Bucknell University Athletics
Welcome Back: Men's Water Polo Begins Preseason Practice
8/17/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Aug. 17, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Friday's two practices already marked the third day of preseason practice for the Bucknell men's water polo team. The Bison, who are just 15 days away from their season-opening weekend at the Navy Labor Day Open, opened practice on Wednesday and are in preparation for the program's 36th season of competition.
"Practice has been going really well," commented second-year Bucknell head coach John McBride. "We are in better shape than last year. The leadership and captains are really organized and great motivators. They sense we can do something special this year. We are going 150% at every workout and I couldn't be happier."
Friday's two practice sessions were each three hours. The morning practice featured a lot of conditioning, causing McBride to say it might have been one of the hardest workouts many of the players on the team have ever experienced. The afternoon session focused more on fundamentals and skill work.
In addition to plenty of work in the pool, the squad has also spent time in the weight room and running on the hill on the other side of Moore Avenue from Kinney Natatorium.
"We try to do a lot of physical work in the first few days and get past that so we can then work on strategy and philosophy," mentioned McBride, who helped the Bison to a 15-10 overall mark last year, including 5-2 in the postseason.
Bucknell this year has just two seniors on its 18-person roster. However, a seven-member junior class will help add to the experience. Seniors Brian Barron and Matt Napleton were elected captains prior to the start of the preseason.
The Bison return their top four scorers from a year ago - Alex Nowlin, Barron, Julian Colina and Jack Else - in addition to starting goalkeeper Napleton.
"It is different this year," said McBride despite the familiar names that will grace the lineup. "We have new challenges and new personnel. It makes coaching exciting. We also have new strategy and new philosophies to introduce. We just have to keep adapting and changing and trying to get better."
Bucknell's schedule this fall features three home weekends. Kinney Natatorium, which features a new video board, will serve as the backdrop for the Bison Invitational (Sept. 29-30), four league games the weekend of Oct. 13-14, and the Southern Championships (Nov. 3-4).
