The Varsity Girls Water Polo team dives into the season in their usual dominant fashion, but this time under new direction with Colton Boyd heading the group.
By: Reid Bigelow
The Varsity Girls Water Polo Team enters this season coming off a strong 10-0 EYL league finish and title. As they enter the season in the new Central Yosemite Conference, they look to prove they can do the same in a bigger league. But they must do so with a new Head Coach.
Growing up, Boyd was in love with the game. From being a standout Goalkeeper at Porterville High School to becoming an All-American at Cuesta College, he credits his devotion towards Water Polo as his reason to Coach.
According to Boyd, his high school did not have as great of a system of coaches and support that The Redwood program has to offer, so “being able to give back” is very fulfilling and important to him.
Along with just coaching his athletes on tactics and strategy, Preparing his players for life out of the water is what Boyd feels is one of the most important aspects of coaching a young group. Boyd elaborated, “I want to explain life to them and make them understand that this is bigger than Polo.”
Although Boyd is in his first year as the head coach of the team, He’s not a new face on the Redwood pool deck. Boyd has been an assistant Varsity girls and boys coach, as well as the head coach of the JV Boys.
But to him, being the head Coach is a whole new animal. He’s in charge of the big decisions when it comes to strategy and for him, “It’s more about just creating a team environment.” Team culture is very important to Boyd and it’s clear he’s already making waves.
Hadlee Galley ’27, the team’s Goal keeper feels Boyd is doing a great job in his transition, she noted that he’s pushing the team and preparing them not only physically for big games, but mentally as well.
Boyd explained that he was a “very emotional player” and that aspect of him hasn’t faded in his coaching as well, and it’s clear to Lily Iverson ’27 that drive is rubbing off on them as she explained, “As a head coach, I think he is pushing us in ways that we haven’t been pushed before by our other coaches.”
Along with Boyd’s passion for Water Polo, he brings a unique perspective as a head coach that many other coaches don’t possess. Because he was a Goal Keeper, he possesses specific expertise that Iverson ’27 believes is improving her game.
When talking about her and her team, she noted, “We’re more exposed to the different things going on that you wouldn’t normally see as a field player.”
Both Galley ’27 and Iverson ’27 agree that their new coach is elevating the team as a whole, as well as their skills individually. They’re both thrilled to finish their time at Redwood with Boyd at the helm.
Boyd’s passion for the sport in combination with his unique perspective as a former goal keeper creates a recipe for success that the Redwood Water Polo program is excited to be a part of.
Reid Bigelow
Reid Bigelow is a sports writer who loves covering athletics because of the emotion it brings out in our athletes, and the dedication it demands to be great. He is in the graduating class of 2028.
Tags: girls water polo, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, rhs, visalia ca, water polo
