PHARR – It’s not just swimming and it’s not soccer. It’s water polo.

This is the 4th year the PSJA swim team has played water polo during their off-season. But there’s something new this year. It’s the first time they’ve been able to field an all-girls water polo team.

“It’s really cool because it’s something that we don’t normally have down here in the Valley,” said PSJA Memorial senior Norah Carden. “It’s nice to expand the variety.”

“I chose to play water polo because I love all the girls,” said PSJA T-Stem sophomore Jordan Davila. “It’s a very fun sport. Even during the off-season, you get to play when it’s not swim season.”

The water polo team is made up of girls from all five PSJA high schools.

Just a few weeks ago, they got a shot to compete in their first tournament in Round Rock. The girls came home with a 4th place finish after a sudden death, overtime loss to the eventual champion.

“We got to play some teams that have a lot more experience,” said PSJA swim coach Jonathan Landero. “We usually have to play against ourselves. We have a couple of other teams in the Valley that are trying to get things going, but for the most part, the most we ever get to face other competition is to travel outside the Valley.”

That’s why at practice, the girls team usually plays with the boys team.

“Normally the boys will be a lot rougher,” said Carden. “We learned that girls can be just as aggressive.”

It’s a different kind of challenge for these athletes. In swimming, their goal would be to have the fastest time. In water polo, the goal is to score a goal.

“It’s really exciting,” said PSJA freshman Carina Campos. “You can feel the rush of excitement running through your veins. It’s really good.”

Water polo has yet to become a UIL spot, but that could happen in the near future.