1. Who is your sporting idol?

Alan Shearer: I’m a massive Newcastle United fan. In a water polo context probably Denes Varga, he’s such a unique player and so fun to watch. It’s always dangerous seeing match highlights of him though because then you go into training thinking you can try some of the stuff he does, it very rarely goes well.

2. Best sporting moment?

Winning Varsity against O*ford in 2023. They had won Prem South that year and came into the match incredibly confident. Once the match started the confidence didn’t last long.

3. Worst sporting moment?

Losing Varsity last year by one goal. It was an incredibly close match but we just couldn’t get it over the line.

4. Why water polo?

Water polo has been a massive part of my life since high school. The community is relatively small, but the vast majority of folks involved are great. The sport fosters a lot of camaraderie and most of my best friends and closest relationships are in some way related to water polo. Sport is also just a great way to destress and socialise.

5. Pre-game/competition/match rituals?

Nothing in particular, just get out there and rip it.

6. What is the best bit about being captain?

Watching the effect of coaching, seeing players and the team getting better as the season progresses. The jump in ability from the beginning of the year to end can be massive and it’s a really rewarding process to be a part of.

7. Worst bit about being captain?

Losing.

8. Is it tricky to balance sport and work?

It definitely can be difficult, but I think they feed into each other. I always feel a lot better physically and mentally in season with consistent training/matches and that usually translates to me being more effective at work.

9. Is it easy for beginners to join?

Absolutely, lots of team members started playing the sport when they first came to University. It’s a great group of guys and we try to foster a really inclusive and supportive environment. The team has significantly grown in size year after year that I’ve been here which I think is a testament to the fact that folks want to stay around and be part of the squad even if they aren’t coming in with a water polo-specific background.

10. What does a typical training session look like?

Typically, we start with a swim or leg set (or sometimes both if I’m in a bad mood), and then go on to passing, shooting, and technique drills. Often, we will then work on a specific aspect of team tactics that we want to emphasise and finish with a training match to reinforce what we worked on in drills.

11. Season predictions?

A lot of the team from last year is coming back and we have some exciting freshers coming through, so hoping for a dominant season for both the 1s and the 2s.