This year, the senior spotlight for water polo was different from prior seasons, with both girls and boys water polo seniors having a joint spotlight. The event took place at Niles North, due to Niles West’s pool being under renovation, with the girls team going up against Highland Park and the boys playing against Maine East.

The game began around 5 p.m. and started with a celebratory walk from senior girls accompanied by their loved ones. This year the girls had ten members of their team graduating. They went up against the Highland Park Giants and won, 15-2.

The boys then had their senior acknowledgments with only senior Rayan Rahmani in attendance, because senior Zach Guerrero wasn’t able to attend. The boys team played against the Maine East Blue Demons and won, 14-1. 

Since this was one of the team’s last games, many of the seniors are bittersweet about the end of their high school water polo career. 

“It’s definitely sad. I don’t really get too sad about many things, but this is one of them. It’s just been a great time. I love being with the boys. It sucks that it’s over but that’s just life. Good things always come to an end. Hopefully, I continue to play in college. It’s sad to say goodbye,” Rahmani said. 

Underclassmen on the team have learned new and valuable things from their seniors, and are cherishing the rest of the season they get to play with their seniors. 

“I’ve learned how to appreciate the time we have together even though we have such a short time and to cherish the moments we had together as a team. As for the rest of the season, I’m super excited for conference sectionals and hopefully state. I think our team is a contender to win and we want to show off what we learned this season. Overall, this season taught me how to work well with others and just helped me gain good friends and good memories,” junior Stephen Hersh said. 

Senior Molly Williams wants to see her underclassmen excel, and now as a senior, she realizes the importance of this team and wants to spread her insight.

“I advise underclassmen to soak up every minute of your water polo experience. Use this opportunity to grow as an athlete and an individual. Show up for yourself and your teammates every day, because they will truly become your second family, so cherish it,” Williams said. 

Rahmani is ready for the rest of his season and wants to end it with one final splash. 

“I hope we can win that and go to sectionals and maybe even go to state. I wanna go out with a bang because it’s my senior year. I want our team to do well and say farewell to the boys,” Rahmani said.

Congrats to the 12 seniors on both teams!