Against their biggest rivals, North Penn, the Lady Rams water polo team had to remain strong. While some girls played dirty and others were incredibly skilled at their sport, Pennridge had a different kind of advantage: the heart for one another. Win, lose, or draw, the Lady Rams are like a family. Laney Sayre, a Senior, calls this team home. She can her teammates whenever there is a need to vent. She can call on her teammates to make her a better player. Even when the waters become rocky and the notorious North Penn is winning by five points, how the team plays as a whole truly is what matters. It is the way the team can read each other signals and build each other up after devastating losses that count.
Laney Sayre began her water polo career seven years ago and has been an avid team member ever since. After simply falling in love with the sport through watching her sister’s team, deciding to take on water polo was already in her blood. Laney has always been an athletic and ambitious child, from starting on the swim team 12 years ago, water polo honed her natural speed and ability to stay afloat. She could easily see herself pursuing this sport for years to come as she gave 100% effort every time she stepped into the water. Through the years and constant practice on 3 different water polo teams, Ridge Raptors, Pennridge Lady Rams, and Norco, Laney’s endurance increased as well as her ranks within the sport. Without a doubt managing school work tested her patience but never did her love wane for polo. She is a great student who through the years successfully learned to manage all the things most important to her, friends, family, school, and sports.
She began her Sophomore year on varsity, where the stakes were higher but now she was truly able to utilize her skills. Water polo soon became a core part of her life with swim practice taking the back burner. Yet, her dedication to polo meant continuing her swim team as she states, “My parents forced me to swim, but it truly does make me a better water polo player.”
“Swimming is more of a mental sport. It is a lot of pressure on one person since it is not as fun as it is mostly an individual sport”, Laney explains. With water polo, one thing Laney values is being on a team. There is still a team aspect in swimming but the key difference is you all perform separately. Once the whole team is in the water, gear on, and game-day faces ready, Lady Rams water polo is truly all together. Communication and being able to cheer on your teammates while in the pool together overrides swim meets any day.
Through high school, the men’s water polo team has also made an impact on Laney’s time playing. From practicing with each other to staying later to cheer each other’s team, it is safe to say the students consider one another as family. When asked about being so close with the men’s team, fellow varsity teammate Bridget Sullivan states, “We have better sportsmanship and have more people to care for instead of just one team.” It is not uncommon to see the boys cheering from the stands, stomachs painted and all. As well as the girls, making posters and being the loudest ones in the room just to show their support. To many on the outside, they would presume it to be your average school sport, but to the boys and girls on the team, their friendship has turned out family.
As their current season wraps up, a long four years is recalled upon by Laney. She explains, “What motivates me the most is the team. I like everyone and the thrill of the competition.” Whether it be the highs and the lows of losing your coach or making it to states, the members are always there for you. When the times are tough leaning on your teammates is often the best source of relief. Who else understands the groggy morning practices? Or managing multiple club teams that run late. Often staying on top of schoolwork becomes burdensome for student-athletes. When practices run every day, who else is there to confide in but your teammates? With mental health among athletes being a topic of interest recently, students must understand that they are not alone in their pressure. Laney may often seem as polite to her teammates in school because of the extensive time spent together, but under the surface “family” is the best word to describe their relationship.
Just like a family, teams can quarrel and bicker. Disagreements on coaching techniques ultimately make the team stronger. Laney Sayre said it best herself,” After a big loss we try to not let one bring you down.” Like families do, they raise each other when one person is low. After watching each other grow into their sport and begin to make plans for the future, it is bittersweet to see each other go. Bridget Sullivan states, “I am incredibly sad as my team has become a family to me, but I cannot wait to see them pursue things in college.” From friendships to family, the unwavering support from one another allowed the boys and girls of the Pennridge Water Polo team to create an unbreakable bond for life.
