At 17-8 and 6-2 in conference, the South varsity men’s water polo team currently sits at fourth in the Central Suburban League South. But according to Coach Dave Lieberman, the team is just now hitting its groove.
“Going into the heavy part of the season, we’re really starting to put things together,” Lieberman said. “Right now, it’s about putting things together as a team, and right now we’re really doing that.”
Senior goalie Tom Meyer agrees with this sentiment, expressing his excitement with the team’s chances this season.
“We’ve got a growing team,” Meyer said. “We’ve got some young guys [that have really improved]. I see a lot of potential in this team.”
Much of that potential centers around Meyer, who was ranked the second best goalie in Illinois Polo’s preseason rankings. According to Lieberman, Meyer’s goaltending is a huge strength of the team.
“I can trust [Meyer],” Lieberman said. “I can dare teams to shoot from the outside and have confidence he’ll take care of [them]. He can shut down teams.”
Meyer’s play can also add a dynamic to the offense. According to senior JJ Connor, having a goaltender of his prowess allows him to focus more on the attack.
“It allows me to run the counterattack better, knowing that once [the opponents] shoot I don’t need to help and can get back on offense,” Connor said.
After losing Igor Gryniv, the team’s all-time single-season goals and assist record holder, to graduation, the team needs that offensive boost. According to Lieberman, it has taken the efforts of multiple players to step up and replace Gryniv’s offensive production.
“A couple of guys have stepped up,” Lieberman said. “Connor has taken the leading scorer’s spot, and [junior] Bob Meyer has found the back of the net, too. We need a couple of guys to step into that role, but guys are starting to realize it’s not just about one [player].”
Though no individual player can match Gryniv’s scoring capabilities, according to Lieberman, he believes the team can be carried by its defense.
“Defense and goaltending [are strengths],” Lieberman said. “We’re allowing under seven goals per game, which shows both how good our goaltending is and how good our team defense is.”
Senior Ryan Hianik believes this formula led to success earlier in the year when the team ventured to Evanston Township High School to compete in the annual invitational held there. Competing against a field of teams including McHenry, the eleventh-ranked team in Illinois according to Illinois Polo, the Titans went 4-0-1, taking home the tournament championship.
In the tournament, Connor led the team with 23 goals and Meyer totaled 40 saves during the five-game affair.
Lieberman believes that the team has the tools to succeed and has high hopes for postseason tournaments.
The team will compete in the Conference tournament May 4 and 5, and the Sectional tournament, which occurs May 9-12. A victory at that tournament will give them a bid in the IHSA State tournament, which takes place from May 17-19.
