Boys Water Polo Co-Captain Victor Hillier ’28 has built his leadership on respect and acceptance, cultivating a team culture that allows players to be themselves in and out of the pool. Hillier first started water polo at nine years old after years as a swimmer and diver, having waited until he was old enough to play. He has played for Team Canada and its Men’s Cadet (16U) National Team for the past two years.
Hillier’s parents have supported him throughout his career, but his younger brother, also a water polo player, has pushed him the hardest. Wanting to be the best role model he can for his brother has driven Hillier to grow as a player, and now that same desire to set an example extends to every teammate he leads as Co-Captain.
“I really want to have good team chemistry, make sure everything’s based on respect and acceptance. I want everybody to be able to be themselves and be accepted on the team. We have a wide range of talent and personalities on our team, and I want everybody to be themselves and learn a lot this year,” said Hillier.
Alongside his own drive, Hillier’s leadership shows up most clearly in the pool. Jacob Shin ’29 described him as the team’s most dependable player and a mentor who is always happy to pass along skills. Shin also credited Hillier with setting the tone at practice, pushing teammates to stay serious without letting mistakes weigh them down.
“Last week, he taught me how to read a goalie’s movement and shoot in the opposite direction to score. When he’s in the pool in a game, you can always rely on him to win a one-on-one and most of the time even two-on-ones. He’s always emphasizing having a goldfish memory. You don’t forget anything that you might be down about or anything that might affect your performance in the pool,” said Shin.
Beyond his play, Hillier is a teammate others lean on day to day. Andrew Cai ’27 explained Hillier’s care for the people around him and the lengths he goes to unify the team. Cai also emphasized the importance of Hillier’s steady presence on the team.
“Victor is a welcoming presence to both new and returning players. He definitely cares and looks out for others on the team at all times. That goes from the player-of-the-day every day after practice to him being a supportive and constructive leader after both when we win and when we lose games,” said Cai.
Although the season is early, the water polo team looks ready to build on the culture Hillier has helped shape. Hillier hopes to continue his career at the NCAA level while remaining a fixture on Canadian national teams, with the senior national team and, one day, the Olympics as his long-term goals.
