Senior captain Maddie Cole understands that every team experiences loss of seniors from the previous season. Despite the Forest Hills water polo team losing seven key players, she still believes this season will go well.

“With any team, losing a lot of experienced seniors is not a good thing,” Maddie said. “But, we definitely feel like a lot of the new people that have come onto varsity are really good and capable of working well together and making the team really great this year.”

With the help of last year’s seniors, the team was able to set a record for the program, ending second in the district. This year’s team is made of three sophomores, three juniors, and five seniors. Head coach Lauren Hotaling says this season will be one with a young team and with a lot to learn. Even with the young team, Hotaling has high goals.

“We are going to try and qualify for the state tournament for the first time in program history,” Hotaling said. “We will do that by working together as a team, perfecting the basics, and focusing on excellent defense.”

The team’s season has already begun with a few tournament in Grand Haven and East Grand Rapids. Maddie says the tournaments were to get a feel of how the team works, to see how different players play with others and to find what positions they would be best at.

“Based on the tournaments we have already had I think that as the season goes along we are going to make a lot of progress,” Maddie said.

Both Maddie and sophomore Selina Franovic believe the season is going to be one of progress, that the team will be able to improve with every tournament and game.

“We’ve had a few games and tournaments so far, and at this point in the season, we do not have a great record,” sophomore Selina Franovic said. “But in every game each player has had great moments and I’m very proud of the team. I’m excited to see our team improve throughout the season.”