Janet Briggs

This past weekend, Bowdoin’s co-ed water polo team wrapped up its fall season with a 6–5 record and a fourth-place finish at the Collegiate Water Polo Association North Atlantic Division Championship, an improvement from a 5–6 record in the 2023 season.

The two-day event, hosted at Bowdoin’s LeRoy Greason Pool, brought teams from across the East Coast to Brunswick. The Polar Bears delivered a promising performance with highlights including a hard-fought win over the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“It was a challenge, but that’s what made this season so rewarding,” Elliot Dziedzic ’28 said. “Everyone gave their all, even when we were tired or up against some of the bigger schools. Beating UMass [Amherst], for example, was huge for us. It gave us the chance to finish in the top four and let everyone on our starting line score, which was incredible.”

For Micah Sher ’27, a standout moment was the team’s tough battle against University of Vermont (UVM), a notoriously competitive team. While UVM ultimately claimed the championship title, the Polar Bears walked away with a sense of achievement and a strong vision for the program’s future.

“I think the season was really good. We were a lot stronger this year,” Sher said. “Our goalie even came out of the cage to play for a bit, showing just how close we were against UVM. It was the best we’ve ever played against them.”

This year’s season marks a significant transition for the team as players have been trying to build the program back up since falling off due to the pandemic. The team also had several new first years who were key players this season.

Dziedzic emerged as a key player this season, earning the North Atlantic Division’s Player of the Week award twice, the second coming after his 20-goal performance in the North Atlantic Division Championships.

Dziedzic came to the College after playing water polo competitively at his high school and on a club water polo team growing up. Upon arriving at the College, he quickly found his place on the co-ed water polo team.

“It’s been incredible, especially as a freshman coming into this environment,” Dziedzic said.

Dziedzic expressed his appreciation for the program, as it allowed him to play the sport that he loves with people who are hardworking without the pressure he experienced on his high school team.

“[Water polo at the College] is less serious, which is fun because the kids on the team are very welcoming, and we have people who work hard and want to improve and that really made a difference in our games,” Dziedzic said.

Bowdoin’s co-ed water polo team has been an active part of the Collegiate Water Polo Association for decades, competing each fall in the co-ed season.

The Polar Bears’s roster is smaller than many of its competitors, and the team often has a short bench, making each game physically demanding. Matches consist of seven-minute quarters, where players constantly tread water, swim and battle for ball control.

However, the season wasn’t just about competition—it was also about building friendships and fostering a team spirit. The team’s trip to Middlebury College for a tournament earlier this season was an example of how camaraderie out of the pool helped strengthen its performance.

“That trip was a highlight,” Dziedzic said. “We stayed in an Airbnb, played three games in two days and went three-and-one for the weekend. There was a lot of driving and a lot of team bonding.”

As the fall season comes to a close, the water polo team will continue practicing together in preparation for next year. Dziedzic is hopeful that the current momentum will continue, especially as more players join.

“We’re mostly a team of freshmen and sophomores,” Dziedzic said. “I think next season, and especially in my junior year, we’ll be really competitive.”

Looking to the future, Bowdoin’s water polo team aims to build on its recent successes, grow its roster and continue strengthening its reputation within the North Atlantic Division.