Year 12 student Sonal has written an article reflecting on her water polo performance during Year 11, which was featured in the 2025 edition of the SKLPC Forward Together magazine.
In the last year, she has been a member of the North West Inter-Regional Under 18 squad, represented the City of Manchester’s second team and Bolton School Girls’ Division, and taken part in the National Club Water Polo League, National Age Groups and Talent Centre Games competitions.
Her recap ends with her exciting experience winning the Champions Cup during her debut appearance for the City of Manchester senior women’s team.
Sonal’s Water Polo Journey:
The past year has been both adventurous and fulfilling. I’ve faced a mix of opportunities and challenges, handling each one step by step.
Last summer, I attended a two-day camp in Liverpool where I had the chance to refine my technique and train under international coaches. After two intensive days, I was recognised by all three coaches and awarded a signed hat. Despite the demanding nature of the camp, I enjoyed every moment, whether it was land-based training or learning about the nutritional aspects of being an athlete. I learnt that it was vital for athletes to eat a high carbohydrate-based meal before matches or training sessions. I was taught that we could be drug tested prior to competing, therefore all medication I take has to be checked against the app Clean Sport.
I then took part in trials for the North West Inter-Regional Under 18 squad. It was a highly competitive selection, but my skills, communication and attitude helped me stand out from the other players, and I was selected to represent the North West for another year. The games were tough, and the level of competition was exceptional. In the end, we finished second, missing out on gold by just one goal. Although the team was disappointed, we reminded ourselves that most of us would return next year with more experience-ready to go for gold again.
I was also selected to represent City of Manchester’s second team, which was primarily made up of younger players expected to compete against experienced adult women. Although we didn’t win as many matches as we’d hoped, I still managed to score several goals. Even though the league came to an end in January, the experience I gained proved valuable in another competition, this time in an Under 18 league.
The NCWPL (National Club Water Polo League) is an Under 18 competition where teams from across the country compete. My favourite trip was to Glasgow: I travelled with a few teammates and had a lot of fun, even running up and down the train carriages! In the final game of the league, each coach was asked to select one standout player for each position. To my surprise, I was chosen as the best centre back. It was a huge confidence boost, especially after struggling throughout the season with the pressure I’d put on myself. Receiving the 'All Stars’ trophy was a shock, but deep down I knew the hard work I’d put in had paid off.
Alongside club and regional competitions, I also play for my school: Bolton School Girls' Division. In preparation for the annual English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) competition, the school organised early morning weekend matches against local teams to help build our teamwork. We also travelled to Liverpool to play a friendly against the university team, which helped us identify our weaknesses and focus on improving them during training.
We successfully advanced through the ESSA preliminary round, winning all our matches and securing a place in the finals in Grantham. Despite giving it our all, we were defeated in the gold medal match and came away with silver. We knew it would be a tough game, having only narrowly beaten the same team the previous year — but we’re already motivated to reclaim the title next year.
Another competition I took part in was the National Age Groups (NAGs). This was a tough competition, as our Under 17 and Under 19 squads were extremely young. However, this gave us the opportunity to build a strong bond among the younger team members, which will be beneficial in the upcoming seasons.
The following weekend, I took part in the Talent Centre Games, another competition where selected players represent their region in a bid to become the best. This was actually the second Talent Centre weekend I had participated in, having also played in matches back in December. The final weekend took place in June. Thanks to some outstanding team performances, we finished second overall and earned a silver medal. Unfortunately, this final weekend was the day after my prom. My celebrations had to be cut short as we were leaving our house at 6.30am the following morning! Throughout the season, I’ve had to decline a lot of my other hobbies and commitments outside of water polo, such as watching Bolton Wanderers Football Club play at the weekend. As well as missing football, I missed meeting up with friends due to being away from home.
As a result of my progress throughout the year, I was offered the chance to play in the Champions Cup by the City of Manchester’s first team coach, Theo Nousios who recently guided Team GB in the World Championships in Singapore. It was a big opportunity, but selection wouldn’t be easy. I had to train alongside senior women, many of them twice my age and with GB-level experience. Nevertheless, I accepted the challenge and trialled for the team. On the Friday morning before the tournament, I was asked if I could travel and play that weekend — and I said yes.
It turned out to be the highest standard of water polo I’ve ever experienced, facing opponents who had played internationally in both leagues and tournaments. I initially thought I wouldn’t get much time in the water, but I ended up playing a full eight-minute quarter as well as several additional minutes throughout the games. The final was against Liverpool — a surreal experience, as I’d previously been coached by several of their players, and now I was marking them. In the end, City of Manchester came first, and I had won my first Champions Cup along with my debut appearance for the senior women’s team.
Although this year was filled with intense water polo commitments, I also had to stay focused on my studies. During GCSE season, I only attended training sessions on nights when I didn’t have an exam the following day. This allowed me to maintain a balance, preserving both my academic focus and my fitness levels. I was also supported by my school coach, Mr David Teasdale, who was always available when I needed help managing the stress of exams or juggling my sporting commitments.
Toward the end of the season, several award ceremonies took place. I was honoured to receive the Coaches’ Player award for both my school and the City of Manchester water polo club. This recognition meant a great deal to me: it was another clear sign of the impact I had made on both teams throughout the season.
As exhausting as this might sound, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this last year and I’m currently preparing myself for another intensive training camp in Bulgaria, where I will be working with another successful water polo club in London (West London Penguins). I would highly recommend water polo as a progression from swimming as this is originally how my journey started.
Coaches' Girls' Division Player of the Season:
