Among the first-year Sagehen water polo players, Adam Ward PO ‘19 is a standout. Ward, the team’s starting center, averages two goals per game, making him the second-highest scorer this season.
“Adam fit really well into our team,” driver Phillip Clayman '16 said. “He found a position quickly in the beginning of the season and works well with other teammates. We really needed someone strong for the center position because we lost that last year. Having him on the team now is certainly a big help. Clearly, he is playing a big part for us.”
Despite his tremendous individual ability, Ward humbly considers himself a team player. His proudest accomplishments are not his hat tricks or blocks, but the team victories against the Division II Loyola Marymount University team and San Jose State University from DI.
“The team is a small group of individuals with extraordinary talent,” Ward said. “Even though practices can be hard sometimes, the team is my motivation to keep pushing. I have a lot of fun with them.”
“Adam certainly is the most outgoing freshman,” Clayman said. “He has made himself a part of the team ever since the beginning, both in and out of the pool. Every weekend, he participates in the water polo team bonding events.”
Ward, who started on varsity all four of his years at Claremont High School and helped his team win California’s Southern Section Championships his senior year, came into his first year as a Sagehen with seven years of water polo experience. At Claremont High, he was named team captain twice, team MVP three times, and an All-American Water Polo Player. He was also invited to travel and play in Hungary and Croatia and to train with the Olympics Development Program. He has won numerous awards in his career, and at the moment, he is also a potential United States National League player.
Outside of water polo, Ward, who describes himself as a loyal Manchester United fan who is obsessed with Mexican food and Coca-Cola, enjoys playing FIFA with his sponsor group and watching Netflix during his free time.
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