Nicole Krumholz, Special to The Denisonian–

Women’s water polo will soon join Denison athletics, becoming the school’s 27th varsity sport. The sport will start as a club sport in the spring of 2026, providing students with the opportunity to try something new or get back in the water again. 

By the fall of 2026, an official roster will be announced. 

“Adding sports signals the strength and momentum of an institution,” said Matt Tanney, Denison’s Director of Athletics.

The last time Denison added a varsity sport was in 2021, when the men’s and women’s squash teams were introduced.

Tim Sherwood, Denison’s soon-to-be head women’s water polo coach, anticipates the wait and knows this addition opens up the community to new opportunities. 

“[Water polo] opens up, from a strictly recruiting standpoint, new areas [of the country]. There are a lot of people who play water polo on the West Coast,” Sherwood said. 

Sherwood brings his competitive spirit to Denison, with his prior experience coaching and competing bringing forward his desire to succeed. He went to Grinnell College, where he was on the men’s varsity swim team and the club men’s water polo team. He then coached water polo at Saint Francis University.

“I learned a lot about water polo and coaching college-age students,” Sherwood said.

After that, he was ready for the next steps and wanted to coach at a small, liberal arts college, like Denison. 

Denison will participate in the CWPA (Collegiate Water Polo Association), competing against schools like Washington & Jefferson College, Grove City College, Connecticut College, Wheaton and more. 

Even though the fairly new program will compete against other competitive colleges, Sherwood is ready to recruit student-athletes. Current Denison students can try out for the club team in the spring, allowing the program to build its foundation before recruits arrive on campus in the fall.

“My advice: just try,” said Lynsey Whinser, Director of Budget, Camps, and Club Sports, on students joining the club. 

The staff in the athletic department are always looking for students to try new activities and experiment in sports they’ve never tried before. Although water polo is new, the staff and coaches are ready to build team dynamics. 

“Building a foundation and getting the ball started, getting it rolling,” is a short-term goal Sherwood has for the program. 

“[Long-term], we want to win a conference or get to the title game, get to go to nationals,” said Sherwood. 

According to the CWPA, the top two women’s teams from the Division III championship qualify for the USA Water Polo Division III National Championship. With the strive and determination demonstrated throughout the athletic department as a whole, thoughts of going all the way aren’t out of the realm of possibility for the new sport. 

“We have a super competitive department and we want to provide a great experience,” Whisner said. 

“The biggest goal is that students on the water polo team experience Denison in the same way as every one of our 26 teams,” Tanney said. 

Students interested in participating in spring or fall of 2026 are encouraged to reach out to Coach Sherwood ([email protected]).