The MVHS boys water polo team started preseason practice last Friday, Aug. 15th, and sophomore Pranav Madanahalli already knows the motto.

“One team, one dream.”

From Madanahalli, to senior Anup Sankarraman, who is starting his third year on the varsity team, and head coach Ben Vierra, everyone knows the dream: CCS. They will try their best in every game they play because after a long streak of making CCS, last year the team did not.

With six returning members, the team is working hard to hit the ground running when the season starts. So far, all ten Matadors who tried out made the team because tryouts were shorter and numbers smaller. Though the team lost many seniors last year, the new crop of players from JV brings talent and motivation. In fact, the JV team moved up to second place in League last year.

Also, Vierra coached many of the players through De Anza Cupertino Aquatics before they attended MVHS, so he has experience with their styles. DACA took the Matadors to a tournament in Hawaii this summer, and Vierra invited those who aren’t in DACA. The Matadors lived together, trained together and bonded.

During an outside practice, the veterans keep the new players in check as they are the future of the team. Along with the other seniors, Sankarraman makes sure that every player attends morning practice, weight training and afternoon practice. With such a small team, every effort counts in making it to CCS.

“As far as how we’re going to do, it’s going to be up to them,” Vierra said. “The whole varsity team is going to step up and different stars will come out each game.”