Nov. 1, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland water polo team is in the midst of its off-season program. A member of the squad will be writing a blog each week as the team gears up for the 2012 season.

The team completed its eighth week of off-season workouts Friday.

By Shelby Nickel

waTERPolo fans!

This week was one of our toughest yet. The team was faced with challenges, mentally and physically, and we definitely all have learned important lessons that are only going to help us move forward in building our team for this season. We all are learning to step out of our comfort zones so we can improve in the weight room and in the water. Brent has us pushing a lot of weight around in the weight room and the team has been bringing a focused, competitive energy to practice everyday. We are more motivated and inspired than we ever have been to kick butt in season! We are continuing to practice skills and perfect certain aspects of our game that way we can get "just that much better," as Carl and Serela like to put it. However, this week the coaches introduced a new aspect to our Friday scrimmage day. The team was divided into two teams, like we have been doing in the past, but now for the next four Fridays it is our Red versus Black intersquad scrimmage. The teams will not change and it is a competition to see who can win the most games. It is a fun way to bring a new level of competition to the pool! The red team is named the Diablo Rojo and the black team is named The Grim Reapers. It was a close first game but in the last 30 seconds, the Grim Reapers pulled ahead and won 7-6!!!

On Saturday some of the girls on the team worked at the football game, versus Boston College, handing out t-shirts to students. It was a tougher job than expected because we could only offer shirts to students, instead of fans. Some of those old ladies were ruthless in their attempts to get their hands on a "Bye Bye Birdie" t-shirt. While we were working, it started to snow! That's right, snow. In October. Although we were all surprised at what we saw, freshman Zoe Respondek and Rebecca Gerrity enjoyed it considering this was their first snow fall...ever! We are welcoming the Big W (winter) with our arms open wide...time to break out the coats and scarfs! (and this just means we are that much closer to season!)

Keep reading the blogs and stay classy fans!