Did you participate in a team sport as a kid? One of my big regrets is that I never did. I was always more interested in keeping my hairdo looking perfect than in taking part in a sport activity of any kind. I fear I am not particularly coordinated, and was also afraid of looking clumsy or awkward. I had the notion that I looked best holding still.
That photo above is Eva’s “professional” water polo sports photo. I assume the girls were told to look fierce for the picture, an expression that doesn’t come naturally to our sunny girl. She pulled it off well, I think!
I am just so darn proud of her. She is such a strong swimmer, and it is awe-inspiring to see her motor across the pool or tread water for jaw-dropping periods of time. Did you know that in water polo, the athletes’ feet are not to touch the bottom of the pool at any time? It is incredible to me to see her in action when she plays.
Her team actually made the regional play-offs this season. I attended the meet last night, where they played against a team from Los Banos, CA. The teams were very evenly matched, and the score was kept tied for the entire game. Eva’s team would score, the opposing team would score, and it went back and forth until the last few minutes of the game, when they were tied 15/15. And in the last seconds, the Los Banos team scored the final point. Heartbreaking!
That game was so exciting we were on our feet for a good part of the time. My son-in-law Ryan had been given a cowbell to ring at appropriate times, and he took his mission very seriously, and rang that thing with enormous enthusiasm. My ears are still ringing.
We didn’t win, but wow, what a game. Do you have grandkids who play in team sports? It is such a privilege to be able to attend the games and cheer them on.
Thanks for indulging me in my proud Nana moment!
26 Responses
great shot of your talented young girl ! Nana pride absolutely deserved!
She is my one and only!
Lovely photo and such a fun sport to partake in. I was able to watch some international water polo games years ago. We had been on (field) hockey course at the sports stadium and the guys used to come and watch us playing during the day. A lot of stamina – plus launching yourself out of the water to throw was amazing. Good luck Eva in all your challenges.
Big hands help too! I don’t know how they hang onto the ball and throw it with any accuracy!
I love Eva’s photo! My daughter started swimming with our local swim team in eighth grade and she also started playing water polo in high school. It is such an exciting and fast paced game and it takes so much strength and endurance to play. My daughter continued to play on her University’s traveling Club team so we were able to see her play for 8 years. Enjoy every minute!
I hope she will continue with it through college. Team sports are so character-building as well as a great way to keep fit and blow off stress.
Nicole,
What a very nice photo of Eva. I would think water polo is one of the toughest sports to play! I participated in swimming and softball but was never really confident in myself. I did enjoy watching my own children participating in several sports and today I get to watch my niece’s daughter play in a college basketball tournament. I wish Eva and her team all the best this year.
Oh my gosh, girls’ basketball is SO exciting! Eva played in middle school, and we loved going to the games. She was more enthusiastic than skilled in that sport, but it was fantastically exciting to watch the games. There were a couple of girls who stole the show, racing back and forth across the court and scoring most of the baskets. They weren’t even particularly tall, but man, were they ever fast and coordinated. It was such fun to watch.
Oh good for Eva! My daughter played high school water polo at St. Francis in Mountain View. They were CCS champions for three years in a row. What a sport!! I can still hear that shrill shrill referee whistle! Such strong girls. You will have to watch Olympic water polo. There are underwater windows to see the action below the surface. Yikes. And yes, it is so great to watch the grands play sports!
We lived across the street from St. Francis in the 80s. I loved walking our dog over there on the weekends. It is a beautiful school. They are well known for their successful sports teams.
We have watched a few soccer games our 8 and 11 yr old boys played. Grandpa and I can tell that the younger one’s heart isn’t in it, but we cheer loudly and don’t voice our opinion!!
That was our son Ahren, to a T. We signed him up for everything: little league, soccer, karate–He was pretty indifferent to it all. I recall watching him standing out in the field during a Little League game, staring up at the sky, not paying attention to the game at all. It is a wonder a ball didn’t conk him on the head. Then, when he got to high school, he discovered track. He was much happier with that and did well.
That’s a fierce looking ‘game face’ & not something we’ve ever seen here! All the time you spent at the local swimming pool when she was little is really paying off now! Congratulations to Eva & the team for making regional play offs!
She has always loved being in the water. The swimming has really paid off. She is so strong and fast in the water, it is amazing to watch her.
We have been very busy for many years watching our grandchildren at their games and meets. With sadness our local grandchildren are now almost at the end! Our last grandson who participates in team sports is a senior. We traveled across Idaho to watch his football team win a game in post season play last weekend. This weekend this team plays across the state again but we cannot go. My husband spent six and a half hours in the dental chair yesterday getting teeth removed! He’s doing so well, but a five hour drive each way to a game tomorrow just isn’t possible!
I really hate it when our children and grandchildren grow up so quickly! Once out of high school, they fly away! I have heard that once the great grandchildren arrive, the great grandparents are often left out of the action…We will see when that comes! Time cannot be stopped so we must adjust and quilt on!
Oh, gosh I hope you are wrong about great grandparents being left out! That was never the case in my family. My great-grandma McGrath took part in activities until she was nearly 100. My Grandma Agnes was a treasured member of the family, and was the center of attention at family gatherings through her 90s. Same with my dad. Goodness, everyone loved him, even the tiniest tots.
She does look fierce! Painful loss. water polo is HUGE here at our local high school.
It was so disappointing! And so close, as it literally happened in the last minute of play. Arggh. Oh well, it would have been just as disappointing for Los Banos, and they had a two hour drive back home!
Great expression on Eva’s face but humorous if it isn’t her normal demeanor!! My kids were probably about like your Ahren. My son tried tennis his freshman year and wasn’t too bad, but it was the same fall season as marching band. Music was by far their greater interest and has lasted them into adulthood. Their band competed in national and regional competitions with Bands of America. We traveled all over to various domes in San Antonio, Detroit, St Louis and often Indianapolis. Being another music teacher in the district I was in charge of chaperones and bus assignments for years. The beauty of all that is, they are still making music. My son has played trumpet in a few pit orchestras with me. He also plays the lowest octave of big handbells at a local church. My daughter still sings in some semi professional choirs. She and I have done a joint choir the last two summers, that will be performing in two weeks for the Nebraska music educators convention. I guess that’s our sport!
Yes, I can totally relate. My Ahren was into choir in highschool. He has an amazing voice (unlike absolutely everyone else in our tone deaf family). He went to high school in Danville, and they won all sorts of regional competitions. I remember he had to travel to Southern California for some big choir event. The choir also did all kinds of special programs, like a Renaissance dinner where they sang while the audience sat at long tables having a feast. I keep telling Ahren he needs to join a choir in Dublin, even it means going to church. It is the perfect place to meet single women!
I love this!! He surely could find a good community choir around there!! He needs to do that!! Such a wonderful outlet.
My daughter sang in college. The only non music major in a chamber choir that had an all expenses paid trip to England as a demonstration choir. Josh sang with a select children’s choir that represented the US at the International Society of Music Educators conference that is held every two years somewhere around the globe. They performed in Johannesburg South Africa and stayed part of the trip in the Drakensburg mountains at a boarding school for children’s choirs. So many great opportunities.
Goodness, what an incredible experience! That is truly awesome.
Good for Eva! And I agree, what a fierce looking game face! LOL about Ryan and his cowbell mission. My son played percussion in the high school band, and for his graduation I clanged on the cowbell. I’m sure those sitting close by were less than thrilled. Ha ha!
Well, his enthusiasm was admirable. I would think his hand and arm would be tired today.
Great picture of Eva. I played summer league softball and high school basketball, track, and cheerleading. My son played baseball from little league through college and he still plays in a summer/fall league. He also is the head baseball coach at the high school he teaches at. His 4 children play baseball, softball, and basketball. My daughter played tennis. Both children were in marching band, concert band and jazz band. They didn’t get there music talent from their mom! My son still plays the drums at church and also the guitar. His oldest daughter plays the piano, trumpet, and the violin.
That is incredible! My family showed no athletic or musical abilities! We were more sedentary and bookish I guess. Of all the sports, I enjoyed track the most. In my past, I did some running and bicycling. I really admire those who are athletic and participate in sports.