Maclaren Crawford, Class of 2018

After leaving school in 2018, I moved to a city in the north of Spain called Oviedo. I spent a year living there and working in a school and playing for the local rugby club. While in Oviedo, I began learning Spanish and once my year had finished, I applied and got into the University of Manchester studying Business and Spanish. I spent four years at uni, including a year in Madrid, where I completed a yearlong internship at an insurance broker called Howden.

During my time at uni, I was very involved in the rugby club, being part of the committee for two years and being elected club captain in my final year. Since graduating in 2023 I have travelled around South America and I now work in London as an insurance broker within the terrorism and political violence market for the same company at which I completed my internship in Madrid.

What initially drew you to water polo, and when did you start playing?

I have been an avid swimmer from a young age and after joining Trinity in 2011 I was quickly introduced to water polo, a sport I had not come across before. Being someone who has always preferred team sports, water polo seemed to be the perfect fit as it allowed me to incorporate my swimming ability into a fast-paced team game and it was a great way to make new friends at the school.

How did you balance your academic and athletic commitments during your time as a student-athlete?

Model answer: While at times it could be tough, having training sessions on a Friday after school allowed me to complete my schoolwork over the rest of the weekend. When we were in tournaments, such as the ESSA School Finals, which would take up more time, I found that the discipline I had learnt from playing the sport to a high standard allowed me to really focus on upholding my academic commitments in a short amount of time.

Honest answer: I prioritised sport at every turn and left most of my schoolwork to the last minute, often doing homework during break, lunch, or sometimes even before school.

Can you share a memorable moment or game from your water polo career?

A highlight of my water polo career would be representing England in the EU Nations Cup, where we beat hot favourites Switzerland in the semi-finals. They had an absolute beast of a centre forward, however, through an effective drop defence, we managed to nullify him completely.

What specific skills or attributes do you think contributed most to your success in water polo?

My ability to get on with and connect with my teammates. As it is such a fast-paced sport, being able to anticipate your teammates’ movements in the water can give you that half a second of space needed to get a shot off on goal. Other than that, I’d say my 6ft 8in monkey arms came in handy!

How did you overcome setbacks or failures along the way?

The only way anyone can, knuckle down and stick at the hard work. Every setback is an opportunity to work on your game and become a better player.

Can you describe the camaraderie and team dynamics within your water polo team?

We were one big group of mates. When I played, as it was a smaller sport compared to others, it meant that often there would be boys from two, three or four year groups within the squad. Of course, the older boys played more of a senior role, but there were no cliques. In fact, some of my fondest memories are of the three-hour bus journeys we took to Walsall for the ESSA Finals. I think we spent the majority of our time crying with laughter.

What role did your coaches play in your development as a water polo player?

A huge role. I will forever be grateful to Mr Marsh for showing me the ropes and helping develop my initial technique. He also taught me the importance of never throwing a “cheese sandwich” when taking a shot at goal. Equally, Mr King helped take my water polo career to new heights; seeing my potential from a young age, he refined my technique and got me involved with the GB set-up, eventually leading to me representing my country several times at the junior level.

What changes would you like to see in the development of water polo, particularly at the grassroots level?

One thing that could benefit the game is having more connection to swimming clubs. I was a swimmer for seven years and had never come across the sport until I joined Trinity. Having more connection between the two sports would give access to a much larger pool of talent.

What were some of the most memorable lessons you learnt from your water polo career?

Aside from the famous “cheese sandwich” lesson, I would say “when defending in the pit, keep your hips on the surface of the water”. Let’s just say that I learnt that one the hard way!

How has your experience in water polo influenced your life beyond the pool?

One way that water polo has influenced my life, especially my professional life, is being able to hold my nerve in high-pressure situations. Whether it’s stepping up to take a penalty or pitching one of your ideas in a meeting, you need to be calm and relaxed to perform your best. Through water polo, I had the opportunity to gain this experience from an early age.