Waterpolo Boys Crush Anderson, Advancing In Playoffs

Zachary+Hobbs+24++attempts+to+get+possession+of+the+ball+from+the+opposing+team.+Westwood+is+playing+their+opening+game+for+the+UIL+season.+

Linda Stassforth

Zachary Hobbs ’24 attempts to get possession of the ball from the opposing team. Westwood is playing their opening game for the UIL season.

Westwood Waterpolo Boys played rival school, Anderson, in the first round of playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the RRISD Natatorium. Freddy Browarski ‘24 had a total of seven goals by the end of the match, making him the highest scoring player of the game. His runners-up were Indy McBrearty ‘25 and Jack Benveniste ‘24, ending the match with three goals each. Caden Bradford ‘26 came in with one goal, making the final score 14-11.

The student section on Westwood’s side had an abundance of energy for the length of the match, boosting team spirit overall.

“I loved the energy of the game from both teams,” Browarski said. “We were all highly focused on the game and it was a really fun and intense match up. The crowd was deafening the entire game and it was super contagious for everyone in the water.”

In the first quarter, the Waterpolo Boys made several quality plays, coming close to Anderson 2-1.

In the second quarter, several miscues allowed Anderson to gain momentum on the Warriors allowing for some close calls and goals, bringing the total at the end of the second quarter to 6-5 Anderson.

In the third quarter, the overall energy died down, making Westwood’s attempt at over-taking more complicated. The Warriors caught up in the last minutes of the quarter, bringing the total to a tie 9-9.

In the fourth quarter, the energy of the opposing team shifted to tension and frustration. Westwood took advantage of that, countering score attempts from Anderson and using the momentum of the crowd to secure a win and advance in playoffs at a final score of 14-11.

“Everyone on our team who played the game gave it their all the entire time they were in and we got progressively better throughout the game which helped us take over in the end,” Browarski said.

Overall, the team had even spacing on offense, clear communication between players which gave the Warriors good possession of the ball, and overall high energy/effective play strategy.

Westwood will play next at the CFISD Natatorium against Foster High School.