water polo team made it to State, they lost to Ladue with a score of 6-4,  placing second. 

“We were expected to win the game,” Sydney Barkley, junior, said. “I wouldn’t say we were cocky, but we definitely felt like we had to prove ourselves.”

This was the second year the team has placed second at State, and Barkley said she was excited to return to State for the third time.

Olivia Bryzski, freshman, describes the game being, “highly emotional.”

Despite it being her first year on the team, Bryzski recalls her teammates, “bottling up their emotions,” in order to take home the State Championship Title. 

Bryzski is already brainstorming strategies to come out on top next year

“I see so much talent in my teammates,” she said. “As a team, we strive to work together, rather than focusing on players that stand out more than others.”

Bryzski said the team’s key to success is teamwork. 

Claire Maniscalo, head coach, implemented more play time in the pool and pushed for a hard work ethic among the team this year. 

The changes landed them first place at District Semifinals. 

“We didn’t expect to win,” she said. “Especially considering we were going up against larger teams such as Ladue.”

Maniscalo described the team’s success leading up to the State Championships to be surreal. 

“This year they started a fire in them,” she said. “And they won’t stop until they win.”