Talented Sophomores Rejuvenate Men's Water Polo

They may be a year older, but the Harvard men’s water polo sophomores are up to the same shenanigans as last time around. They are still easy to spot walking around campus.

Just look for the guys with the tans.

SOGO, or “Sun’s Out, Guns Out,” is a club founded by the five California natives of the team’s 2016 class.

“It shows our dedication to the tan nation,” attacker Blake Lee said.

In addition to being a goofy and close-knit group of athletes, the sophomores have also transformed the Crimson water polo program, leading it to an 18-14 finish this season, including an 11-1 mark in CWPA Northern division play.

“The things we are doing haven’t been done here since ’02,” coach Ted Minnis said. “These kids were barely born.”

Since the inception of the team in 2002, Harvard had never seen sustained success until the Class of 2016 came onto the scene. In the 2011 season—the year prior to the arrival of “the super seven”—the Crimson finished 10-20, with a 5-9 record in conference play.

Just this campaign, attackers Robbie Fluegge, Noah Harrison, Chris Miao, Austen Novis, Lee, and 2-meter Ben Zepfel have shot for 116 goals, passed for 63 assists, and tallied a total of 168 steals. Goalie Colin Woolway has stopped 192 shots.

“This year is remarkably different from any of the past seasons,” Woolway said. “It’s been special to be a part of it and to see the group that has struggled in the past now contend for a championship.”

This season, the sophomores led the Crimson to a No. 17 national ranking and its first-ever CWPA regular-season title. For their efforts, Zepfel earned first-team All-CWPA honors and Harrison made the second team.

Woolway has also taken on an increased role. Last year, he shared the goal with now-senior Jimmy Field, but was called upon this season to take the majority of the time in the net.

“I think [being named starter] has definitely helped me in terms of getting in more of a groove,” Woolway explained. “That being said, my relationship with Jimmy is great...He continues to drive me in practice, and we continue to push each other.”

With 192 of the team’s 248 saves on the season, Woolway has earned his spot between the poles. His efforts in goal have been rewarded with a handful of CWPA defensive player of the week awards throughout the season.

“Colin has done a great job,” Minnis said. “He came in and worked really hard last year, had a good off-season, and came in and earned the starting spot this year. I don’t think he’s looked back since.”

The contributions from the sophomores have aided the Crimson in what Woolway considers one of the best Octobers Harvard water polo has ever seen. Over the course of the month, the Crimson went 7-3, coming away with a big win against Brown that placed the team third in the Ivy League Championship tournament.

“It’s been special to be a part of [this team] and see a group that has struggled in the past be able to bring it together this year,” Woolway said.

The squad continued its success into November, reaching the CWPA Northern Division championship game against St. Francis on Nov. 10. The team ultimately fell, however, 12-4. This past weekend, the Crimson’s season came to a close with a sixth-place finish at the CWPA Championships.

“We’re a very young team,” Minnis said. “I think you saw that in the championship game against St. Francis. They are a very experienced, senior-junior heavy team and…we got a little rattled late in the game. But all that experience is going to help us down the road.”

Despite the finish, the team is optimistic about its future prospects, with the class of 2016 set to lead the way. The sophomores believe that they are integral to both the future success of the squad and its recruitment of more game-changing players.

“I think our role as the [Class of 2016] is to continue Ted’s goal in attracting more players,” Lee said. “Harvard isn’t really known for being a powerhouse on the east coast...We’re starting to solidify our role as a threat and as a contender to win the east every year.”