Women’s water polo earns recognition on state level; mens team also posts winning record

By Declan Fee,

BlueDevilHub.com Sports Editor–

The women’s water polo team has taken this season by storm, going undefeated in league play, with an overall record of 24-3. The stellar play has not gone unnoticed, with Davis being ranked second in Northern California. 

Coach Doug Wright has been coaching the team for 26 years, and has created a very consistent program. One of the main reasons for this is that every year he invests in young players, rarely ever having a starting lineup of just seniors.

When the seniors graduate, he wants to make sure that his team is still able to compete at a very high level. 

“To be able to do what we are doing, it has to be built up over the years,” Wright said. 

Most of the women have been playing together for many years, both for school and club teams. “Four of our top players have been playing together since they were 10 and unders,” Wright said. 

This has strengthened their bond, and created a sense of family throughout the team. “Growing up with each other, it really takes on the sense of a second family … mutual respect for each other, the program and the team really brings us together,” senior Alyssa Waterson said.

Coach Wright recognizes the possible drama and clashes of personality that comes with having a team that spends so much time together, but praises the team’s ability to focus when the times comes. “I’d be lying to say that they are all best friends, but they are all kind of professionals. They have all learned how to work together when it counts,” Wright said.

Section playoffs start Nov. 2 and Davis is confident in its ability to win the section tournament. “I think that if we play as well as we have been, we have a very good chance of winning sections,” Wright stated. 

This would be the 17th section title in the program’s history. 

The regional tournament will pose a bigger challenge for the team, in which they will most likely face Miramonte in the championship, the only team the Devils have fallen to this season. 

The men’s water polo team has also seen success this season, earning a winning 16-11 record and obtaining the first seed in the Sac-Joaquin section.

The men have beaten every team that they will face in the playoffs and are confident in their ability to perform at sections. “I feel like if we just keep doing what we’re doing and keep this momentum from the last two wins, we could go all the way,”  senior Jonny Vochatzer said.