Co-Captains Travis Bouscaren ’14 and Andrew Yang ’14 eagerly await this coming weekend when Andover Boys Water Polo will fight for a spot in the Final Four Championship at Exeter.If victorious, Andover will be competing in the semifinals for the first time in seven years. The two captains have played pivotal roles in Andover’s turnaround season.
Bouscaren is a four-year Senior from Cambridge, Massachusetts and is serving his second year as Captain. He also boasts the most experience on the Varsity team, having been with them for four years.
Standing at 6’7”, he is a powerful presence, leading with both his voice and example.
“Travis is very good at acting as a role model. He leads by example, especially during practice. Also, he gives us speeches before games that get us pumped up” said Nicholas Faulkner ’16.
“I try to do the right thing, and hopefully other people will follow what I do,” said Bouscaren.
“Travis has an authority in his playing ability, and also communicating, reading the situation” said Head Coach David Fox.
Coach Fox also commented on Bouscaren’s selflessness. “He always puts the needs of the team in front of his own. He probably could have broken [Andover’s] single-season scoring record, but instead he has chosen to get other guys involved and make them better players.”
Bouscaren looks forward to playing at the collegiate level.
Andrew Yang, a four-year senior from Taipei, Taiwan, makes up the other half of the Captain duo. Unlike Bouscaren, he played two years of Junior Varsity water polo before making the Varsity squad his upper year.
Although he had only played one season on Varsity, Yang was elected Captain for his Senior year. The difference between Yang and Bouscaren brings a unique dynamic to the team.“I definitely did not expect to be Captain, but it was a great honor and I’m really excited to be able to play with this group,” said Yang.
Coach David Fox said, “He has an enthusiasm and a clear commitment to improving that resonates, he is very focused.”
When asked how he leads the team, Yang said, “I try to work with the team, especially since I’m learning alongside them. I try to help out however I can.”
Faulkner added, “Andrew is a very good leader by example. He puts emphasis on the team and not just an individual player. But he himself is also a very good player.”
Andover rolls into Andover/Exeter weekend with a 7-4 record. With tough opponents such as Loomis, Brunswick, and Exeter standing between them and the championship, the experienced squad must string together three excellent games.
Bouscaren and Yang will need to step up both as players and leaders this weekend in their last games playing for Andover.
