Tucked away under the SENIOR high gym lies the WHHS pool, home to countless wins by the mens’ water polo team.
“[Water polo is a] mix of basketball and soccer in water,” a player on the varsity team, Emmett Royalty, ‘26, said.
Water polo relies heavily on communication, which can make or break the game. Without communication, it’s nearly impossible to secure a win.”
“[Communication is important when] asking for help in the pool guarding someone: if they are too strong for you to guard them, you call for help,” Royalty said.
Michael Simon, ‘28, is the goalkeeper of the mens’ varsity team and also communicates with the team during games; keeping the goal guarded is key to the team’s success.
However, communication is also important outside of the pool — many of the players on the team hadn’t heard of water polo before they enrolled at WHHS.
“[I] heard about the sport from [my] older sister, so I decided to join,” a player on the JV team, Simon Linser, ‘28, said. “I did not know anything about the sport.”
Since water polo isn’t as well known as other sports, the team has a unique makeup of players and personalities. The team’s relationships have been built over the years, some of the players having been on the team together since middle school.
The men’s water polo team’s success can all be traced back to the welcoming culture throughout the team. The water polo program is grateful and welcoming towards new players.
“Better skilled players never look down on the lower-skilled players,” Dave Matuelis, sixth-year head coach, said.
The men’s water polo team has some high expectations this season, as their community continues to grow.
The men’s water polo team is ranked 4th in the state as of Sept. 19, 2025, making it more competitive than years past, Matuelis said.
Over the summer, Royalty went to California to play for a junior USA water polo team. During his time in California, Royalty noticed a larger community of water polo players with stronger bonds between them and the audience.
“People don’t know much about the sport in Ohio, [which is] much more of a small sport community,” Royalty said.
WHHS water polo games can be viewed in the natatorium.
“Everybody come out and watch a game, games we’re [both] excited to witness and be a part of,” Royalty said.