After the recent separation of Skyline and Pioneers’ Water Polo teams due to the expiration of their two-year contract, Saline has united with Skyline to create Sky-line (“sky lean”). This merger has been filled with much fondness by the players and coaches, allowing both teams to create an environment for growth and development.
Skyline Water Polo has faced instability since it was disbanded after the Fall 2022 season due to a lack of participants. Skyline joined with Pioneer the following season, to great success: the combined team won 2nd place in the State.
The following year, Skyline again did not meet the minimum player count, so the merger with Pioneer continued for the 2024-2025 season. Following this merger, the combined team finished in 2nd place again.
After two years with Pioneer, the Michigan Water Polo Association (MWPA) prohibited the combination of two teams. This was put into place to stop teams from funneling the best players from two schools into one team, creating a powerhouse. Skyline had to find a new team, and the next closest was Saline. “It seems to me that this benefited Skyline and Saline as a whole,” says Skyline Evan Pokryfke (‘28). “We have more individual instruction and don’t have to deal with the strain of a larger team.”
This team has faced unique struggles and challenges from being a combination team, including building team chemistry and balancing different play styles.“As a team, I feel like we have been able to push through the barrier of being a part of two schools,” says Saline Jacob Clauser (‘26). “With these struggles, we have still been able to have a great team relationship through team building and creating acquaintanceship.”
After fielding a roster full of experienced players last season, Skyline has undergone a metamorphosis. “Last year’s team was a very deep team in terms of depth, while this year it’s still developing,” says Pokryfke. “This year, the team functions as a true combination of players, not simply Skyline players playing alongside another team.”
