The Niles West water polo team has been around for four years, and for three of those years it has been a varsity program. Each year the team has made its way higher on the conference standings, and this year the team is hoping to make it to State. The NWN had a chance to talk with head coach John Przekota about improvements to the team, goals, and this year’s top team contributors.
NWN: How is the team looking this year?
Przekota: “It’s hard to tell [since] every year is a whole new experience. It will take a couple of weeks to figure out this team’s identity. We have had a very good summer and off-season so that should turn into good things this spring. I am very excited and optimistic about our season. We have a great group of guys.”
NWN: What are some goals that the boys are hoping to meet this season? How will these goals be accomplished?
Przekota: “Our team goal is always to make state, [and] in order to do that we need to be competitive in our conference and sectional. As a third year varsity program our goal is to continue growing and getting better. Last year they placed fourth in conference. We want other teams to know that they are in [for] a battle when they play us. Win, lose, or draw our opponents will remember when they played the Wolves, and not look forward to playing us again.”
NWN: How has the team improved since last year?
Przekota: “Everyone has improved their skills and ability. I think we are a more balanced team this year, we have several athletes who have developed into threats and that can make our offense more unpredictable, which is a good thing. Also with the experience gained in the offense I think that our team defense has improved. That will help a lot, especially in the postseason.”
NWN: What are some important games in the season?
Przekota: “All of our conference games are important, and we are in a couple of pretty competitive tournaments. It seems that Maine South , [at Maine South on April 18,] and Maine East [at Maine Eeast on March 21] have turned into our biggest rivals. A big home game will be our game against Glenbrook South on April 23, which is also senior night.”
NWN: Is there anything about the team that you would like to improve?
Przekota: “As always our team is looking to get better. I don’t think that there is one specific thing we need to improve on. We just need to continue working to become stronger as individuals and as a team.”
NWN: Who are the top team contributors this year?
Przekota: “This year we are looking for big contributions from seniors Max Romanelli, Andrew Mudreac, and Chris Hanusiak, as well as juniors Kyle Patt and Steven Renko. I think that we are going to have a pretty deep bench so on top of these guys leading the way I am looking for big things for all of our players.”
NWN: The team has gone farther and farther each year and has achieved more and more of its goals. How far does the team have to make it for this year to be considered a success?
Przekota: “I don’t think you set the success of the season on how far you make it. As I stated earlier our goal every year it to make state. Our team slogan for the year comes from Michael Jordan: ‘Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.’ As long as we are out there trying to make things happen, and are better than when we started this year it’s a good season.”
“It’s hard to put an exact win total or sectional/conference title on it because there are things involved that are out of our control when it comes to those things. However we can control our effort and the reputation of the program, and as long as people do not want to see the Wolves at the other side of the pool, it’s a good year.”
NWN: Finally, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the team?
Przekota: “Our strengths are that we work hard and are very balanced. Since we are a young program we just need to get some more experience and confidence under our belts. We need to start shifting from wanting or wishing things to making them happen.”
