Water polo gears up to take down EA

The eight-time Inter-Ac champion Fords Water Polo looks to continue their dominance as EA Day quickly approaches. The team’s coach, Kevin Van Such, has been incredibly successful since taking over as head coach in 2012 from his position as assistant coach. During his tenure, Coach Van Such has led the team to a 70-23 record in the Inter-Ac (179-76 overall), and won five consecutive league titles from 2018 to 2023, while producing seven All-Americans in the process.

As the fall season closes amidst this legacy of historic success, the water polo team continues to strive for more. This weekend, they became Eastern champions, defeating The Hill School 10-8. Fords Water Polo had high expectations for the Eastern Prep Championships after winning it twice: in 2019 and 2023. Sixth Former Henry Pennington, a senior leader of the team, explained how they approached tournament.

“When we’re in the finals every year, we always show the best level of performance, which is miles above every other team around,” Pennington said. “At the end of the day, we have better players and better team chemistry. You can’t play down to your opponent.”

The team is geared to have a strong performance at EA Day, which is nothing new. After reflecting on past EA days, Pennington noted that his fondest memory is jumping into the pool during his Third Form year, silencing the crowd of Episcopal supporters. Although the game is at EA this year, Haverford Water Polo is not afraid to go into enemy territory. 

Their day starts early on Haverford’s campus. Afterwards, they take a team bus to EA. Coach Sean Hansen gives an energetic speech, encouraging the guys that they are the better team. “We need to show up and execute!” 

We’re going to play our game, and they can’t match it

Henry Pennington ’25

Pennington credits the team’s past EA-day success to excellent team culture and superior athletes. “We’re going to play our game, and they can’t match it,” Pennington said. Haverford should expect nothing less.