Stronger Together
You would have a tough time finding a team anywhere that has stuck together better over the last 13 months than the women's water polo team at Delta College led by head coach Nathan Varosh as they were able to return to the pool this week.
By: Paul Muyskens
You would have a tough time finding a team anywhere that has stuck together better over the last 13 months than the women's water polo team at Delta College led by head coach Nathan Varosh as they were able to return to the pool this week.
"The girls trusted me and the process," said Varosh while watching his team finally able to get back together in person for the first time in months and admitted he tends to over plan but even he couldn't have fully expected what has happened since the end of last season. "I've lost just one player since last March as they have stuck together and followed my lead. It is a testament to them and I couldn't be more proud of them."
"They are thrilled to get back together in person as it has been a long road to get back to this point. It has been a lot of dry land work and zoom meetings two to three times a week until we have gotten back to this point."
Coming off a third-place finish in NorCals two seasons ago the expectations were high for a 2020 season that did not happen but could end up with an exciting 2021 season in the fall.
"I have three All-Americans that could have gone elsewhere but have decided to stay," said Varosh as most of his players that played two seasons ago as freshmen will return in the fall as "super sophomores" including goalie Camryn O'Neal. Combined with a 2020 freshmen class that Varosh called one of his best-recruiting classes he has ever had the stage is set for a special season at one of the premier places to play water polo.
"(Athletic Director) Tony (Espinoza) has done such a great job and works so hard to make sure we have a top-notch facility that rivals most D1 facilities," said Varosh as even during the pandemic there has been work done to improve an already outstanding pool. "The girls know they don't want to pass up the chance to play at such a special place."
The Covid-19 pandemic may have prevented the Mustangs from reaching yet another deep postseason run in 2020 but with things continuing to improve the signs are there that the 2021 season could be one for the record books for a team that has shown themselves yearly as one of the top teams in the state.