The Clause

APU’s water polo team is about to start their fourth year together before moving into the NCAA next season. Last season, APU ended with an overall record of 15 wins and 15 losses, which was an improvement from previous years. Every year the program has improved dramatically.

 

In 2009, the team accrued one win; in 2010, nine wins; and in 2011, 15 wins. With 10 recruits, seven returning players and a new head coach, the team is looking better than ever.

 

 

“We have a lot of new girls and a lot of new talent so watching it all come together is something I am excited to see,” first time head coach Julie Snodgrass said.

 

The seven returning players: Alyssa Hess, Jennifer Young, Jessica Armagost, Angelina Castaneda, Kaylee Pettengill, Jamie Baumler and Jennifer Horchler and the 10 recruits have put in a lot of hard work to prepare for their first season game together.

 
“A lot of people don’t see the hours and commitment that we put into our sport. We have been training since September, and we had two weeks of hell week, not one. Our goal is to win a championship, and the only way to win a championship is to push ourselves to the fullest each and everyday,” senior UTL physical education major and team captain Jamie Baumler said.

 
“Team unity has been great and they are working very well together. Things are starting to fall into place and we are really excited for our first game in nine days. The two weeks of training over break really paid off,” Snodgrass said.

 

 

The team really wants to win a championship and they have put in a lot of hard work in hopes of achieving their goal.

 
“This year, I want to have a better record than we did last season, because the records have constantly been improving, but even more than a win-loss record we want to work on teamwork, unity and playing good solid water powlo,” Snodgrass said.

 
There will only be two home games this season, both on March 20. The team will go head-to-head with Arizona State University at 4:15 p.m., followed by another match against Princeton University at 7:15 p.m.

 
Snodgrass encouraged everyone to come out and cheer for the team at home. “We don’t have many home games, so when we do, come on out to support us,” Snodgrass said. “We are excited to play them, there should be some competitive water polo so it will be good, I’m excited about it.”

 

As they prepare to move into the NCAA, the competition will be fiercer than ever. With five teams on the schedule ranked in the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Association Top 20, the victories for APU will be no easy feat.

 

“We have a challenging season this year playing schools such as Arizona State, Loyola Marymount, Princeton, Indiana, Iona, Brown, UCSD and so on. I am excited to play Division I schools, because they will help us improve our confidence, aggressiveness and push us to be the best we can be as a team,” Jamie Baumler said.

 
Last year in the NAIA playoffs, the team achieved fourth place. With Snodgrass as the head coach this year, the program has only changed for the better.

 
Jen Hortchler who has been a part of the water polo team for the past three years said, “It is a completely different program this year. It is definitely growing and we have a lot of players interested in coming to APU. The intensity has really picked up and we have a lot of new tournaments to play in for the preparation of moving into a new division. We are going to be gone almost every weekend and have over 30 games.”

 
Not only has the water polo program changed, but the team also seems to love their new head coach.

 
“She is doing an amazing job at instilling discipline, hard work and dedication into our program. It is very easy to say that coach Snodgrass is doing an excellent job at pushing us to our potential,” Baumler said.

 
Snodgrass is looking to make in impact not only team’s performance in the water, but out of the pool as well.

 
“My goal for this team is to inspire them not just in water polo, but in life as well and it is a really fun group of girls to work with so I’m excited to see them stand up to the challenges that face them,” Snodgrass said.

 
With only one day of home games Snodgrass encourages APU students to keep updated online.

 
“Because the pool is out of commission, we are excited for people to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or on both,” Snodgrass said.

 
The team’s Twitter account is @APUwaterpolo and they can be found on Facebook by searching the group, APU Women’s Water Polo. Keep your eye out for them there to stay posted on all of there games.