Senior Casey Watkins has played water polo competitively since seventh grade and is now a star player on M-A’s varsity team. Watkins started playing for the Mid-Pen Water Polo Club, where he began growing as a player and teammate. His freshman year, he transferred to Stanford Water Polo Club, a higher-level club with more extensive practices.
“Last year, my team traveled to Barcelona, where we played against some of the best clubs, teams, and players in the world,” Watkins said. “That was super cool to get to shoot on the number one goalie in the world.” Watkins and his team also placed in the top 10 in the Junior Olympics summer of 2023.
In addition to competing with the Stanford club team, Watkins also participates in the SoPen Water Polo Club during winters and summers. “There, I’m coached by coach Jack Bowen, who I believe is one of the best coaches in water polo ever,” Watkins said. “I’ve definitely gotten a lot better because of his coaching and the way he structures each practice.”
As a dedicated athlete, Watkins has to stay disciplined while balancing sports with school. “I go from school to practice, then another practice, which is usually around four hours of water polo. Then I go home and have homework to do,” he said. “That’s really taught me about hard work and how to stay dedicated to something you love.”
Watkins began his freshman year playing for the boys junior varsity team, but by the end of the season, he was pulled up to varsity for CCS. Now, a senior in his third full year on varsity, Watkins enjoys being an inspiration to others but still feels like things remain much like they were in his early years on the team. “I have always looked up to the seniors, but even now as a senior I still look up to my teammates. The seniors, juniors, sophomores, and even the one freshman on the team all continue to inspire me,” Watkins said.
This season, Watkins scored 10 goals against Hillsdale—his new personal record—and won five Player of the Game awards and First Team All-League, awarded to the best in PAL. Previously, he received Second Team All-League his sophomore and junior years and an honorable mention in CCS his junior year.
Above all, however, Watkins’ pride isn’t for his awards or records––it’s for something bigger. “Water polo has brought me closer to so many people from so many different schools and places. Those friendships that I’ve made through the sport, those are the things I’m most proud of,” Watkins said.
“I love the sport so much, so I’ve rarely ever been unmotivated,” he said. In moments of doubt, Watkins remembers what his teammate Dylan Scirpo expects of him. “This year, what’s kept me going is knowing that Dylan wouldn’t want me to slow down or back off, he’d want me to do the best I can and as we can as a program,” Watkins said.
“This season’s definitely been different than the past. Before, my goal was to win as much as possible, and while that still is a goal, I feel like now smiles are more important than wins,” he said.
Watkins advice to other players is to remind themselves of the reasons behind their hard work. “Remember that passing the ball isn’t just meant to warm up your arm, it’s meant to make you a better passer,” he said. “Also, make sure to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally.”
Great wisdom can come at any age!