On Saturday, Sept. 20, Augustana men’s water polo hosted McKendree University, and had their senior night on their only home game of the season. After a few hard-fought losses to open up the season, the Vikings were determined to turn their form around after starting the season 0-3, their worst start in program history.
Although the team was off to a rough start, the group has stayed positive, focusing on upcoming games rather than past results. Junior Alden Brinkmeier has seen the dedication the team has been putting in, both in and out of the pool.
“I think the biggest thing, and this has been a theme all year, is that we’ve been really focused. People, not only in the pool, but also in the weight room, have been really dedicated,” Brinkmeier said. “Our group of captains this year has fostered that culture where everybody’s locked in. They’re ready to go every day, and everybody’s been giving 100% at practice. That makes us really confident heading into this weekend.”
McKendree had also been off to a tough start, beginning the season 1-3. Over the past five seasons, the Vikings and Bearcats have gone back and forth, splitting their six meetings three apiece. The Vikings did win two matches against them in the 2024 season, giving them the momentum they needed throughout their historic season, where they placed third in the water polo division three national tournaments, as well as claiming their third consecutive conference championship.
Saturday was not only about getting an early win in the season, but also recognizing the seniors who have been the driving force over the past years. Following the matchup with McKendree, the spotlight shifted to the seniors, who Coach Ryan Pryor said set the standard for the program in the pool and in the classroom.
“Their impact has been pretty tremendous,” Pryor said. “They’ve been great leaders for us this year, and have really kind of shown the way to the younger guys in terms of the effort that we’re trying to give on a day-to-day basis. They’ve done a great job of leading by example. Their athletic accomplishments kind of speak for themselves. We’ve won three conference championships in our first three years. All five of them have received some level of honors, whether it’s all-conference or All-American; they’ve been a very impactful group for sure.”
While all eyes were on the five seniors for their final home game, the focus was still on the game. Seniors such as Declan Hutton viewed the game as more than just a celebration for the seniors. With both teams looking to bounce back early in the season, Saturday’s game set the stage for a competitive match between the two.
“The game always comes first, senior night has nothing to do with the level of importance in this game,” Hutton said. “Even though I’m a senior and I view it as a big deal, I view the game itself and us winning as far more important. I’ve lost to McKendree once in my career here, and it was my first game. I’m not going to let my last home game against McKendree be a loss as well.”
Augustana defeated McKendree University with a score of 14-12. Eight different Vikings scored throughout the four periods, including senior Mark Addison, as well as 19 saves for Hutton. With a back-and-forth game, the Vikings closed it out with two late goals in the final two minutes to secure the win.
With the team defeating McKendree in front of an energetic home crowd for their first and only home game of the season, they look ahead to the Gary Troyer Tournament in California starting on Oct. 3.
