IWP: Hey Sarah its good to see you again.

SZ: You too. I saw you at the Mundelein Alumni game. That was fun!

 

IWP: Yes, a bit scary seeing some of those older dudes in their water polo Speedos! But seriously now, how did your first year go at Carthage College coaching the women's team? We heard some really good things about stuff happening in Kenosha.

SZ: It's great and it's overwhelming and I love it. I played at a DIII school and the transition to coaching at Carthage was pretty natural. It is a great school. There's a lot of excitement around the program. It also helped that in my first year we did well too.

 

IWP: I've been to the Carthage College campus a few times and it's a little jewel tucked in along Lake Michigan up in Kenosha.

SZ: It really is. The college is really making a lot of investments in the campus including the aquatics program and facilities.

 

IWP: I've been to some games up there and I was blown away by the pool area.

SZ: Right, we really have one of the best aquatics facilities in our conference.

 

IWP: Now, you played at Mundelein High School, right? When was that?

SZ: I graduated in 2002 and played polo all 4 years, starting in 1999. I had never played water polo before freshman year but had been into age-group swimming and also swam for 4 years at MHS. But, I fell in love with water polo right away.

 

IWP: How did you get hooked on polo?

SZ: I think there is an element of the team sport, the team interaction. And I found myself developing mentally and socially, not just physically in a way that you don't in swimming.  

 

IWP: Didn't you guys win a State Championship? That must have been exciting. 

SZ: Yes we did win some state championships but that was before we were sanctioned by IHSA as a full-fledged varsity sport. Still, you're right, it was very exciting.   My senior year in was the first year as an IHSA sport and we finished third. Back then you needed to have a minimum number of teams in the state so it took a few years to get that level. Now of course we're over 70 for boys and girls, which is just incredible.

 

IWP: You come from a water polo family. Isn't your sister playing DI now?

SZ: That's right. My sister Alice is in her second year at Hartwick College (Oneonta New York) in Upstate New York. She's having a great time with school and with polo.

 

IWP: So then where did go you for college polo?

SZ: I went to Washington and Jefferson University. It's a DIII school just south of Pittsburgh. I had that same decision: Do I want to go big time / Division I and just put a big focus on Water Polo? Or, do I go for a bit more laid back college experience. For me the DIII approach was the right decision. 

 

IWP: Now that you're on the other side of things as a DIII Varsity College Coach, how is recruiting working?

SZ: The recruiting process overall is the same for all Divisions. If the coach is interested in you and knows about you, they're going to be getting in touch with you. At the same time, the kids should take initiative and reach out to schools they're interested in. There is a big emphasis at all levels on following the rules, so the parents and athletes need to know basics about the recruiting rules and know when the coaches can start responding to the student-athletes' emails and phone calls.

 

The Division I schools often have some additional financial incentives to offer. At the same time, Division III schools can offer some more flexibility for the students' schedules and opportunities.   But polo is also about competing and trying to build a winning program.    My recruiting class at Washington and Jefferson was a big class and the coach was really trying to make an impact. I started all four years. Typically, unless you're [one of] the best polo players in the country, at the DI level you're going to not be able to get that early playing time.

 

IWP: We have so many talented polo players in IL. Yet we're so saturated with The Big Ten Network, EPSN and all the hype around the money sports like football and basketball the kids can get a sense that its “all or nothing” at the next level. So many fine players don't see the point in continuing on at the next level. It seems like DII, DIII, NAIA, and Club teams can really open up a lot of opportunities for IL players to play a sport they love and still have a pretty normal college experience.

SZ: Absolutely and that's how we've set things up at Carthage. It's definitely a step up in the sense that their parents aren't around to make sure they get to practice and to class. They're young adults and they show up to practice and workouts because they're committed. They typically can't wait to get to practice and hang out with their friends. Still, there is more intensity and structure to the workouts and they find themselves playing with better players and getting better all the time. But their overall schedule is more similar to the high school commitment.

 

So, while we're out seeking athletes many are seeking out Carthage as well. We're really looking for team players. We can develop skills such as Hole Set abilities and shooting skills. We're looking for enthusiastic athletes who are eager for more coaching and development.

 

IWP: Do you have tryouts? Do you have “cuts”?

SZ: Let me say that we're looking for kids who love the game and will make the commitment. That said, we don't have cuts. Our team is at about 21 players but only 16 make the travel squad. However, all 21 of the players get to practice with the team and we get them into our home games. We have a focus on winning but the winning comes out of the way we approach the program. More of a family, fun atmosphere. Work hard, play hard. Be supportive, have great attitudes.   We do run it more professionally than high school; there are commitments that we expect everyone to make but we're able to let kids have some flexibility with their schedules too.

 

IWP: So at the DIII level is it all fun and games, right? Or, are you serious about winning?

SZ: Let's make no mistake, we're out to win games. We work our butts off but the time commitment is a lot more restricted than say, DI schools such as Michigan or Indiana. We're not into two-a-days, for example. It gives the kids a bit more of a chance to get into other activities. Some of our kids have internships, some play other sports. DI is the right environment for the student-athletes who are really, really focused on polo and of course have the abilities to match the intensity. Upper-level high schools produce some of those top-top athletes and DI is right for them.

  

IWP: What would you say to kids wanting to play at the next level about their recruitment?

SZ: It's easy to fall in love with the first campus you visit. It's important to take a few official and unofficial visits to have a variety of experiences. It's like finding a new family and a variety of trips will help them make the best decision. At Carthage, being a DIII, we have more flexibility around the visits than DI schools. So the student-athletes can make multiple official visits to the campus. However, their families are responsible for all the trip expenses. Many kids fall in love immediately with Carthage but I tell the kids to make sure to get out and see a few schools before making their decision.

 

Also, clicking with the coach is a big part of that. The coach sets the tone. You don't have to love the coach but the athlete and her family will want to feel pretty comfortable overall with the coaching staff.

 

I have two great assistants, Andrew Bax and Ian Sokolowski, but we're all part time. The DI programs typically have an experienced assistant who can dedicate many hours to recruiting and competing for the top talent across the country. Our approach has to be a bit more low-key and informal. That said, we work hard to get the best kids we can for the program.

 

IWP: What would you say to student-athletes and parents about the value of a Carthage academic and athletic experience? 

SZ: Carthage; is a great academic situation and a beautiful campus. It's a place for quality IL players to stay close to home and be part of a polo family. Their family's can see most if not all of their games.

 

IWP: Sarah, you've seen kids from all over the country: Northeast, Florida, Midwest, California. How do the Illinois kids stack up?

SZ: I would love the chance to build an All-Star team of IL players and I think we would just kick some butt. The Midwest polo scene has been underrated for a while and its really coming up. Most of our players are from IL!

 

IWP: Sometimes its fun to be underrated, to be the underdog. But, what can we do as a Midwest polo community to get to the next level?

SZ: Part of it is just getting more of our kids to play at the Midwest schools. We're exporting our talent a lot of times. Another aspect is getting the kids to come back and stay involved, to give back as volunteers. And there are a lot of great volunteers at all levels and we need more.  

 

Sarah, as always its great to talk to you. Best of luck on the upcoming season!