Marlborough’s Varsity Water Polo team opened their pre-season with a win on Thursday, Dec 1. at home against Beverly Hills High School. The Mustangs defeated Beverly Hills High School (17-13) in the first game in the new Caryll Mudd Sprague Aquatic Center.

The leading scorer on Marlborough’s Varsity Water Polo team, Julie Hartman ’18, said she was proud of her teammates because of their win last week.

“I am incredibly proud of our team especially since about a third of the girls on our roster have never even played water polo before,” Hartman said.

This year the team has a diverse range of talent and has access to the new facilities that came with the Arden project. The team earned its first win last week and equalled last year’s record of one win.

This year, the team is able to host home games and is able to spend time more time in the water practicing because of the newly constructed Caryll Mudd Sprague Aquatic Center from the Arden Project, eliminating the transportation time to an outside pool for practice. By hosting home games, the games will also expand the Mustang support for the team.

Team member Kyra Kraft ’19 said she is happy about this.

“I am really excited that we are going to have home games because I think it will encourage people to come watch and cheer on the team,” Kraft ’19 said.

Head Water Polo coach Jack Stabenfeldt said that in preparation for the season he is focusing on building a cohesive team, which will lead to a more productive season. Because a large part of the water polo team his goal for the newer athletes to learn the basics of the game.

“The main goal is to educate our newer athletes about the game of water polo so they can be successful in the pool. I am excited to see our more experienced players help facilitate this process,” Stabenfeldt said.

Hartman said she is excited about the future of them.

“I hope that the fact that we won our first game in the gorgeous new pool is a good omen for the future of program. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the season with this great group of girls,” Hartman said.