The Estevan Sharks Water Polo Club's Mini and Atom teams dove into their first tournament of the season, encountering tough competition and a valuable learning experience for players. Chad Knoll, head coach for the age-group teams, reflected on the weekend’s challenges and successes.
“Oh, it was definitely tougher than I expected,” Knoll said. “There was some tough competition. Our kids played hard and tried their hardest, but not all of them were successful. There were a few lessons to be learned, definitely, and we’ll work with that during practice.”
An estimated 100 players participated from the Atom (ages 10-12) and Mini (under 10) divisions. Competing in a team-based format similar to sports like hockey or soccer, the tournament drew players from across the region. Estevan Sharks teams achieved solid placements, including a second-place finish for the Atom Girls and a first- and second-place finish for the two Mini teams. In the Atom Boys division, one team earned second place while the other finished fourth.
“I think the other teams, they have a lot of players that have more experience in all the clubs than our club has so it was a little bit of a learning experience,” he added. “They did try their hardest and did pretty good.”
Knoll praised several standouts from the tournament. “One of the Atom Girls led the way in scoring throughout the whole tournament for the boys and girls combined,” he shared, also highlighting strong goaltending performances. “The Atom Boys had some really good plays going on, good passing — a couple mistakes, but we’ll work on that in practice.”
As the Sharks look ahead, Knoll noted upcoming tournaments in Regina, with the Bantam age group competing on November 2, and the Atom and Mini groups returning for another tournament on November 23.
To conclude, Knoll expressed his appreciation for the support from friends and families who came out to cheer on the players. “I’d like to thank all the people that came out to watch,” he said. “There were friends and parents who had compliments on how tough of a sport it actually is. They never realized it was that strenuous.”
With a mix of competitive results and key takeaways, the Estevan Sharks are eager to build on their early-season experiences and prepare for what’s next.