Girls water polo team in rebuilding year, forms tight bond
Jordana Jeremiah looks to pass to a teammate.
March 21, 2023
The last few years were truly “rough waters” for the Moanalua High School girls water polo team. First there was the Covid pandemic that shut down all spring sports, and then there was no team last year because of an insufficient number of athletes.
The water polo prospects are looking better this season, with 11 girls are back in the pool, building the team back up to full strength.
“We’re developing as a team, focusing on the technical aspects,” senior Jordana Jeremiah said. “They’ve learned everything, and now we are learning to play as a team.”
Senior Catalina DuBois said she joined the team because her younger sister, Julienne, encouraged her to try out for the team. DuBois said she used to be a competitive swimmer but stopped after freshman year. The Coronavirus took away the next season, and she finally decided to get back into the pool.
“I really like [the sport].” she said. “I love the girls. The team is made up of people of different ages but we get along really well.”
The Menehune opened the season with a strong showing against Waipahu, with a 9-5 win. The next few games were more challenging because of absences. The team is 1-3 in the OIA Eastern Division and have six more contests left on the schedule. The scoring has also been spread out among many of the members, rather than limited to just a few. Sophia Posch is the team leader with six goals so far.
Despite their record, Jeremiah said the overall growth of the group is a source of pride.
“The team dynamics are better,” she said.
“We have a close bond,” DuBois said in agreement.
