Sports Spotlight - Windermere Observer: Luke Carey

Instead of sitting at home during his summer break, Luke Carey spent the majority of his summer in the pool improving his water polo game. At the start of the summer, he competed in the Top Gun competition in south Florida where he won first place. Then he traveled to California for more than a month to train with elite high-school water polo players in preparation for the Junior Olympics, where his team placed third in their division. This year, he hopes his own team at Olympia High will finally win first place at the state championships.

What was it like competing out in California?

California is such a higher level than here. It’s more physical. It’s a higher lever of skill. I expected to go out there and not be as good as everyone else. But I actually competed well. It was way better than I could have imagined.

Was there anything you learned that you want to bring back to your team at Olympia?

We have to work so much harder to get to the championships. And there are a lot of plays out there that I want to bring to my team. 

Why did you start playing water polo?

I’ve played every sport you can think of, then I tried it before my freshman year for a month or two and loved it. It’s a fun sport. I love being in the water.

What skill do you feel you need to work on for this year?

Leg strengthening. The stronger your legs are, the higher you can get out of the water to shoot.

What is greatest strength in the pool?

Foul and shooting, which is when you pick up the ball, really get high out of the water and shoot. I’m a right-hander, so the left side of the pool is much easier to shoot from.

How do you prepare for matches?

I like to listen to music before games. I listen to my pregame playlist to get into the zone.

What are your goals for this year?

I’d like to make the all-state team and the all-area team as well.

Contact Brittany Gaines at [email protected].