Last May, the MSU women’s Water Polo Club was minutes away from a national championship, when the University of Washington Huskies scored in overtime.
Erika Orns, a criminal justice graduate student, was on double duty, assistant coaching and swimming against the Huskies. Months later, Orns coaches a team of nine freshmen and several veterans who are determined to be champions.
“Losing to Washington last year has motivated everyone to win it,” accounting senior Stacie Jehl said. “Our goal is to clean it up. We want the trophy.”
MSU made its first steps toward a championship season by hosting its season-opener, the Kick-off Classic, during the weekend. MSU ended the weekend play with a 5-1 record. The University of Michigan, Notre Dame University, Northwestern University, Purdue University, Ohio State University and Miami University of Ohio participated.
Orns made the transition to coaching gracefully, but with some sweat.
“It’s a much more nerve-racking experience. I’m used to getting in the pool and having control. It’s not a hands-on type of control,” she said.
Orns said she was pleased with the team’s performance.
“The Kick-off Classic got our confidence up and helped us gel as a team,” she said.
The team’s only loss came against intrastate rival U-M’s varsity team, 7-0.
“We did a good job considering they have scholarship athletes,” Orns said. “With increased stamina and improved skill level it will be closer next time.”
The team won a physical match against club rivals Miami of Ohio, 10-3.
“They ran the offense and the freshmen stepped up,” Orns said.
Amidst the fouls and nonstop action, the players kept up an intense battle.
“We try to advertise that Americans like contact sports and blood, which water polo is,” Orns said.
Water polo allows fouls unless ruled brutal by referees.
It is definitely a contact sport, said Lydia Ripple, an earth science junior.
“There is a lot of stuff the refs can’t see underwater,” she said.
During the weekend, fan support showed a growing interest in a sport which combines swimming, basketball and soccer.
The veterans attribute the interest to Olympic coverage of women’s water polo and the formation of more high school teams.
Jehl and her twin sister, Sara Jehl, a physiology senior, helped start a team at Okemos High School in 1994. The MSU club started in 1992.
“I’m psyched to see that people recognize it’s a valuable sport,” Stacie Jehl said. “The increase in high school leagues aid in our recruitment.”
Despite interest in the sport, the team remains at the club level.
Participants pay dues and fund raise to support the tournaments, travel and equipment. In the Big Ten, U-M and Indiana University have moved to the varsity level, Orns said.
MSU will compete Feb. 9 through Feb. 11 at Princeton University and during spring break in Southern California in an all-varsity field.
“We are hoping that the administration recognizes our club’s commitment and the growth-potential both nationally and in the state and rewards us with varsity status,” Orns said.
