Michael Venneri ’27
Photo courtesy of Ben McHale ’28
It’s no surprise that Tyler Mantash ’26, a captain of the Boys Water Polo Team, will play a pivotal role in his team’s success this season. Ever since Mantash’s freshman year, his shooting ability, passion, dedication, and leadership have made him a cornerstone of the program. Looking ahead to his last year as a member of the EA water polo team, Mantash looks to end his high school career the same way it began: consuming hours of film, obsessing over the fine details of his game, and supporting his teammates wherever possible. And of course, to do whatever it takes to beat Haverford.
Mantash began attending EA in sixth grade after attending Ridley for elementary school. With no prior water polo experience, Mantash joined the water polo team in his first year. But Mantash didn’t initially take to the sport as one would expect, saying, “I started playing the sport because I needed a sports credit.” It wasn’t until he attended a water polo camp at Wissahickon that he began to fall in love with the sport. During his freshman year, Mantash would join a club team, marking the true start of his competitive water polo journey.
In addition to water polo practices in the fall, Mantash swims competitively in the winter to hone his speed and endurance. Between the swim practices, offseason club clinics, and year-round tournaments he participates in, Mantash’s daily routine has revolved around the pool. This commitment also manifests itself outside of the pool. Put simply, Mantash is a water polo addict. Head Coach Max Kelly ’06 explains, “He loves the game. If you sit down and talk with him about water polo, he knows the international game and the college game. He’s tried to model his shooting off of those players; as a coach, it’s awesome to see his enthusiasm towards the sport.”
Last season, Mantash’s passion translated into production. Mantash is known for his shooting ability, seemingly being able to score the ball from anywhere in the pool. Last season, he hit his stride as a scorer, accumulating 100 goals across the season. But for Coach Kelly, Mantash’s scoring isn’t the main hallmark of his game. “We don’t emphasize the goal; we emphasize what led to the goal—communicating with his teammates, creating plays, and being a defensive presence are what we value the most about Tyler. He leads by example and passion,” he says.
Charlie Smith ’27, a teammate who has known Mantash for nearly seven years, has repeatedly noticed Mantash’s multifaceted influence on games, attributing it to his “goldfish” mentality. “Whether he has a bad shot or he gets burnt, he is always moving on and doesn’t dwell on his mistakes, allowing him to focus on making the next play, which puts aside his personal issues and does what’s best for the team.”
The team hasn’t only relied on Mantash’s skill, however. His leadership has also been a driving force behind the team’s consistent improvement year by year. This season, Mantash has taken the time to create an environment where everyone on the team, from JV to Varsity, can thrive. “I try to help people one-on-one in practice as much as I can,” he says. “It’s hard because there are many players, but I try to make a connection with everyone.” What has stood out to Smith ’27 over the years is Mantash’s ability to lead by example. “The amount of intensity and effort that Tyler shows in the pool drives us as his teammates to do better.”
After his tenure at EA, Mantash will no doubt be remembered as an extremely well-rounded player and impressive leader. However, when asked what he views as the single defining characteristic of his high school career, Mantash emphasizes his mentality. “I’m always looking for an edge. I’ll practice any little thing I can find and improve in that aspect,” he explains. To Coach Kelly, this same meticulous approach and care for the game is also what separates Mantash from the average high school athlete. “His biggest success has been falling in love with the game,” Kelly says. Through water polo, Mantash has not only garnered accolades and awards but also a mindset and perspective that will continue to benefit him for years to come.
Looking ahead to November, Mantash will continue to perfect his craft and lead by example on a daily basis. At the same time, he’ll aim to rally those around him to bring EA water polo a long-awaited EA-Haverford Day victory, one that has eluded past teams for far too long.
