Coach Troy Merkel has watered the swim and water polo programs at Mission Bay High School and watched them grow. Since 2006, Merkel has made a splash by taking the lead of the Buccaneers’ aquatic programs. He currently runs both the girls’ and boys’ swim and water polo teams for the black and gold. Prior to Merkel’s arrival, the program’s turnover rate was high. Merkel said the water polo team saw a different coach each year in the five years before him. “We are a growing program,” Merkel said. “Consistency with one coach helps.” Members of the CIF-contending swim teams would likely agree. Four out of 10 girls on the swim team advanced to CIF finals, held May 19-22. Among them were junior Nicolette Rice, junior Nayeli Davila, sophomore Rachel Lobato and freshman Dana Zimmer. There were individual and team goals in mind. The girls relay team looked to break a 34-year-old MBHS record, but instead beat their own 200-meter freestyle mark they set last year. Rice qualified for the finals on May 22, where she placed 10th and 11th. Merkel values his team’s talent, but hopes to keep filling the pool. “We were a quality team, but not a quantity team,” Merkel said. “We had quality swimmers, but not a lot of quantity.” Merkel says pool availability, budget and the time and commitment the sport takes are a few reasons for low turnout. MBHS shares the Clairemont Recreation Center pool with another school, but the team’s practice schedule is ideal. “We have a really good practice schedule,” Merkel said. “It’s from 12:40 to 2:40 p.m., it’s very suitable for us.” On the boys’ side, six swimmers advanced to CIF, but none advanced out of the prelims. They included seniors Chuy Davila and Jesse Herman, juniors Matt Farrer and Connor Greenhaulgh, and freshmen Jake Armstrong, Derrick Pham and Carlos Del Carmen. The boys team also has plenty of spirit to go around. “We put the fun in fundamentals and we enjoy our time as a team,” Merkel said. The swim teams will graduate Davila, Kyle Cummings, Donna Downing and Anna Reynolds. In February, Merkel’s girls’ water polo team also took a dip in the CIF pool as three-peat Central League champs. As the No. 9 seed, they suffered a first-round 13-12 loss to No. 10 seed University City. Boys’ water polo still awaits its turn in CIF. The team finished at 9-14. Last year, the squad saw an influx of freshman, and thus graduated only three seniors. Boys’ water polo jumps back in the water on Aug. 6, with their first game slated for Sept. 7.