Following a strong 16-11 season, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity water polo team aims to continue their success this year. The team believes they can compete at an even higher level by growing in all areas of play.

Last year, the Marauders finished second in the Delta League, and finished fourth in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division 1 Section Playoffs. This year, Head Water Polo Coach Josh Ford and the team seek to build on their past success.

“We have a lot of ambitions this year,” Coach Ford said. “Some number one goals are to beat Rocklin, beat Davis, try to win league and hopefully make it to the Section Finals.”

Middle defender Samuel Branco ’25 and the rest of the team has worked hard during the off-season, and it’s led to improved team chemistry. 

“We have been training for about three months, before school started,” Samuel said. “We’ve gotten to know each other a lot better and it’s gotten us a lot closer together as a team.”

From this special bond, the players have come together as a team to compete with a high level of intensity.

“There is a unique energy and buy in from these guys,” Coach Ford said. “They have a very high level work ethic, an intensity about them, and a desire to win.”

Last year, the team struggled on defense. The team is focusing on that end of the pool this year,  and hopes that their improved defense helps them go far into the postseason.

“One of our biggest weaknesses was our defense as a whole,” Samuel said. “We have been working on that a lot. I’m looking forward to winning [Sections] this season and hopefully going to Norcals and doing pretty well.”

To start the season, the Varsity Water Polo team has gone 4-3, most recently winning a thrilling double overtime against Granite Bay 13-11 on Wednesday, Sept. 18. They look to continue their winning streak against Whitney on Monday, Sept. 23.