In team sports like water polo, the key is not individual success but rather the cohesive communication shared among players. We interviewed duo, utility player and sophomore Alexis ‘Lexi’ Minasyan and captain and senior Andi Ruiz, along with utility player and sophomore Isabella ‘Bella’ Dettloff and captain and senior Deyanna Hashemi as through being passing partners, these players’ friendships now transcend being teammates.
How did your relationship change after playing at school together?
Minasyan: When [Ruiz] left club, I felt our relationship grow apart. When I first got into high school, it took a couple of weeks for us to get back together — both in our playing style and our actual relationship. But once we got back, we were some of the best passers my freshman year.
Ruiz: Our relationship has definitely gotten closer now that we’re on the same team. We were good friends earlier, but now she’s my best friend and I call her my sister. We know each other’s every move. We also know our feelings, so when things get tough, we know we’re there for each other.
Hashemi: Bella treats me like her Uber now. Last year, we weren’t as close. This year, we got a lot closer because Bella’s on varsity with me, and after tournaments we always go out and eat.
Dettloff: Agreed. We have a lot of time to hang out at tournaments and on the bus rides, we talk.
How do you guys view friendships in sports, overall? Is there a sense of looking out for each other?
Ruiz: We both are the most aggressive and passionate on the team. We get intense, and along with the intensity comes a lot of emotion. It’s just knowing your teammate and their limits and being able to sacrifice things for each other.
Minasyan: We also keep each other in check during practices. If someone’s having a rough practice, we’re there to help them. If they start to take their anger out, we can control each other. We trust each other enough where we can say whatever we need to say and they would listen and not take it as criticism.
Hashemi: Because of water polo, we’re involved in each other’s lives as more than just teammates. When you spend time with someone, they become your friend, and you guys get closer. Outside of polo, if she’s having a bad day or if she wants to talk about something, I’m always open and willing to listen.
Dettloff: Having a good connection with people or being on good terms with your teammates is important in a game. A lot of my close friends came from water polo, and they’re also older than me. I get to ask them for advice, and they just help me with a lot of problems that go on.
These Bulldog duos’ unparalleled chemistry shines through both in and out of the water.
