Probably no challenge the Malibu High girls water polo team comes against this season will be more daunting than the squad’s “Hell Week,” which occurred during a period of extremely warm weather in October.
The team practiced for an-hour-and-a-half before and after school from Oct. 23-27. The practices featured running through game scenarios and a lot of swimming—a whole lot of swimming—as a record-melting heat wave rolled through Southern California.
Malibu head coach Hayden Goldberg said that one morning the pool deck was 91 degrees, but that didn’t stop his group.
“The goal was to get them in the best shape for the season in five days,” he said. The former Sharks water polo player said the exhausting week of 10 practices was also done to challenge the group.
“They wanted to do this,” Goldberg said. “They wanted to push their bodies. It was good team bonding, and seeing that these girls could do that and fight through the week was big. I’m very proud of them.”
Sharks water polo player Sophie Spivack agreed the five-day period was good for team bonding.
“It was very tough, but it allowed us to spend more time with each other,” the senior said. “The biggest challenge was doing the afternoon practices. In class, after the morning practice, you are more energized, but all you want to do is go home and sleep after school when the bell rings, but you have to hop in the pool again and do a hard practice.”
Malibu was defeated by Marymount High in a scrimmage on Monday. The Sharks’ season opens Nov. 28 against Oxnard.
Last season, Malibu’s key players included at quintet of 12th graders that helped the Sharks achieve a 17-7 record, Tri-Valley League championship and advance to the second round of the CIF playoffs. The year before, the five led Malibu to the CIF championship semifinals.
Goldberg said in response to the graduation of those players, Malibu’s returning Sharks spent a ton of time in the water during the offseason practicing and playing club water polo.
Spivack, bound to play water polo for San Jose State after graduating, was one of the Sharks that played club water polo. The defender said offseason water polo is an amazing way to sharpen skills.
“For the girls that did it this summer and the fall season,” Spivack said, “I can already see a tremendous difference in the way they play and how they think about the game. That adds depth to the team.”
Spivack and her classmate, utility player Gaia Hinds, have been crucial to Malibu’s success the last few seasons. Hinds was named an All-CIF Division 5 water polo team-member and was co-MVP of the Tri-Valley League at the end of last season and Spivack was an All-Tri-Valley League first-team member.
The duo’s coach praised them as good students and community members away from the sport. He said Hinds and Spivack’s high-level water polo skill is apparent as soon as they dive in the pool.
“They are very talented girls,” Goldberg said, adding that the two have some grit when competing. “I think they are going to have big years.”
The fifth-year coach said opponents won’t be able to focus on them to hinder the Sharks though. He said the two’s teammates, including Luna Salinas, Lauren Maischoss, Gabi Cano, Sally Johnson and a group of talented freshmen, will make an impact.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional facts and to clarify that Sophie Spivack will be attending San Jose State University.