Hello HWP Lovers

As captains of the Harvard Women's Water Polo Team, we would like to say hello to all the HWP lovers out there. (We would also like to extend a plea for fan attendance—chest paint encouraged, but not required—at our upcoming games!!!)

The season has started off with the typical bang. Following winter break and reading period, the team came back ready for for water polo (maybe not so much for finals...). Our preseason, held during intercession (January 23-28), was a blur. When we weren't in the pool we were either sleeping or eating ridiculous amounts of food, that, as stipulated by Erik, "grows on trees or out of the ground." He continued, "Devon, Nicola, that means no Honey-Nut Bunches of Oat Cereal. Unless you have found the mythical Honey-Nut Bunches of Oat trees." (We're still looking).

Following preseason, the team moved seamlessly into second semester. Practice now continues as intensely as ever, and every day we improve in the water. Inclusion of new "visualization" exercises and videos of our Olympian Assistant Coach, Ellen Estes Lee, have allowed us to boost our psychological states and game understanding as well.

The forecast looks very good for this year's team. We have a baller freshmen class, we are swimming faster than we ever have before (2 team members, Lizzie Abbott and Monica Zdrogewski both are consistently coming in under a spectacular 4:30 on our 4o0 meter test set), and we are generally feeling healthier and more excited to play polo than during the last three years.

And this excitement is a good thing, considering the first annual Harvard Water Polo Women's Invitational is being held on Valentine's Day, just under two weeks away, (clearly, we have our priorities straight: Water Polo >>> Boys). Game times aren't posted yet, but be sure to check GoCrimson for updates. On our end, we'll be sure to keep all you out there in the loop as well.

Harvard-huh! (Our pre-game cheer),

Nicola Perlman (2009)

Devon MacLaughlin (2009)