Water Polo Making A Comeback In Anne Arundel County

By Michael Singleton

When people refer to popular contact sports, the typical answers include football, hockey, and in Maryland lacrosse. However, many tend to forget the sport of water polo, which is quickly becoming popular in the Annapolis area.

“Water polo is an extremely physical game,” explained Ronan Williams, 13, who is a member of the Naval Academy Aquatic Club. “The endurance required is enormous, and there is lots of punching and kicking that takes place above and below the water surface.”

Despite the fact that it’s been in existence since the 19th century, water polo remains an emerging game in the United States. One of the first team sports introduced in the 1900 Olympic Games, water polo is widely played in California, and its popularity is rapidly spreading. In Anne Arundel County, it has been played along the Severn River since the 1970s when neighborhoods would field teams that competed in the river.

“When I was a kid in Sherwood Forest we played all summer,” recalled Tom Cesky. “Berrywood, Ulmstead, Andover, Sherwood Forest, and many others fielded teams back then. It was very popular.”

The emergence of the Naval Academy as a perennial powerhouse is one reason water polo is making a comeback locally. This past season, the Navy team posted a 22-9 record, which completed their 28th straight season of winning at least 19 games. The Midshipmen once again won the CWPA?Southern Division Tournament title and owned an 11-match winning streak late in the year, while advancing to the CWPA?Eastern title game for the fifth straight year.

“Water polo continues to gain in popularity,” said USNA Head Coach Mike Schofield. “In Maryland and the East Coast it’s really catching fire. In California and along the West Coast it has become huge.”

Mike Schofield has coached Navy Water Polo for 26 extremely successful years. Under his leadership, the Midshipmen have won nine Eastern Championships and competed in 13 NCAA Tournaments. Additionally, he has trained over 25 All-American athletes.

“We offer the Naval Academy Aquatic Club for middle and high school students who want to be involved in water polo and swimming,” noted Schofield, who resides in Arnold with his wife Gina and their sons Kevin, 15, and Matthew, 11. “We also offer Water Polo Camp at the Naval Academy. It’s a great place for boys and girls to improve their game.”

At the collegiate level and beyond, Schofield is recognized as a water polo veteran. He coached the U.S. Water Polo Team at the 1997 World University Games to a fifth-place finish. In 1992 he served as an assistant for the U.S. National Team and as an assistant for the U.S. Water Polo Team that won gold medals at the World University Games in both 1991 and 1993. Schofield needs just 17 wins to tie baseball's Joe Duff (595 wins) for the most wins in any sport in the Naval Academy's athletic history.

But according to many of the participants there is more to water polo than just wins and losses. “It’s a great way to meet cute guys,” summarized Leanie Williams.