Girls water polo showed up and out, putting together a strong offensive performance and maintaining an effective and quick defense to beat San Dieguito Academy, 9-1, on their Senior Night, Feb. 6. For co-captain Cecelia Carlson (12), the night ended an eight-year journey in the sport.
Carlson said the reality of playing her final season was emotional, considering the hours she put into this sport; however, the support of her team made the transition easier.
“I’ve been playing for about eight years, so the thought of it coming to an end is kind of nerve-wracking,” Carlson said. “You get into such a routine of practice every day, but I adore my team, and that makes it a lot easier.”
While Carlson said much of the game felt like a blur, she emphasized the overall team effort, particularly the performance of the goalie.
“I remember cheering a lot for Julia [Zajac (12)] our goalie, because she had some amazing saves, and Julia is incredibly important to our team’”s success; she had 12 saves in that game alone,” Carslon said. “Many of our goals came from steals or blocks from our goalie.”
Carlson also credited Celine Parel (12) for her contributions to play in the win.
“Celine scored the first goal, and it allowed the rest of the team to gain confidence for the rest of the game,” Carlson said. “We’re a fast team and our goalie Julia has a crazy arm so counters were the majority of our goals.”
Carlson said the team’s nerves contributed to the fast-paced nature of the game, especially during the opening minutes, as the intensity never faded. .
“The game was pretty fast-paced throughout, but steals definitely helped to boost morale,” Carlson said. “Adjusting our zone to target the main shooters helped us win by a larger margin. [SDA] drove through our zone, but we did well to adjust quickly and call when we needed help.”
Entering the game, Carlson said she focused on gratitude for those around her, though her concussion limited how much she could participate.
“Honestly, I was thinking about my friends and family in the stands and how grateful I was that they all came just for me,” Carlson said.
Senior Night brought out a crowd not typical to the water polo games.
“The student section was filled to the brim, which isn’t typical for our games,” Carlson said. “There were moments throughout the night where it just hit that this was our last home game and that this group won’t be playing together again, which felt bittersweet.”
Carslon said she’s grown articulated her growth as a player since her freshman year, especially in her understanding of the game, and what it really took to play hard.
“I’ve become a lot more aware of the game and how much respect it deserves because of how risky it can be,” Carlon said. “I’ve also gained so much respect for my teammates and especially my coaches. They put up with a lot, considering the fatigue many of the girls felt after and during games, and just having to deal with comforting and motivating their team, especially in a game as important as this one.”
One of the biggest challenges Carlon said she faced during her high school career was the physical intensity of the sport.
“The brutality can get exhausting,” Carlson said. “I’m on my second concussion already, and high school physicality is very different from club., I almost feel more pressured for the school team. That’s probably been the hardest part.”
Carlson credited her head coach Lauren Boyer for having the greatest influence on her development.
“She’s coached me since I was 12 or 13,” Carlson said. “She’s had the biggest impact on me across everything in my life.”
Senior Night symbolized, to Carlson, years of dedication and perseverance finally coming full circle.
“It was a lot of acknowledging my accomplishments and what it took to get here,” Carlson said. “I’ve always dreamed about my Senior Night, so seeing it actually happen made me realize how fast time has gone.”
