The Surge

The water polo season has officially come to a close for both the boy’s and girl’s teams after their participation in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Region 3 Championship. Freshman Joanna Valdiviezo is a starting winger for her first year on a real water polo team. Valdiviezo said that the season was successful despite their loss at regionals largely because of the team’s bond, with it helping them learn from each other and grow together.

“After a tough loss, me and my teammates just forgot about it, got back on our bus and celebrated the great season we had. Although we lost, we made great memories and all had a fun time this entire season, which mattered more than a game,” Valdiviezo said. “I think water polo is such a great sport that gave me no regrets. I was able to meet so many wonderful people that, without the sport, I would have never come across. I got to be a part of a great team that never fell short of my expectations.”

Every game holds a place in a team member’s heart, for Valdiviezo in particular, this applied to the District Championship. In their winning preliminary game, Valdiviezo had three assists in addition to her goals, helping her team score second place at Districts. Although she said that she is proud of her own performance that night, Valdiviezo gave credit to the rest of her teammates as well.

“My proudest achievement since starting this team was during our district semifinal game. I had scored five goals and was given the honor to say the team cheer,” Valdiviezo said. “It was a very challenging game against our rivals, but we performed and played better than we had ever played before. After winning, everyone was so happy and proud of each other, as it was a result of great teamwork.” 

Both student teams are led by coach Helbert Villa, who himself used to play at the Bay, even earning the role of captain his senior year, and now has been coaching here for three years. Playing this sport is what Villa said initially pushed him to coach, wanting to give back to the same program that helped shape him.

“My favorite part is seeing the players grow, both as athletes and as people. I try to teach them mentality for life, not just sports—things like discipline, resilience and how to handle adversity. On top of that, it is the family we have built that makes it special,” Villa said. “I am really proud of what we have built. We started from scratch, and over time we have turned it into something special. Everyone buys in, works hard and supports each other. Being part of building that culture and seeing where it is today has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time here. And beyond wins and losses, I am proud of the mentality we have built—something they can carry with them for life.”

Joining new extracurriculars or sports can seem scary to some, not only because of the pressures of performance but also in a social aspect. Number 17, senior Diego Peraza, Quezada completed his final year of water polo playing as a winger and driver. He said that he began playing because of his best friend’s older brother, but that the start was not as easy as he would have thought.

“I joined water polo as a freshman, and I did not talk to anyone, I would stay quiet and make sure no one noticed me, but it was not until senior year when I really got to know everyone and saw how awesome everyone was. I am grateful for everyone on my team, and I care about each one of them. The only thing I regret was not getting to know them sooner,” Peraza Quezada said. “A piece of advice for next year’s team is do not take it for granted, love each other, take care of each other and have fun. These years go by faster than you think.”