Despite facing older, more experienced players, freshman athletes are diving into varsity competition with confidence and determination.
By: Jack Post
As the 2025 season begins, a handful of freshmen are making waves on Redwood’s Varsity Water Polo teams. Competing against upperclassmen can be intimidating, but players like Sutton Fierbach and Lucie Zuniga are proving that skill and teamwork matter more than age
Sutton Fierbach, ’29, says, “It’s definitely scary, but if you know a lot of the game, then you could work your way around it.”
Fierbach said this when regarding his size compared to the older kids he has to play against as a freshman
There are two freshmen on each varsity team, boys and girls, but does having so many older kids and few younger kids make it difficult?
against the Marauders.
Photo Nick Miller/Visalia Stage & Field
Lucie Zuniga, ’29, says, ” Everyone was really nice, and that made it easier.”
Zuniga feels welcomed by the girls on her team, especially by her friend Annalise Salazar, ’29, who says, “Having another freshman on the team really just took the pressure off and made it easier.”
Having a community of freshmen in a varsity environment builds community and relationships.
Jack Post
Tags: #Varsity water polo, rangers, Redwood, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, rhs, visalia ca
