Redwood Girls Water Polo Pushes Through Challenges at Granite Bay

The varsity water polo girls team played at their invitational tournament on Friday, 9/25/26, through all the problems they faced they learned to work together as a team to push through. In the end they ended up coming home with a win.

By: Mariangela Murillo

On September 25th 2026, the Redwood Girls Water Polo Team won their game against Ponderosa High School in the Granite Bay Grizzly Classic.

Beyond the win, the team deals with challenges just as every sport does.

The invitational for water polo is an important event, they get to compete against many teams. The water polo team has to get invited to this tournament by the host in order to attend.

Redwood Girls Varsity Coach, Colton Boyd said the hard part of the sport as of now is “keeping the same level of play that we play at consistently.”

“Teams can go through sports where you play really good and then struggle and we’re trying to keep that level of play really good and have a really high level,” said Coach Boyd.

Playing at a constant rate can help with wins which is why it is good to keep level of play.

Alexis Diaz De Leon, ‘27 said, “During the tournaments we faced really hard teams to play at the beginning of the season, but we were able to work through it and play well.”

At the start of their season they were facing challenges but the team showed resilience and recovered quickly even after facing hard challenges.

Coach Boyd said, “At the beginning of the season, we were still trying to figure out how to get together, playing wise and personality wise.”

When the season starts, players don’t often know how others play or they just don’t have as much chemistry but it is important to push through so they can work better together.

Jaqueline Taylor, ‘30 said, “We try to do a lot of technique and group work to prepare for how we’re gonna play as a team.”

In water polo and many other sports it’s not just individual plays all the teammates work together in order to win.

Coach Boyd said, “The girls have done a great job at getting to know one another and really make this team a family.”

The team was able to put in a big effort so they could work together.

Taylor also said, “Teachers are really helpful and if I have to miss class or anything for a game, they’re really accommodating and help me figure it out.”

In sports many times they pull you out early and having help from teachers can be really helpful since you are missing a lot of class time.

Lily Swanson, ‘27 said, “There was a time when a lot of us got sick and there was a sickness going around.”

“When we went to go play Garces, I was really sick, and so I kind of struggled a bit, and I was blowing my nose on the bench and it was so gross,” said Swanson.

There are moments that we just can’t control such as sickness but the girls team pushed through it, and even though multiple of them were sick they still played their hardest.

Swanson also said, “For the girls it’s hard to see past the struggles but I think that when we come together and hype each other up it keeps everyone together.”

Despite unexpected challenges before or during the game, the team is able to find strength within their bond as a team.

“By just playing our game, the players know what gives us success and what their role is on the team,” said Coach Boyd. “That’s the biggest part of preparing for other teams and success.”

After being invited for the tournament, Coach Boyd said, “I was really grateful, because this is a very good tournament and it’s a good learning opportunity for us.”

Overall, the girls team put in a big effort to be able to work together despite the obstacles faced.

Tags: coach, girls, Polo, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, sports, varsity, waterpolo