If the thrill of seeing UF’s strong, talented water polo team is not enough to lure fans to the Florida Pool, maybe the chance of seeing players naked will.

“We’ve had players lose their bathing suits on numerous occasions,” says Water Polo Club President Ian Dyar, who considers it a hazard of the game’s extremely physical nature. “I usually wear two just in case.”

A bare bottom only goes so far. Due to a lack of publicity and media attention, few people know about some of the toughest athletes on campus.

Check out the UF Water Polo team site for their schedule, roster and history.

Unsure how to play water polo? Find out the rules and regulations.

Combining swimming and soccer with the intensity and physical play of football, 90 percent of the game takes place underwater where the referees can’t see. This means that in between the sprinting, shooting and passing, there is also plenty of pushing, kicking and scratching.

"When players know they can do illegal things without getting caught, they take advantage,” says player Alex Lopez. “The result is a lot of pain.”

Injuries such as broken noses, missing teeth, split lips and deep scratches are commonplace during the competitive tournaments, Lopez says.

Water polo is just as tough as it is rough. Dyar says the endurance of water polo players sets them apart from other athletes. In the game for about 7 minutes at a time (the length of one quarter), players constantly tread water, swim back and forth and fight off other players.

“Picture sprinting back and forth in a 30-meter pool while constantly fighting off a 200-pound guy on your back,” Dyar says. “It’s definitely not easy.”

Their intense practice schedule prepares them for a series of tournaments during the fall season. For two hours, four times a week, the team practices their swimming, shooting and passing skills. Also, Dyar and Lopez say they have stadium workouts twice a week and do weight-room workouts in their own time.

Last year, they won third place at the nationals held at UF. But Lopez says his main reason for playing water polo has nothing to do with winning.

“We have the craziest bunch of guys on the team,” he says. “It’s a hard sport and our main objective is not just to win, but to have a great time doing it.”

Story by Gina Civin
Photo by Dave Cone