Junior goalie Delaney Judkins has adapted quickly to the added stress of joining varsity for the Lyons Township High School girls water polo team this season.
“It hasn’t really been like an adjustment. More like a bigger challenge,” Judkins said. “I love the sport. And I love playing goalie. It’s stressful, yeah, [but] just have fun with the game. Worry about what you’re doing but don’t stress about it. Just play water polo.”
Even with key players missing Saturday, the Lions finished second at their annual LT Invitational with a 2-1 round-robin record.
The Lions (11-9) beat Fenwick 4-3 and Lincoln-Way East 7-3 and lost 12-6 to York, third at state in 2023.
This season’s only returnees with significant varsity experience are seniors Estelle Wright and Tess Filipiak and junior Maja Mladjan and sophomore Bella Recker, both of whom did not play Saturday.
“[Our newcomers have] definitely started to shoot more and get more steals, just overall help the team more,” Filipiak said.
“They don’t get as stressed out during tougher games. They don’t get scared. [LTHS coach Megan Jacobs] was saying that during our last game. You just come to play, just play your best. It doesn’t matter who the team is.”
Mladjan (40 goals, 14 assists), Recker (25 goals, 9 assists), Wright (17 goals, 44 assists), Filipiak (16 goals, 22 assists) and Bebe Wright (11 goals, 10 assists) are the Lions’ top scorers.
Judkins has 119 saves and a .657 save percentage, playing consistently as sophomore Caroline Robb returns from injury.
Estelle Wright (6 goals), Bebe Wright (4 goals) and Filipiak and sophomore Rose Frank (3 goals each) were top scorers Saturday. Estelle Wright notched the game-winner against Fenwick with 35 seconds left.
“We worked really hard to win. We just really put in what we learned in practice,” Judkins said.
Another sweet victory was March 16 over Mother McAuley, 16-3, last year’s state runners-up who defeated the Lions in the sectional final.
“That really brought up our spirits. We’re excited for the rest of the season,” Filipiak said. “It was really rewarding to see how good we are still despite losing so many good players.”
