Chess usually pits one individual mind against another. But, to a Grade 11 student who led his water polo team to the provincial level, its strategies apply equally to team sports.
“Never underestimate a player,” said Edward Hoptioncann of his chess-like approach to water polo. “You have to know who your defensive players are and who best suits offensive. The team needs to trust the goalie and you need to have quick reaction time.”
The tactics are obviously working. The Eric Hamber Secondary student and his water polo team won gold at the provincial high school tournament in Surrey on April 21.
The victory, however, is not just Hamber’s.
Hoptioncann created the team with players from seven schools across Vancouver. He used his own initiative to make sure that Vancouver fielded a team in a sport which he loves for its emphasis on both brawn and brain.
“In high school, we celebrate basketball, volleyball, track and field, etc.,” the 16-year-old said. “However, water sports are important, too. We live in Vancouver where there’s water all over.”
Hoptioncann and his younger brother Ernest joined the Vancouver Vikings swim club several years ago, developing confidence in their skills and a keenness for friendly competition. Their coach said speed would be an asset in water polo so they joined the team.
When Ernest — who his brother said is the better player — arrived at Hamber last year, Hoptioncann knew they were both missing out on a team sport the school no longer offered. That’s when Edward decided to form Team Vancouver, going as far as designing and raising money for the t-shirts.
At the provincial tournament, they beat out last year’s winners, Earl Marriott Secondary.
This year’s Team Vancouver members were:
• Hamber Secondary students Ernest Hoptioncann, Gr. 9; Andrew Cho, Gr. 10; Ally Davies, Gr. 9; and Edward Hoptioncann, Gr. 11, captain and coach
• Lord Byng Secondary Gr. 10 student David Fishman.
• Charles Tupper Secondary student Thomas Neal, Gr. 10, who was the MVP goalie in the provincial tournament
• Jules Verne Secondary students Juliette Whiteside, Noemie Duchemin Stevens and Jovan Ivezic, all in Gr. 9, and Gr. 10 student Nemenja Ivezic, the provincial game’s MVP
• Vancouver Technical Secondary students Isabelle Bennett, Gr. 10; Seamus O’Donnell, Gr. 11; and Bree Livesey, Gr. 8.
• Magee Secondary students Nathaniel Leung and Thomas An, both Gr. 8
• and King George Secondary students Maksim Kovacevic and Tony Kulenovic, both in Gr. 8
“I knew our team would play well together,” Hoptioncann said. “I believe we succeeded because we played strategically. Being a combined team we had to collaborate and utilize each other’s talents. It’s not always about the best, strongest or fastest player. Team Vancouver had a family attitude; we took care of each other on the bench and in the water.”
An introvert by nature, Hoptioncann said his school has encouraged him to be a leader, for which he’s grateful. His physical education teacher Gary Buntain asked him to lead the Hamber Swim Club. This year Hoptioncann took the team to the provincials where the team placed fourth in their relay and he won silver. Another teacher who has played a role in his development is Duane Mugford, who has taught him English and phys. ed.. By pushing the teenager out of his comfort zone, Hoptioncann says Mugford has taught him how to develop problem-solving skills and to appreciate opportunities as they come. “How to approach life and learn about other people are lessons he incorporates in all his classes.”
Hoptioncann’s current coach, former Olympian Vladimir Uskhakov, also created a team called the Spartans to compete in the national competitive league. Six of the members — brothers Edward and Ernest, brothers Jovan and Nemenja Ivezic, goalie Thomas Neal and David Fishman — played on Team Vancouver. The Spartans won bronze this past weekend in Calgary.
Next year Hoptioncann wants to field two water polo teams.
