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closeSchmidt experiences a whole new level of water polo
Puyallup High School water polo star competes in Junior Olympics
Shaun Scott
Puyallup resident Stefan Schmidt walked away from the Junior Olympics with a newfound respect for those individuals who have played water polo since they were young children.
Schmidt, who will be a senior at Puyallup High School this fall, made the trip with his Puget Sound Pirates Polo water polo team from July 25 to 29 to the Water Polo Junior Olympics in Irvine, Calif.
Although his team didn’t register a victory in nine games, Schmidt said getting the chance to go up against some of the premier water polo players in the United States is something he will never forget.
“It was a lot higher of a competition level than I was used to,” Schmidt said. “Most of those players we were playing against have been playing the sport since they were 2 or 3 years old. Down there, it’s kind of like how football is in Texas. Once the kids are young their parents are getting them involved in water polo camps. That’s why they are so good.”
Schmidt noticed an obvious difference in the ability of his competitors to accelerate from one side of the pool to the other.
“I couldn’t believe how fast and how much endurance a lot of these guys had,” he said. “That was probably the most surprising part of it. They could cover so much water in a short amount of time. They could really fly.”
Schmidt believes competing against the best of the best will benefit him during his senior season in the pool for the Puyallup Vikings.
“It was definitely a great experience,” he said. “I played against guys who are a lot better than me. I learned a lot there going there too. It will give me an edge this season. I think I will be able to teach my teammates some of the things I learned. It will make us a better team this season.”