If there’s one thing our Bruins are passionate about, it’s sports.
Whether they’re playing on the field or cheering from the sidelines, Bear River has a notoriously great athletics department for such a small school. However, it is because of our small size that we haven’t had a girls water polo team in five years.
Despite many having interest in joining, and Coach Jay Adamson’s persistent efforts to recruit players, there were never enough girls to form a team — until now. The focus on restarting the girls water polo team has shifted many players' perspectives, as well as the overall importance of female sports teams.
The team, comprised entirely of first-time players, started forming over the summer. Beginning in June, Adamson began weekly drop-in practices to allow anyone with an interest to play.
Starting the year off strong, they currently consist of 16 girls, led by captains Lily Fiddyment, a senior, and junior Marineke Helms.
Helms and Fiddyment’s involvement with the team turned out to be a great thing, as sophomores Haley Huenergardt and Yvonne Wilburg praise both captains’ commitment in and out of the water.
“(Lily)’s got a great arm, and a great personality,” Wilburg said. “She really thinks of us as a whole, and not just as single players. She thinks of the team.”
Despite the praise of her abilities, Fiddyment almost didn’t join the team.
In fact, she first considered joining at her friend, Adelaide Mason’s, suggestion.
“I was a little skeptical at first, but I went to the practice, having never played before, and after one day, I instantly fell in love with it,” Fiddyment said.
On the other hand, sophomore Lyric Lagdamen was thrilled when she heard about the opportunity to join water polo. She immediately knew she wanted to be a part of the team.
“I’ve always liked swimming, but I never really did swim team – and then I heard of water polo,” Lagdamen said. “I was thinking ‘oh my gosh, this is a great opportunity’, because I’d get to be in the water, but also get that team experience. Swimming is much more individualized.”
In their first game of the season, the Bruins’ teamwork seems effortless; it’s hard to believe that just three months prior, most girls had never even considered playing.
“In the beginning, some of them struggled to keep their heads above the water; they had trouble swimming the length of the pool,” Adamson said. “Now they’re able to tread water and swim for two hours straight.”
“It’s very rigorous,” Huenergardt said. “But it’s super fun – we have really close bonds with the entire team.”
“It’s not easy,” agrees Wilburg. “But you have something to push for every day; there’s always something you can get better at.”
All the girls can agree that while it was initially a struggle, water polo has been nothing but a rewarding experience – and their determination and commitment to the team only goes to show just how important female sports teams are.
“I feel like it’s important for us girls to come together and work as a team, to show people that women can be athletes, too,” Marineke Helms said.
“It’s not just about being ‘aggressive’,” Wilburg adds, “It’s less about being aggressive and more about working hard.”
The team has been doing just that – and they’re only getting started. The girls have had eight games in their first week, and are beginning what is sure to be a successful season.
After over five years of being sidelined, the Bear River girls water polo team is back, and proving that they are here to stay.