HARLINGEN — Harlingen South’s girls water polo team won the last Rio Grande Valley tournament championship in April, beating out several local schools for the title.
With the UIL introducing high school water polo as a sanctioned sport in August, the Hawks entered the new school year determined to replicate their success by winning the first District 32-6A championship under the UIL banner.
“It was really important to us, especially because last year we won mainly with the help of our seniors. We wanted to win this year to prove this year we could do it without them and that we could pick up the positions and make them proud,” South captain Sophia Williams said.
The Hawks continued to build their winning tradition by putting together a 5-1 district record to bring home the 32-6A title in water polo’s first year as a UIL sport.
“I’m very proud of my girls. We worked hard all season, during the offseason as well, to be able to come back and repeat what we did last year,” South head coach Hector Castaneda Jr. said. “It comes with hard work and dedication, being here every day fighting for your team, fighting for each other, knowing what our aspirations and our goals are.”
The girls rallied around each other to make it happen. They battled against PSJA High, PSJA Memorial and crosstown rival Harlingen High to capture the District 32-6A championship.
“I think we really went into this with the mindset that we have to defend this title, and we pulled it off as a team. I feel so honored to be the goalie on the first UIL team and to win a district championship,” South sophomore goalie Eliana Wainscott said.
Communication has been the key to South’s success in the water this season. They’re all on the same page defensively, led by Wainscott, Williams and junior co-captain Brianna Robinson.
Robinson said she’s proud to be part of a group of 11 schools competing in water polo’s inaugural season. Eight of the 11 earned spots in this year’s playoffs.
“It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve learned to love this sport so much, and it’s so great being able to see other teams and other schools starting to join the sport as well,” she said. “We’re excited for the playoffs to see how we compare against teams and compete against other teams outside of the Valley.”
Harlingen South’s first test of the postseason as 32-6A’s top seed will be against Sharyland Pioneer, the No. 4 seed from District 31-6A. The Hawks are slated to face the Diamondbacks in the opening round of the playoffs at 2 p.m. Monday at the City of Pharr Natatorium in Pharr.
“I’m very much looking forward to this. I believe we can do it,” Williams said. “We’ve been practicing a lot, we have a lot of skills, we have the technique and endurance. I want to show the Rio Grande Valley what we can do and what we’re made of.”
