It’s loud. Even under the water it’s loud, says 13-year-old Rob Hill.

“It’s one of the roughest sports you can play,” he quickly adds. “It gets really intense.”

Hill and his water polo teammate Gaelan Patterson sit by the edge of the pool at Ron Andrews Recreational Centre.

The under-12 Cruisers team is splashing around in the deep end. Patterson and Hill’s under-14 team is next up.

Both teams have done well this season and, along with the under-16 and under-18 team, are heading to the provincial championships in Langley this week.

It’s not a typical sport for teenagers to pick up, they both agree. But it has become one of their favourite sports, explains Patterson, who also plays hockey.

Sam Donoghue started playing water polo when he was eight years old. It was a family thing, says the 15-year-old. His older sister and brother wore water polo caps and through the years Donoghue has played with them as teammates.

“We are one of the most competitive families there is,” he jokes.

Like Hill and Patterson, Donoghue is attracted to the physicality of water polo. It’s made him stronger, he notes.

And they’re not the only ones drawn to the co-ed sport.

This season the North Vancouver Cruisers Aquatics Club has 86 people signed up, double last year’s number, says coach Angela Johnson.

“They keep coming back,” Johnson says.

Two years ago, the club started an over-18 team. It’s unique, as in the past there was no place for people in that age group to play water polo unless they were able to go professional.

“We are the only club that has such a team,” Johnson says.

A lot of the parents of players are on the team. The funny thing is once they start playing and realize how challenging the sport is, the parents become a little quieter on the sidelines at their children’s games, Johnson jokes.

All the teams are excited for the provincials, Johnson says. She expects them to do well, as the majority have placed in the top four during regular season tournaments.

“They’ve been playing well all season,” Johnson says.

Two players on the under-16 team — Jocelyn McQuade and Marianne Tout — also played at the national championship.

“There are a lot of talented kids in this league,” Johnson says.

For more information on the club visit www.cruiseraquatics.com.

Dive in

North Shore Titans fall league is starting start Saturday, Sept. 12.

Anyone up to age 17 interested in playing is invited to the registration session which takes place at William Griffin Community Recreation Centre at 851 West Queens Rd. at 6 p.m.

The games run from Sept. 20 through to Dec. 13. For more information visit www.nstitanswaterpolo.com or call Linda at 604-984-8913.

raldous@northshoreoutlook.com