Water Polo begins its second year at the Edwards Family Natatorium in the Beckerman Center and the first as a true varsity level program. In 2021, Andy Lewandowski served as head coach and laid the foundation for this new program. A water polo enthusiast since 1984, Levandowski was a high school All American and 4-time All-Ivy League selection at Yale University. He went on to become the head coach at Yale and the New Haven Hydras Water Polo Club, and has been running water polo clinics for children at the Ridge Top Club since 2010. Levandowski has now turned over the reins to last year’s assistant, Martha Phelan, certainly a familiar face at the HH pool where she has been a senior coach of the USA Hamden Hall Aquatic Club since 2009. Coach Phelan is entering her 44th year of coaching competitive swimming at the age group and high school level in the greater New Haven area. Martha was also the assistant for the Varsity and Middle School teams last year. In addition, she served as the head coach for Splashball Water Polo and the Girls Water Polo Club last spring. On the outside, Martha has been head coach at the Ridge Top Club from 2013 to the present.

     Last season, the squad posted a very respectable 7-4-1 record, including a thrilling split of contests with rival Hopkins. This year’s team is expecting to build on that initial success. The current team of 14 players has three new experienced players along with the returning 11 from last season. It will be an exciting first varsity year, especially because there are several sets of siblings at the heart of the roster, and a number of swimmers were very successful in their summer competitions.