The MVHS Student Athletic Senate hosted its third annual Matador Madness event on Thursday, April 23 in the rally court. At the event, incoming MVHS students asked current players and coaches questions about practices and competition schedules, took a tour of the athletic facilities and watched performances from the MVHS Dance Team and the MVHS-Lynbrook Marching Band. Head Varsity Swim and Girls Water Polo Coach Will Lieu hopes that the event can draw more attention to MVHS’s aquatics program.
“I’m hoping that there are more people interested in joining the aquatic sports at MVHS,” Lieu said. “I think the biggest interest for students is the PE credit and the fact that both swim and water polo are non-cut sports. The only thing I require is having entry level swimming skills.”
Senior and SAS president Jenna Bergendahl, who helped plan the event, wanted to put an emphasis on interactive activities such as putting golf balls, dribbling field hockey pucks and throwing footballs into a target hoop to help engage current players with prospective players.
Lieu, who also attended the event last year, says that in spite of his team competing at the SCVAL League Championships this week, many members from both the swim and water polo team still came to their information booth. He says that last year, the event inspired a couple of people to join the team.
“This year, I think we got a good turn out from the team,” Lieu said. “And I hope for the 2026-27 year we get a better turn out for both the swim and water polo team.”
Bergendahl hopes that the event shines light on the athletics community at MVHS, something that she has been working to cultivate during her time as president with other events such as fundraisers, and the implementation of the new points system.
“I know MVHS is heavy on academics,” Bergendahl said. I think that giving incoming freshmen their first taste of high school is super cool. Also, getting connected to all the coaches and returning players is super awesome.”
