Water Polo Proving That Anything Is Possible

By Bill Fusco, Director of Athletics

It was a good omen. An SSU Women's Water Polo match played under blue skies and sunshine. That is in contrast to some of the past matches I have attended with rain, cold weather and steam rising from the choppy pool surface. But this afternoon was as close to a perfect water polo day as it gets for the Seawolves. The reason? The Santa Clara University Broncos. The NCAA Division I and 20th ranked Broncos had been victorious over our Seawolves 18 consecutive times before the ball hit the pool today.

Despite falling behind early in the first quarter 2-0, SSU was in the mood to put an end to this win drought by overpowering the physical Broncos, winning the match handily, 12-4. The crowd was enthusiastic and supportive for the Seawolves providing even more inspiration to beat the Broncos and give the team perhaps the biggest win in the history of the program.

Coincidentally, it was precisely six years ago that SSU students passed a fee referendum that would allow SSU Athletics to add Women's Water Polo as an intercollegiate sport. Under the guidance of head coaches Alicia Hansel and then Coralie Simmons, the program has grown each year reaching the competitive level of many of their NCAA Division I competitors in the Western Water Polo Association.

Looking ahead, I can see a need for some bigger bleachers and a new scoreboard for our supportive fans. But more importantly, it is time to seriously look at that open field just east of the Rudloff Pool and envision a state of the art 50 meter competition pool for our Seawolves. If our Seawolves can beat #20 Santa Clara, then you have to believe that anything is possible.