Student water polo team competes at nationals

Water polo team member Nick Velasquez makes a play. UIC advanced to the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship, finishing seventh of 16 teams.

Water polo is an intense sport, says club team manager Thu Tran.

“It requires so much work,” said Tran, a junior in psychology. “You’re constantly swimming, and you’re trying to pretty much stay alive and floating.”

UIC’s Water Polo Club members competed recently in the 2015 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship. The team placed seventh among 16 teams in the competition, held Nov. 13-15 in Santa Cruz, California.

Karen Juarez, freshman in biology and the only woman on the co-ed team, competed with 12 other UIC team members.

“The team itself feels like a family,” said Alfredas Jurevicius, senior in finance. “We’re really comfortable around each other, we travel often throughout the nation, and we really get to know each other.”

Team members receive strong leadership from their coach, Matt Foley.

“Our coach is an integral part to why the team is where we are today,” Tran said. “He volunteers his time to coach and is very passionate about it.”

For more information about joining the team, email Tran at ttran69@uic.edu