Multiple water polo athletes have complained about their sport. They’re not complaining about the coach, how much they practice, or any other on-the-surface complaint usually seen in other sports.  No, this is different. Water polo isn’t even considered a sport.

“I just don’t get it,” Abigail Barber said. “Swimming is a sport, so why is water polo not a sport?”

The UIL decides what is and isn’t a school sport. So that means Water Polo athletes can’t miss school or it’ll count against them. Their absence will not be excused like in other UIL events.

“I’m not aware of any current developments in the athletic area,” TISD superintendent Huey Kinchen said. “However, I remember Water Polo was very successful a couple of years ago and if the UIL makes Water Polo a sport, then it’ll be a sport (in TISD).”

The UIL has considered water polo’s elevation to fully recognized sport several times, and likely will be addressing it again this summer. The last time the UIL added a full sport was 1999, when wrestling was approved as a state sport.

Until UIL makes water polo a sport, there’ll be no immediate change on campus. Still, many at Tomball, especially those in water-based sports, believe that water polo should be added to the list of UIL sports.

“Honestly,” Dakota Simmons said, “water polo is harder than Football.”

An online petition at MoveOn.org has been created to push the UIL into elevating UIL, and has garnered nearly 3,400 signatures. If you want to help support the push to make water polo a sport, click here to sign the petition.