Although the girls’ water polo team did not have an ideal season, they could not be prouder of the accomplishments they made over the past two months. While they did not come out on top for conference or sectionals, the Lady Pirates had an extremely successful season with a record of 26-7, which earned them the rank of twelfth in state.

“I felt our final ranking was very good considering that we were right in the games that we played against the top ten teams. We weren’t ranked my freshman year. We didn’t even make top fifty and now we’re twelfth ” says captain Caroline Wojtas (15).

Wojtas, in particular, has had a great year. With 163 goals, she lead the offense and missed breaking the school record of points scored by a mere two goals. Wojtas was also awarded Palatine’s Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first female polo player to win the prize . She was the only Pirate to make it to the All-State team, which is especially difficult to do, as the Pirates did not even make it to State. Wojtas plans to continue her career in polo next year and will be playing for the Virginia Military Institute.

Among her other achievements, Wojtas was awarded All-Conference along with her fellow captain, Caitlin McHugh (15), and goalie Tess O’Brien (15). The same three girls went on to make the All-Sectionals team along with junior Mathilde Mogensen.

The Lady Pirates missed out going to State this year after losing the Sectional championship game to Stevenson, who went on to become the state champions. They also came in second in the MSL Conference championship. The team looks at these near-wins with pride rather than bitterness.

“We played the toughest schedule we ever have and still finished with over 25 wins. We made it to the Sectional Championship for the second straight year and the second time in school history. It was definitely a disappointment to not win the MSL but I think we are poised for another shot at it next year” says Coach Mitch Tucker.

Tucker’s forward-looking attitude is one of the main factors of the Pirate’s success. Another is the seniors who have led the team. The Pirates will lose three seniors this year: central defensive player Jackie Kincannon and captains Wojtas and McHugh.

“These three have been an instrumental part of the emergence of our program as one of the top ones in the state,” says Tucker, “I am going to miss them tremendously not only for their abilities as athletes but also for their leadership, compassion, and dedication to the team.”

While the team will lose these integral athletes, they are not worried for next year and look forward to another chance at winning Conference for the first time in school history. The team has been breaking school records left and right these past two years, so it’s about time.