Photo courtesy of Ben McHale ’28
The whistle blows, and Charlie Smith ’27 leaps off the goal line. In an early September game against Gonzaga, the boys’ water polo senior captain repeatedly disrupts pass after pass and finishes with 10 steals. Smith not only helped his team set the tone for that game, but also for the rest of the season.
While opponents often focus on his powerful shot, varsity boys water polo Head Coach Max Kelly believes Smith’s real talent lies in his ability to create plays and disrupt opponents. “Charlie’s not necessarily flashy, but defensively he flies around making plays happen,” he says. “His playmaking, both defensively with steals and shot blocking, and offensively with assists, is what sets him apart. Last year, he set the school record for most assists in a season.”
But for Smith, water polo is more than just the records he breaks. “It’s kind of a family on deck,” he says. “I look forward to going to practice every day because of the guys there.” The atmosphere certainly wouldn’t exist without Smith. Senior captain Gavin Thibodeau ’27 says Smith’s presence helps bring the team together. “His all-aroundness really unites the team and makes us who we are,” he says.
In fifth grade, Smith’s water polo career began after attending a camp run by Kelly. As a lifelong swimmer, Smith found that water polo came naturally. He continued playing through middle school and credits Kelly with much of his development: “Coach Kelly’s been huge in helping me develop since middle school,” he says. “As an eighth grader, he had me practice with the high school, which was huge because it helped me get used to the team before I was in high school.”
Over the summer, Smith continued developing his water polo game, competing at the U.S. Junior Olympics and attending a 10-day training camp in Montenegro. Playing against European competition challenged him with new opportunities that required quick adaptation. These experiences taught Smith the importance of working together to build a strong team. “It takes time, but it’s definitely possible; you just got to communicate through it,” Smith says.
Smith’s leadership is clear in the effort he puts into the game. “He’s always the first one in the pool, and the last one out,” Thibodeau says. Kelly has noticed the same commitment. “Every day he always wants to give his best, and that translates from practice to playing in games,” he says. Smith’s effort also pushes his teammates to do the same. “It’s not just him; he’s making the whole team better,” teammate Reece Murdocca ’27 says.
As Smith enters the final stretch of his season, he hopes to help the team remain undefeated in the Inter-Ac. Additionally, Smith believes the team can win Easterns. More than anything, he wants to leave the season with “no regrets,” he says. That mindset reflects one of the biggest things Smith has taken from water polo: “Never count yourself out,” he says. “You never really know what’s going to happen, so always give yourself a chance.”