The pool at Greenwich High School is busy during the fall and winter seasons with the boys and girls swim teams excelling against their competitors and when spring starts, it’s time for the Cardinals girls water polo team to rule the pool.

That’s exactly what the Cardinals did once again this season, as they continued their long-standing tradition of dominance.

A victory against neighborhood rival Greenwich Aquatics put the finishing touch on another undefeated season for Greenwich High, which celebrated its Senior Day on May 6, it sensational fashion.

Seniors Julia Gustafsson, Kaleigh Murphy and Hannah Flakstad recorded four goals and two assists in apiece to lead host Greenwich to an impressive 21-9 victory over Greenwich Aquatics in a well-played, action-packed game.

“It was fun, we grew as a team even more,” said Gustafsson, as she described the season following the Cardinals’ Senior Day win versus Greenwich Aquatics.

“We went to Italy for a training trip, plus we had a bunch of practices,” said Gustafsson, a senior captain, “A lot of us play on the same club team, but there are some that don’t, so incorporating those players to our team helps us along.”

An attacker, Gustafsson ignited Greenwich’s offense throughout her four varsity seasons on Greenwich’s water polo squad, which has enjoyed highly successful seasons under the tutelage of head coach Jimmy Ramaley. Gustafsson, who was a member of the U.S. Women’s Cadet National Team, which competed in the 2024 World Aquatics U16 Championships, will continue her water polo career at the University of California, Berkeley.

“I’m super excited, they just played in NCAAs,’ Gustafsson said of her future college team. “It was fun watching them and I’m super excited.”

Elsa Wang scored three goals and assisted on two others, while senior Shea Morris added two goals and two assist for the victorious Cardinals. Greenwich held a 5-2 lead on Greenwich Aquatics following the first quarter and led, 10-3, at halftime.

“I was really proud of our performance,” GHS senior captain/goalie Norah Mendelsohn said. “It was a really good end to the four years with the team. I’m happy that all the seniors could get in the water, because most of the seniors have been on the team for four years.”

Mendelsohn was a mainstay in goal for the Cardinals over the years, providing a steady, consistent presence in net. She registered nine saves to help highlight the Cards’ Senior Day triumph against Greenwich Aquatics.

“It was a little tiring, but it was very fulfilling,” Mendelsohn said of fulfilling the goalkeeping duties. “I got to play field a little bit too.”

Like her teammates, Mendelsohn greatly appreciated her days as a Cardinals water polo athlete.

“It’s been great, Jimmy is my favorite coach,” said Mendelsohn, who will attend Middlebury College, where she may play club water polo. “He has been very positive with everyone. I’ve had a great time.”

Senior captain Addie Shaw, Ellison Charette, senior Ainsley Sahrbeck and senior Anna Whitridge each scored one goal for the Cardinals in their Senior Day win.

Morris opened the game’s scoring with a goal at the 4:39 mark of the first quarter, giving GHS a 1-0 lead. After Greenwich Aquatics scored the next two goals, Flakstad tallied twice, putting the Cardinas on top for good at 3-2. Goals from Murphy, a senior captain, and Wang made it 5-2 in favor of the Cardinals after the first quarter of play.

Greenwich Aquatics scored the first goal of the second quarter to close to within 5-3, then the Cardinals tallied five consecutive times to take a 10-3 lead into halftime. Murphy had two second-quarter goals, while Wang, Flakstad and Gustafsson had one apiece for the victors, who continued their fine play on both ends of the pool in the second half.

For the season, Greenwich registered a record of 8-0. Their victories came against Staples High School, Hopkins School and Greenwich Aquatics. Additionally, at a tournament Greenwich played in Pennsylvania, they defeated NORCO, Asphalt Green, United A & United B.

“It was an amazing season, we’re 11 seniors, so it’s pretty crazy, but it’s sad to see that we’re all going to be leaving, but I know our underclassmen are going to pick it up and be really good next season,” said Shaw a senior captain.

Shaw reflected on how enjoyable the season was and the amount of effort the team put into having the type of spring campaign they wanted.

“We went to Italy for a week, which was amazing,” she said. “Ultimately, every practice, everyone put the work in. All the seniors are great role models and everyone worked really hard all together, it was great.”

“It’s been full of fun,” Shaw continued. “It’s hard to make such an intense sport fun and happy. Jimmy is a great coach. He brings confidence out in every player. He helps bring that confidence up.”

The 11 seniors on Greenwich High’s girls water polo team included in alphabetical order: Hanna Flakstad, Julia Gustafsson, Norah Mendelsohn, Shea Morris, Kaleigh Murphy, Lily Norton, Gigi Peck, Ainsley Sahrbeck, Addie Shaw, Maggie Wilson and Natalia Carrasco-Velazquez.

“It was a great season and Senior Day was fun, especially for the seniors, we grew up playing together,” Murphy noted. “I’ve known all three of the captains since I was five. We all play club too (at Greenwich Aquatics). We have a lot of team chemistry and that’s what makes us very successful ever since we were all freshmen.”

Gustafsson, who also represented U.S. Water Polo in international events as a member of the U.S. Cadet National Team, reflected on the significance the sport has had during her high school career.

“It’s given me so much,” Gustafsson said. “The experience of playing with a team has been helpful and it’s given me so many opportunities. We go to California so much and even traveling outside of water polo has given me opportunities to see other countries and learn how to communicate with others in and out of the pool.”

Here’s some more scenes from Greenwich’s Senior Day game vs. Greenwich Aquatics.