The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Saequan Miller hit the pool for the first time as a collegiate water polo athlete this week.

In a history-making move for Bahamian water polo, Miller, a graduate of CR Walker, signed his letter of intent earlier this summer to join the Salem University Tigers for the Fall 2019 season.

He began training sessions in preparation for the team's debut August 31.

"Training was intense straight through," he said, "No balls no goals. Swimming and legs. Lots of it"

Miller was a member of the 2013 CARIFTA bronze medalists, 2015-17 CARIFTA silver medalists and, in his role as team captain, was named the team captain and MVP of the 2018 CARIFTA gold medalists.

"The exposure of water polo has done what we wanted, and that is to ultimately create more opportunities for these players," National team head coach Laszlo Borbely said during the course of the water polo season, "Saequan Miller is probably the greatest example of that to this point.

"Saequan came up through the programme, has excelled at every level and now he has an opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

"He is really an inspiration to his peers, to the younger players around the club because they see where the game has taken him.

"Perhaps, more importantly, the parents see the educational opportunities water polo can create.

"These are the stories we need to tell about the sport because the success goes well beyond the pool."

Miller will be tested both in the pool and in the classroom this academic year.

In 2017, for a third consecutive year, the Salem University men's water polo team finished with the top grade point average (GPA) in the nation for its sport, posting a 3.78.