The campus’s club water polo team has one ball, zero goals and upwards of 10 club members. Club water polo is new to campus as of this Fall 2019 semester. This new club is in need of funding to provide proper equipment.
To start a campus club, a club leader needs to show interest with about five people and fill out some paperwork. Water polo president Nick Conroy described the process as “surprisingly easy. You just need to find people who want to do the same thing as you.”
The club receives no funding from the university to cover any associated costs with running the club.
Conroy and other club leaders are in the process of putting together fundraising events but have been running into several roadblocks. With the mansion being overrun with Halloween and SEaL events there is very little time for clubs like water polo to host events of their own. It was Conroy’s hope that they would be able to host a movie night sometime soon but nothing has been able to get on the books.
The best way for students to contribute to the clubs fundraising efforts would be to show up and participate in events.
“All students really have to do is go to the event and show their support,” Conroy said.
With proper funding, the club hopes to be able to have proper goals, balls that aren’t all worn out and to be able to afford league fees.
Neighboring school Villanova has offered to help the club get started by donating some of their old equipment. While this generous offer will surely help get the club off to a stronger start it will not solve the funding problem.
Villanova also has a club team that is able to participate in recreational leagues and is run by a head coach with more professional guidance.
The club’s main focus is on fundraising efforts so that a full practice can be held. “But for now we have a casual practice on Wednesdays where we learn the game and have fun,” Conroy said.
It is Conroy’s hope that in the future the club team will be able to participate in recreation leagues as well as possibly offer water polo as a fully sanctioned sport on campus.
For any student that wants to join the club, they should reach out to Conroy at npc46@cabrini.edu for more information on practice dates and times. Students with any experience level are welcome to join.
To be able to have a full intra squad scrimmage the team would need about 14 players. With only about seven or eight that are able to consistently make it to practices that also limits the clubs ability to grow their skills.
With more funding and proper equipment, the club hopes to be able to match the practice schedule of other club teams on practice.
