RIPON – Like a swimming pool, the beginning of the building stages have to begin from the ground up and that is the case for Ripon High’s first-year water polo program.
Ripon is in the opening stages of a water polo program that will hopefully rival the respected programs of the Modesto Metro Conference, like Modesto High and the Oakdale Mustangs. The Mustangs, like Ripon, made their debut a short time ago, but didn’t take long to capture their first MMC title within three seasons.
“It has been exciting and discouraging all at the same time,” Ripon head coach Erik Zador said. “It’s exciting because we’re going to have a really good team in the next two years. By the fourth year we should have a dynamite team.
“Right now, getting into the league and trying to set up scrimmages in the first year has been a challenge.”
Zado is sure to bring success to the Indians’ newest program, earning a great deal of accolades with an overachieving group of club water polo players who participated in the recent 2010 Junior Olympics. Zador’s core of talent will come from his club program, and hopefully their experience will provide the guiding light for the newborn program.
“I am pretty excited, but we all know that our first year is going to be tough,” Ripon freshman Caleb Rogers said. “I’m excited for next year for sure. I can already see a lot of players coming out and joining the team.
“We know we’re building a program, so that is exciting.”
In the early stages the demands reach to great levels, but Zador is game planning around the strengths that will carry his program. With this first year group the coach is focused soely on the aspects of the game that will solidify a program, making Ripon a contender in a timely fashion.
“Swimming and skill work are my primary focuses for building this team’s foundation,” Zador said. “Understanding how to play the game correctly is major for me. I’m real big on learing the game and how to play it correctly.
“I don’t push the kids and try to rush them; I’m patient with these guys and I want them to learn the game proper way.”
Zador will only be able to do so much for the squad, leaving a large percentage of the responsibility on the players. The new program will be laden with underclassman, leaving leadership as a valued commodity the Indians will be immediately searching for.
“Some of us have been playing for a while, so we come in a little prepared,” Rogers said. “We don’t have too many older players, so we are forced to depend on the experienced players more.
“Even for guidance on how to play water polo.”
The Indians will compete this season unattached, but will likely be a part of a league or conference by the beginning of next season.
Ripon is in the opening stages of a water polo program that will hopefully rival the respected programs of the Modesto Metro Conference, like Modesto High and the Oakdale Mustangs. The Mustangs, like Ripon, made their debut a short time ago, but didn’t take long to capture their first MMC title within three seasons.
“It has been exciting and discouraging all at the same time,” Ripon head coach Erik Zador said. “It’s exciting because we’re going to have a really good team in the next two years. By the fourth year we should have a dynamite team.
“Right now, getting into the league and trying to set up scrimmages in the first year has been a challenge.”
Zado is sure to bring success to the Indians’ newest program, earning a great deal of accolades with an overachieving group of club water polo players who participated in the recent 2010 Junior Olympics. Zador’s core of talent will come from his club program, and hopefully their experience will provide the guiding light for the newborn program.
“I am pretty excited, but we all know that our first year is going to be tough,” Ripon freshman Caleb Rogers said. “I’m excited for next year for sure. I can already see a lot of players coming out and joining the team.
“We know we’re building a program, so that is exciting.”
In the early stages the demands reach to great levels, but Zador is game planning around the strengths that will carry his program. With this first year group the coach is focused soely on the aspects of the game that will solidify a program, making Ripon a contender in a timely fashion.
“Swimming and skill work are my primary focuses for building this team’s foundation,” Zador said. “Understanding how to play the game correctly is major for me. I’m real big on learing the game and how to play it correctly.
“I don’t push the kids and try to rush them; I’m patient with these guys and I want them to learn the game proper way.”
Zador will only be able to do so much for the squad, leaving a large percentage of the responsibility on the players. The new program will be laden with underclassman, leaving leadership as a valued commodity the Indians will be immediately searching for.
“Some of us have been playing for a while, so we come in a little prepared,” Rogers said. “We don’t have too many older players, so we are forced to depend on the experienced players more.
“Even for guidance on how to play water polo.”
The Indians will compete this season unattached, but will likely be a part of a league or conference by the beginning of next season.
