Senior Givi Mchedlishvili, sophomore Remy Javidzad and junior Austin Dorian show dedication to their sport by taking on the challenging role as team captains for the 2022-23 Water Polo season.

After getting to know the boys water polo team captains, I can genuinely say these are people who are devoted to their team and sport. Varsity Co-Captains Givi Mchedlishvili and Remy Javidzad, and JV Captain Austin Dorian put their entire hearts into water polo and their fellow teammates.

Due to an over capacity of players on the varsity team, Dorian was moved from varsity to the team captain position on the JV team. He and Javidzad shared the task of fitting in with a new team.

“When I first came to water polo here [in freshman year], I had to build chemistry with all the other teammates,” Javidzad said.

Javidzad has been playing water polo for seven years, giving him the experience he needed to progress in the sport and work his way up to varsity co-captain (alongside Mchedlishvili) at only his sophomore year.

When asked what it was like being captain so early on, Javidzad said, “it’s good, but you can’t take it for granted, because there are always times … [where] I make mistakes.”

Javidzad emphasized how he needs his team to pick him up when he falls, and why communication is therefore a key component in water polo.

“Not just a single player can do all the work, you have to all work together,” Javidzad said. “We have to help each other.”

Mchedlishvili focused on the way he communicates with his teammates to help them improve as players, especially when they’re just starting out on the team.

“You have to realize that at one point you were at that [level] … and didn’t have enough experience and you were making those mistakes,” Mchedlishvili said. “You have to [talk to younger players] in an encouraging way, and actually give them the positive mindset so they can [know] what they need to do to get better.”

The captains highlighted this component of having a positive mindset.

“I try to enforce positivity and good sportsmanship,” JV captain Austin Dorian said. “We try to enforce trying hard, trying your best and winning.”

To enforce these goals, the captains work to make a team out of each player. Javidzad said he believes a team is its best as a whole.

“It’s really just a group effort,” Javidzad said. “My performance is dependent on two factors: my abilities and the support of my teammates. With their outstanding capabilities, our team can be one of the best in our division.”