Seasons at Risk

The spring season is approaching and like girlʻs soccer last year, both water polo and girls golf are at risk of being cancelled as they do not have enough players. 

“I think participating for Lahainaluna is a very big honor,” states water polo head coach and agriculture teacher Bradley Mason. While the team currently has “about 10 girls,” Mason said that while “that's enough to have a team,” a roster of “twelve or fourteen (girls) would be ideal.”

Without substitutes, the risk of forfeiture due to injury or illness increases. “I also don't want to, like, have a season with where it's hell because we don't have enough girls to, like, actually play a full game,” says Jersea Borneman, who swims and plays water polo for Lahainaluna.

Despite the low numbers, Mason sees “an opportunity for us to build a very strong core group and build from that.” Borneman attributes the recruitment struggle to students who “already have so much other commitments.”

If the teams are cancelled, student-athletes lose a year of development. ”For like the juniors, like me, I'm just gonna take a year off from it and then have to come back next year, when I could have gained, like, more experience this year in the water,” Borneman said.

Girls’ golf is facing a similar shortage. Athletic Director Jonathan Conrad is “working hard to allow the student athletes that are interested in participating to recruit some of their friends in order to make this happen.”

Former player Nora Arnds believes the sport “isn't talked about enough for enough people to know about it and even think about joining.” Her message to interested students is simple: “even if it's just you, just get out there and practice, even if it's with the boys team or by yourself it can still be fun.”

The potential loss of these programs is a major concern for the athletic department. Last year, the girls’ soccer team was disbanded for the same reason. Junior Nuala Ruiz-Rockett, who played on that soccer team, remembers the struggle. “It made me feel bad for them, because, like, I had that struggle last year, like, and I don't want anyone to feel that.”

”It messed up our season," Ruiz-Rockett added. “We missed out the season on getting better.”

Soccer returned this year with a full roster. Ruiz-Rockett credits the comeback to “Just the effort. Everyone's there, everyone shows up.”

English teacher and swim coach Jack Pope, who helped start the water polo program, remains a staunch supporter. “This is a program that I believe in,” he states, encouraging students to try out. “I’m a very passionate believer in that trying new things that are hard is the best possible thing you can do.”

Conrad remains “hopeful that we will have a water polo team as well as a golf team.”

The water polo season begins Feb. 9. Interested students should contact Coach Bradley Mason for water polo, or Athletic Director Jonathan Conrad for girls’ golf.