The Naperville North pool was filled with excitement as the Summer Suburban Water Polo Championships wrapped up the season, marking the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from young athletes across the area.
“It’s just like the big end-of-season event. It’s something that we train the kids for all season. It’s something for them to look forward to. And it’s just the final place for them to showcase what we’ve been working on and how hard they’ve worked the entire season,” said Kayley Queen, coach for the Cress Creek Naperville Summer Suburban Water Polo League.
A Tradition of Excellence
For over 25 years, the Naperville Summer Suburban Water Polo League has been a staple in the local sports community, bringing together young athletes to compete in various club pools. The league began with a few teams organized by Naperville high school coaches and has since grown into a significant event for budding water polo players.
“Coach Plackett from Central, a few others, and I started by just having some teams play together in Naperville. Each year it grew larger. For the last eight to ten years, it’s been held at Naperville North, with enthusiastic crowds and players. It’s like a sectional or state meet, providing a great opportunity for young kids to experience high-level competition,” said Andy McWhirter, head coach of Naperville North girls’ water polo.
Champions of Tomorrow
Every year, three city champions are crowned in the U-11 coed, U-14 girls, and U-14 coed divisions. These teams are coached by high school players who often once played for the teams they now lead, creating a relatable and effective coaching dynamic. Some coaches have been involved long enough to see their former players evolve into high school teammates.
“It feels amazing to know that I’m not alone with how I’m feeling and I can talk to someone who knows how it feels,” said Oakhurst player Keval Sangvhi.
“Two years ago, I was coaching girls who are now on my water polo team at Naperville North. It’s fun to see them grow. Many of them I’ve been coaching since they were 7 or 8, so it’s rewarding to see four years of growth and achievements,” added Queen.
2024 Championship Highlights
In the 2024 championship games, Maplebrook II secured the U-11 championship with a 12-7 victory over Naper Carriage Hill, while Saybrook won the third-place match against Cress Creek Country Club. The newly formed Cress Creek Country Club and Cress Creek Commons Co-Op triumphed in the U-14 girls division with an 8-4 win over Hobson West. In the U-14 coed championship, Oakhurst defeated Saybrook 13-10.
“It feels great. We lost our eighth-grade year due to COVID, so we were determined to win. We finally did, and it feels amazing,” said Oakhurst coach Charlie Drohan.
“At the beginning of the year, it was rough, but we found a common goal: to win. We worked together and pulled through, even when tensions were high. It was all about teamwork,” said Keval Sangvhi.
A Legacy of Passion
The Naperville Suburban Summer Water Polo League is deeply rooted in family and community bonds. Oakhurst coach PJ Bartzen, a standout player from Waubonsie Valley, coached his younger brother Charlie to a championship victory in the U-14 coed division.
“I’m so excited. This is a big deal for many of these kids who don’t usually play competitively. We aim to make it highly competitive, and the kids’ hard work has clearly paid off. I couldn’t be more proud,” said PJ Bartzen.
“It’s amazing. We’ve been through everything together, and winning together is incredible. We mess around in practice, but in the end, we’re brothers. It’s great,” added Charlie Bartzen.
Growing the Sport
With over 500 participants this summer, the future looks bright for water polo in Naperville, one of the top areas for the sport in Illinois.
“This is fantastic to see because they all feed into our high schools. This area is highly competitive in water polo,” said McWhirter.
“I love seeing the future of water polo and teaching these kids the fundamentals. It’s rewarding to share my passion for the sport,” said Cress Creek coach Calista Jansen.
“It means everything to me. I love the sport and the community around it. The people involved, whether from Saybrook, North, or my hometown Oakhurst, are great. Being part of it is all I can ask for,” concluded PJ Bartzen.