With the water polo season underway, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Boys Varsity Water Polo team has gone undefeated in their season so far. Senior Marcus Loo, one of the starters on the team, plays a vital role in the team’s communication and offense.
Initially, Loo wanted an outlet for physical exercise so his parents introduced him to the world of water polo. That was when he joined in the ten and under division, and his love for the sport only grew more as he became immersed in the supportive environment of the team, which pushed him to excel more.
“I found [my life] revolving around my team, [as they] pushed me through practices and games, [which allowed] me to get to where I am now,” said Loo.
However, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for Loo. During the earlier years of his athletic career, Loo has had some difficulty staying committed to the sport, wanting to join other sports like soccer. Yet, despite his desire to split his time between the two sports, his parents urged him to stay committed to water polo. Although training can be long and difficult, Loo still maintains consistency and gives it his all for every practice.
“I would like to give a special thanks to my parents for supporting me throughout the club and high school season, never giving up on me and allowing me to grow in the sport,” said Loo. “I have been playing for eight years now, and although at some moments it has been hard to keep practicing and playing just one sport all my life, I love the physical and mental aspects of the sport that keep dragging me back in.”
As the current season unfolds, the AHS Boys Varsity Water Polo team stands at an impressive 17-0 record, going undefeated since the start of the season. However, Loo remains grounded, acknowledging his need for personal growth. His humility as one of the best players on the team speaks volumes about his character and commitment to the success of the team.
Marcus’ teammate, Senior Ryan Li commented “Marcus is surprisingly one of the most humble players on the team even though he’s one of the better players.”
While the success of the team has been undeniable, Loo still has some regrets.
“I need to step up for my team to move forward in our season, even though we are 17-0 at the moment,” said Loo.
Looking to the future, Loo and his team have their sights set on a significant milestone for this season.
“I think the one thing I hope to accomplish is to play at Mt. Sac Division 1 CIF finals and win a ring for our team,” said Loo.
Despite his initial doubts about fully committing to the sport, Marcus has become one of the best players on the Varsity team. He has high hopes for this season, so definitely go check him out at his next game!
