First-year water polo team will be top seed at state tourney

After quickly building a program for its first year of existence, the Bearden High School water polo team suddenly finds itself with a chance at a state title. The idea of a water polo team was brought to the attention of students by 2012 Bearden graduate and University of Tennessee water polo team member Sam Bondurant. Since this is the first time a water polo team has ever existed for Bearden, the team had to be quickly formed and players had to be ready to learn how to play a new game. Bondurant asked Mrs. Kelley Darnell to be the sponsor, and assistant principal Mrs. Debra Bean worked in coalition with Bondurant to help the team register as an official USA Water Polo Association team.