Water Polo Goes to Barcelona

This summer, the Gilman Water Polo team embarked on a first-of-its-kind weeklong trip to Barcelona for cultural immersion and the opportunity to play high-level water polo against European clubs. A mixture of sixteen JV and Varsity players attended, led by rising seniors Jonathan Bradlee ‘27, Brody Carr ‘27, Grant Wright ‘27, and Vincent Wu ‘27. The team, accompanied by coaches Mr. Vaughan Smith and Ms. Devina Bhalla and chaperones Mr. Will Jackson and Mrs. Suzanne Finnerty, departed from Dulles International Airport on June 7th for Portugal, where they then connected to Barcelona. 

Once in Barcelona, the Hounds practiced at some of the best athletic complexes in Spain, like the Montjuïc Municipal Pool, where the 1992 Olympics were held, and the CN Sabadell complex, which features 6 pools. They learned the Spanish playstyle, which emphasizes body position, during Barcelona International Water Polo Academy clinics. Furthermore, the team played two games against very stiff competition. A close game against CN Sabadell saw the Hounds fall just short of victory, 13-14, while their second game, against CN Rubi, was much tougher, a 21-7 loss. Coach Vaughan said, “We played some really good teams and got a reality check on our conditioning and our skill level. I think it was a great learning experience for most of the guys, and I hope it continues.” Overall, the water polo aspect of the trip was a great way for players in the offseason to relearn crucial skills, and you can be sure to see success in the Hounds’ fall campaign.

Then, the team dove into the cultural aspects of Barcelona. They were exposed to some of the greatest works of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, such as the Sagrada Família and the Casa Batlló. His unique style captivated and inspired students such as Ian Thomas ‘28, who said, “I really enjoyed learning about the works of Gaudí! Some of his stuff is a little strange, but the Sagrada Família was pretty epic.” The team also got to see Spotify Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona, where they toured the stadium museum. One of the most memorable parts of the trip was a day trip to Montserrat, where the team saw the Black Madonna, a 12th-century statue of the Virgin Mary, and hiked up to one of the crosses to find a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, the Hounds tested their cooking skills in a tapas cooking class, which pitted three groups of students and chaperones against each other in an epic cooking showdown. Brody Carr ‘27 said, “I’ve never been more excited to show off my cooking skills. Beating Coach Vaughan’s tapas was definitely a memory that I won’t forget.” 

During the trip, the team grew not only as polo players but also by spending time together. Hackey-sack skills improved as the trip progressed, with students playing whenever they had the chance. Moreover, the Hounds’ end-of-day reflection served as a reminder of how fortunate everyone was to have this amazing opportunity, and many thanks were given to Dani, the trip’s tour guide. Jonathan Bradlee ‘27 remarked, “I think our reflections really gave us the opportunity to be grateful for this amazing experience. I had so much fun at the hotel dinners and made a lot of good memories.” At the end of the trip, everyone was exhausted, but still grateful to have spent a week in Spain.