Boys water polo shares players with Eureka, compete together with Final Four expectations

Theo Koury and Darby Morel

March 12, 2025

Senior utility Sreeram Manchikalapudi extends his arm to pass the ball. Manchikalapudi was noted a key player to watch this season by boys water polo head coach James Waeckerle.

Sport: Boys water polo

Head Coach: James Waeckerle

Co-op factor: The Lafayette boys and girls water polo teams are co-op teams who share players from both Lafayette and Eureka High School.

Last season placement: Last season, Lafayette-Eureka made it to the second round of the District tournament, losing to Oakville, 16-12.

Goals for the season: Coach Waeckerle expects to have a chance to compete for a Final Four birth.

Are there any challenges that you expect to face this season? “We are in conference with SLUH, which is likely the best team in Missouri this year. They are always a challenge to compete against,” Coach Waeckerle said.

Players to watch: Coach Waeckerle mentioned senior goalie Juan Jimenez, senior utility Sreeram Manchikalapudi, junior goalie Nolan Budnick and junior attacker Owen Waeckerle as key players this season.

New faces: Coach Waeckerle mentioned junior defender Thomas Morgan, Eureka junior attacker Sam Ortman and junior center Jack Robinson as new players to watch this season.

Sreeram Manchikalapudi

How does the co-op with Eureka change the dynamic of the team? “There are times where I feel like they isolate themselves away from us but at times they fit right in and I don’t even see the difference of being from different schools. Everyone plays for the same team and everyone has the mindset on varsity that we are just one big team,” Manchikalapudi said.

Juan Jimenez

What makes this season different: Jimenez said that, this season, the team’s skill level is more balanced than last season. He also said that the team chemistry is stronger compared to last year.

Donate to The Lancer Feed

$1625

$2500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will allow our student journalists to continue their work. You may become a PATRON by making a donation at one of these levels: White/$30, Black/$50, Gold/$100. Patron names will be published on the website and once per quarter on our social media accounts.

About the Contributors

Theo Koury, Reporter

I enjoy being on Lafayette Student Publications because we are a family and we all push each other to be successful day after day.

Grade: Sophomore Pronouns: He/Him Hobbies: Anything football, music, friends and family. Years on Staff: 2 Favorite Quote: “If it’s flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s, be the best hamburger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do you have to master your craft.” -Snoop Dogg

Darby Morel, Reporter

I am on StuPub because the program gives me the opportunity to always be around sports, improve my people skills, and encounter new experiences. Grade: Sophomore Pronouns: She/Her Years on Staff: 1 Hobbies: Watching sports (specifically soccer), photography, videography, watching movies/tv shows. Favorite Quote: “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing” – Ted Lasso

Lizzie Rattenborg, Legend Academics/Activities Editor

Grade: Senior Pronouns: She/Her Years on Staff: 2 Hobbies and Interests: choir, theatre, speech and debate, reading, trying new foods Favorite Quote: “My goal is to try to be as happy as I can- going through every day just as it is.” – Katherine Center Favorite Hot Take: Ice cream is better than custard. Fun Fact: I have double-jointed pinkies and thumbs.

Comments (0)

The Lancer Feed staff reserves the right to delete the contents of comments which it deems inappropriate. To write a letter to the editor, send us an email at [email protected] or contact any of our staff members through their emails found on the staff profile pages.

Share your thoughts...

All The Lancer Feed Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest