History was made in the pool on November 16, 2024, when the Granite Bay High School girls varsity water polo team achieved its first-ever section championship with a 10–7 victory over the Davis Blue Devils. The milestone win was fueled by senior captains Brooke Boyer, Audrey Quilala, and Chloe Mezoui, who closed off their GBHS careers with a title run that will be remembered for years to come.

This fall, the team enters the season with three new captains, seniors Lucy Nihart, Avery Oldemeyer, and Bridget Manke, who will be responsible for leading the program as it looks to defend its section crown.

“Caring, respected, and goofy” are the three words varsity girls’ coach Tyson Frenn comes to when thinking of his captains. Frenn believes his captains knew how to push in practice and still keep it light, whether that is cracking jokes before a game or making sure everyone felt included. 

For Frenn, the mixture of being determined and knowing when to let words flow is what helps the team aim for the top for the second time.

  “I’d like to show our younger players the culture that has been passed down through the years and help them become better leaders in the team,” Nihart explains. “A captain’s role isn’t merely centred on winning matches, but is also about ensuring that fresher players get acquainted with the environment and the requirements of the program.

     For Oldemeyer, last season’s championship is a reminder of what’s possible for the program.
  “I definitely remember it very vividly,” Oldemeyer said. “I loved being such a big part of it, being a starter, scoring a goal, definitely something I’m never gonna forget, I’m gonna hold on to forever.” 

  All three captains, each of whom had their share of playing time in the historic game, have shared that it was one of their most rewarding sporting moments. Bringing a driving factor to make sure that the rest of the team can experience the same high. 

  Manke said her focus as a captain will be on building team chemistry and game awareness.

 “We want to help everyone to become a student of the game and learn how to play smarter and harder,” Manke said. “But also, play together as a whole and as a team.”

  Old adversaries like Davis and St. Francis are strong again this season. But the Grizzlies expect to sustain the impressive progress they made last year—their three standout seniors will ensure it. 

  It’s still an open question of whether or not Granite Bay can repeat as section champions. However, for Nihart, Oldemeyer, and Manke, the mission is well-defined. They’re looking to lay the foundation for the team and afford the same chances to the younger athletes that they themselves got when they played their section championship.