Cooper City’s Troche, Westminster’s Weissman are Broward Water Polo Players of the Year
Cooper City’s Matthew Troche played travel basketball for eight years.
Westminster Academy’s Olivia Weissman spent several years as a cross-country runner.
But each had siblings who steered them toward careers playing water polo.
The two have now become accomplished players looking to hone their skills at the college and possibly international levels in the near future.
Troche was the lone Olympic Development Program Youth National team selection from South Florida and led the Cowboys to the regional semifinals.
Weissman, an Iona University signee, scored 105 goals and led the Lions to the regional finals.
Troche and Weissman are the Miami Herald’s Boys’ and Girls’ Water Polo Players of the Year for Broward County.
Troche finished with 78 goals, 64 assists, 72 steals and 39 exclusions drawn this past season. In addition to Weissman’s 105 goals, she had 42 assists and 71 steals.
Troche has been playing water polo for the past seven years ever since his older brother convinced him to give it a try full time.
Troche has since become one of the most well-rounded players in the state and is hoping to carry that talent to the college level.
“Obviously winning a state title is the goal, but I want to be able to play in college and possibly at a school in California,” Troche said.
Weissman gave up running to jump in the pool as her two older sisters, Abby and Emma, did for Westminster Academy.
Olivia Weissman joined a club team and started fine-tuning her schools, primarily playing the center position. She played in the junior Olympics and helped carry the Lions within a victory of the state semifinals before losing to Winter Garden West Orange.
“My sisters graduated and they didn’t play in college, but when I got further along I figured out I wanted to do it,” Weissman said. “I learned a lot just watching what they did.”
