Water polo
The future of water polo
Hannah Langley '25
Opinion Editor
The Louisville water polo team has been busy since November of this school year, with a 12-10 record so far. They show no signs of slowing down. Their impressive roster includes Julia Glukhovsky '24, who is committed to Saint Francis University, a Division 1 school in Pennsylvania, for water polo. As two senior stars leave, Baran Ebrahimi '24 and Glukhovsky, it opens up opportunities for emerging talent like Grace McIntyre ’25 and Zaiya Aberin-Jackson ’25 to shine.
Glukhovsky is a club player who started her water polo journey during her sophomore year. Her skills as a utility player are solid, but her best playing positions are the “2 or 4 because of [her] ability to drive in and post up.” Her offer from SFU is full tuition paid, and she accepted the division one offer after one of the coaches emailed her, “looking to recruit 4 girls and that I was their top choice so they were reaching out if I wanted the last stop on the team before they gave it to someone else. After that email, I decided that I wanted to play D1 and committed.” Glukhovsky said she is excited to use her “speed and ability to improve their water polo program” and that “Ultimately I want to play on the Russian National Team.”
She has broken countless Louisville records, securing the title of most goals scored in one season. Glukhovsky leaves a legacy of new records to be broken and an air of pride from her fellow teammates, striding into her new title, a Division 1 water polo player.
Baran Ebrahimi '24 is not only an amazing addition to the water polo team, but a great swimmer as well. She plans to study Biochem and major in art or instrument on the side at one of the UC’s she has applied to. As for her future career of water polo, she said that she is deciding “to continue swimming in college” but she “might decide to still swim competitively with a program from any of the universities [she] applied to.” It is a sad goodbye to a true gem on the Louisville campus, but the future looks bright for Ebrahimi, reaching for new heights as she goes.
The two rising stars of water polo are ready to take on next year as seniors and have plans to make their last season the best. Both McIntyre and Aberin-Jackson started to play water polo their freshman year at Louisville.
Grace McIntyre ’25, being a seasoned solo swimmer, says that the water polo team taught her “what it is like to be a part of a team” and offered a “caring, warm environment…They are like a second family” and since her teammates would describe her as the “team mom,” it is easy to believe. McIntyre says that she has “grown to master and love” her original playing position of six, or set, as well as her “close proximity to the cage allows for [her] to score more goals and have awareness of the game.” Her determination and love for the sport will carry her to the next season, where McIntyre plans “to make the most out of my last season of water polo and have fun. Having played with these same girls for the past three years, I believe that our team dynamic will allow us to go far”.
Glukhovsky '24 and Ebrahimi '24 on their senior night with their junior teammates
The faith in their team does not only come from McIntyre, but Aberin-Jackson as well. Her “aggressive” playing has gotten her far in her water polo career. Aberin’s favorite playing position is “the 2 or the 4 because it allows [her] to work harder on getting goals” and allows her “to move around more in the pool rather than just staying in one place” truly showcases that. Her love for the game is reflected in her plans for senior year: “I will make it the best season that I can by not only having fun and getting to know the team better but also be able to win as many games as possible.”
The water polo team has taught all of these young women that “water polo takes time, dedication and patience,” and the zeal they have for this sport and their team pushes them. But above all, as Grace commented, it taught them the importance of family “not connected by blood. Having been through many obstacles and issues, our team has remained strong and intact, relying on each other which has solidified our bond.”
The Louisville water polo team is a staple in the athletics department and is a true representation of the sisterhood of Louisville. Wish them luck as they head into the CIF championships, a team united in support.