A storm is brewing under the faint green tint to the light in the aquatic centre. The second practice of the water polo season is underway and 18-year-old coach Rashelle Wagers is revving the energy of the crowded pool of players yelling out drill instructions.
This season, she says, is going to be about building something meaningful as much as it will be about fierce competition.
“I like seeing all the returning faces and the new faces,” Wagers said, while keeping an eye on the team from her vantage point on the poolside deck. “Everyone becomes super close to each other.”
It's not that the Innisfail water polo squad, the Hurricanes, isn't focused on splashing the ball in the net – they're just able to have a little fun at the same time.
“There are often friendships that come home from this,” she said, adding that part of the fun of the season will in fact be seeing how well the team can gel when push comes to shove. “I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone comes together.”
The Hurricanes were formed in the lead-up to the 2008 Alberta Summer Games. Wagers played on that team, using it as a springboard to get to compete with other teams at nationals. But having suffered a knee injury she decided it was time to give back.
“I think we have a very strong team,” she said, noting that technical improvement for veteran players means supporters can expect a “quick” team, as well. “A lot of kids played last year and did summer swimming.”
Playing such a physical sport is great exercise and is easy enough almost anyone can give it a try if they want, said Hurricanes president Noble-Lee Valentine.
“You actually only need to be able to swim one length of the pool and be comfortable in the deep end,” she said. “They learn sportsmanship, self-esteem and confidence while playing.”
The team is still accepting additional players, she said, noting youth in Innisfail are fortunate to have an opportunity many others in the province do not have.
“There's not a lot of water polo teams in Alberta in the smaller communities,” she said. “Most of the clubs are in Calgary and Edmonton.”
The season will be a busy one with an October tournament scheduled in Medicine Hat, a hometown competition held at the beginning of December here at the aquatic centre, an event in Okotoks in January and provincials in Edmonton in March.
Additional matches will be set up between Calgary or Edmonton teams, she said.
“It's kinda nice for kids to have a different sport to do beside hockey,” she said. “And they make lots of friends.”
