by Macade Maxwell

With the season coming to a near end, Head Coach Adam Lee and the rest of the St. John Bosco Water Polo team hang their hats on building a culture of toughness and discipline, regardless of the results.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Braves find themselves in a situation where every game matters. With a couple of tough games to come, they are fearless of any opponent and won’t let anything inhibit their resolve. 

For Bosco Water Polo, it’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish. Aquatics Director and Head Coach Adam Lee is looking to apply his expertise and experience in collegiate-level coaching and motivate his team to finish off their season on a strong note. Although the team has faced some adversity, Coach Lee is dedicated to his squad and believes in each in every one of them. 

“During the games, he is always telling us to keep going no matter what the score is and to use the time spent in the water to always be learning,” said junior Julian Almanza. “Just seeing Coach Lee’s desire to win and desire to make the whole team better has made me want to work even harder to help benefit the team as much as possible.” 

One certain player who stands out the most in the water would be senior Adrian Lobos. Adrian is the main example of what a leader in the water should look like. Not only using his athleticism but setting an example for his teammates. 

“I simply go out there and give it everything. I’ve been playing this game for five years and I’ve learned that one thing you can’t do is display emotion,” said Adrian. “I must set a good example for the other guys on my team and encourage them to do the same.” 

He also emphasized that practice and preparation plays a crucial part in his recent success. 

“If I practice with 110% effort. I like to assume that it will start to show in the game. I’ve always practiced as though I were playing a game, giving [it] my all.”

Julian Almanza has seen the impact that Lobos has made on the team. Julian along with the rest of his teammates placed their trust in him whenever he’s in the water. 

“He understands the game, and we trust him and his judgment,” said Julian. “He is one of our top scores and he’s definitely a guy we can trust to lead the team whenever we are down or we just need something to bring us back into the game.”

With the expertise of Coach Lee and the leadership of players like Adrian, the Braves are building a hard-nosed culture. Although this may not have been the start that they were hoping to have, as they currently sit at a record of 7-11 on the season, Coach Lee and his squad look forward to capping the year off with a strong finish.