Virginia Beach High School
WATER POLO LEAGUE
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Many alumni are playing at the college level!
One "Yes" Changed Everything: The Story of Maddox Todd
One "Yes" Changed Everything: The Story of Maddox Todd
Sometimes, the biggest opportunities come from the places we least expect.
For Maddox Todd, it all started in the swimming pool.
Growing up, Maddox was a dedicated swimmer, developing the endurance, discipline, and work ethic that come with countless hours in the water. But as he got older, another passion captured his heart—soccer. As a goalkeeper, he thrived on competition, quick decision-making, and being the last line of defense. While soccer became his primary sport, he continued swimming throughout high school, never realizing that those years in the pool were preparing him for something even bigger.
Then, almost by chance, everything changed.
Some of his swim teammates encouraged him to give water polo a try during the local high school community season. He had never seriously considered the sport before, but he decided to jump in.
That one decision opened a door he never knew existed.
Maddox's athletic ability, coachability, and competitive mindset was a perfect fit for the sport. That earned him an invitation to compete at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics during the summer before his senior year. Traveling to the nation's largest age-group water polo tournament exposed him to a level of competition—and a network of coaches—that he had never imagined.
Returning home, Maddox entered his senior year with excitement and optimism. In the fall he played in his final water polo season and was awarded "Offensive Player of the year for the Virginia Beach High School Water Polo League" and entered the winter swim season optimistic.
Then in the spring came disappointment.
In early spring of his Senior year, he didn't make the varsity soccer team at his public high school due to the many goalkeepers trying out that year.
Like many student-athletes, he questioned what came next. Graduation was approaching, and the future seemed uncertain. The opportunity he thought might define his senior year had slipped away.
But sometimes setbacks are only part of the story.
A few weeks later that spring during his senior year, Maddox received an unexpected phone call.
A coach from Delta College Athletics in California saw that he was rostered USA Water Polo Junior Olympics team. The coach reached out, started a conversation, and saw something in Maddox that went beyond statistics or varsity status—they saw potential.
That phone call changed the course of his life.
Maddox accepted the opportunity and headed to California, where he spent the next year thriving as both a student and a water polo athlete. He found a new community, continued developing his skills, and discovered opportunities to study, compete, and travel throughout the country while playing the sport he had only recently discovered.
His story is a reminder that success isn't always a straight line.
Sometimes the team you don't make leads to the opportunity you never expected.
Sometimes trying something new opens doors that years of planning never could.
And sometimes, all it takes is one community program, one invitation from friends, and one chance to say "yes."
At Virginia Beach High School Water Polo, we believe there are many more stories like Maddox's waiting to be written. Every season gives another student-athlete the opportunity to discover a new passion, build lifelong friendships, and perhaps even change the trajectory of their future.
You never know where one season of water polo might take you.
Post High School Opportunities
Post High School Opportunities
From the first whistle to the final buzzer, Virginia Beach High School Water Polo has always been more than a team—it’s a lifelong community. The high school water polo experience has opened up temendous opportunities for student athletes and changed lives for the better. Our alumni carry forward a tradition of discipline, camaraderie, and competitive excellence that extends well beyond the pool.
Over the years, VBHS Water Polo players have continued their athletic and academic journeys at the highest levels, competing in Division I and club programs at schools such as Pepperdine, Grove City, the University of Alabama, Delta College Athletics (California), James Madison University, Virginia Tech, United States Naval Academy Men's & Womens Club and beyond—including master’s-level competition. Their success reflects the strength of the foundation built here.
2025 VBHSWP Alumni Game
2025 VBHSWP Alumni Game
But no matter where life takes them, our alumni remain an essential part of the VBHS Water Polo family. Each winter holiday season, we proudly host our annual Alumni Game—a time-honored tradition where past and present players come together to reconnect, compete, and celebrate the program’s legacy.
Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, you are always welcome back. Once a part of VBHS Water Polo, always a part of the team. Alumni, we want to hear from you! Please share any updates with info@vbhswaterpolo.org or via 'vbhs_waterpolo' via instagram.
We are a non-profit 501 (c)3 and donors can deduct contributions made under IRC Section 170.
© 2026 Virginia Beach High School Water Polo, a Virginia nonprofit corporation. Registered ficticious names: Virginia Beach Water Polo, Virginia Beach High School Water Polo League, and Coastal Virginia Water Polo (collectively VBHSWP).
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