2025 Water Polo Captains

Sadaf Sharifi

This season is all about goals and saves for the Men’s Water Polo Team at Mount St. Mary’s University. Focusing more on trust, liability, a culture of generosity and teamwork. Sherif Hosni, a senior goalkeeper from Egypt and Aaron Tarr, a junior right-side attacker from South Africa are two significant examples.  

Hosni is a senior majoring in physical therapy and has been playing water polo since he was only six years old. He was born in Egypt and moved to New Zealand when he was 13 years old. He plays as the goalkeeper which he defines as a high-risk and very high-reward position to play.  

“Being a goalie is 10% physical work and 90% mental work” Hosni said. He also mentioned an important key to stay on top of this athletic career is to remain calm even after conceding a goal. As dedicated as Hosni is, he always does his best to save the goal because he has a team that he is committed to.  

Hosni believes that field players cover up to 20% of the cage but a goalkeeper is covering 80% so any stop that he makes is an achievement to the entire team because they work for the same purpose. This is all about trust and communication in the moment which in the most isolating points he gets more positive energy from his team’s harmony. He loves his team and feels that the reason they are unique is because no player gets jealous of another teammate’s success. 

Hosni is chosen as the co-captain in this season, and are sharing duties alongside with Tarr, Alexander Belesis (C’26) and Chrysostomos Valavanis (C’26). They all put effort and consistency to have an inspirational leadership for the Mount’s water polo players and leaders. “My teammates must know that I will have their back and will never give up on them,” said Hosni.  

 Tarr is from Durban, South Africa. He is a junior majoring in Chemistry at Mount St. Mary’s University. He has a distinct perspective as a right-side attacker of the water polo team. He has been playing water polo for 10 years and before that he had competed in various swim meets but ultimately chose water polo. He enjoys fishing and surfing besides playing water polo.  

“My mindset during the third quarter was to do the basics right.” Said Tarr. He believes by doing the basics right at some point opportunity will come by itself and the only way to be the winner a game to know and do the basics correctly.  

Tarr mentioned that staying and keeping the team connected during offense is all gained through practice, and it is about learning to trust others on the team and understand their abilities to keep the balance and not to forget the offense.  

Like Hosni, Tarr believes that loyalty, honesty, and liability are key assets for the growth of their team. He said all the players have grasped their roles and know how much their actions impact the team and the community in or out of the pool. “It was also an important reminder to be honest with ourselves.” Tarr said.  

Hosni and Tarr are both assets, not only who stand for the Men’s Water Polo Team for this season but building a strong basis for the future years ahead of Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Water Polo. Their leadership is a symbol of hard work, dedication, honesty, and consistency.