Injured Bronco rallies water polo squad

By Chris Furnari

When fifth year senior Whit Gilfillan envisioned his final season in a Bronco uniform, the script hardly called for a broken ankle and no playing time. Yet despite an unfortunate ankle injury that left Gilfillan unavailable for this season, he decided to stick with the men's water polo team as an undergraduate assistant coach.

The past four years for Gilfillan have been far from storybook, as numerous injuries have limited his playing time and made getting from class to class a lot more tedious. In a conversation with the injury-prone star, Gifillan described his role on the team and his plans for the future.

CF: Take me through your injuries, and your story.

WG: When I came here as a freshman, I had plica syndrome in my knees. I played through the season though, and afterwards I had surgery to get it removed. I finally recovered from that to remain injury free for my sophomore year.

Junior year I was injured again. I cut my hand and grazed a nerve, and I had to get that fixed. Then in a game after that, I took a shot and on the follow-through I hit the defender in the head.

I ended up tearing a band in my knuckle and I had to have surgery to repair that, but I was able to red-shirt that year.

Senior year I was healthy and was really looking forward to coming back this year, but I got injured again when I was horsing around with another buddy. He fell on my ankle, and tore all the ligaments in my ankle and broke my tibia. I had to have another surgery to repair all that, and that's why I'm not playing this year.

CF: That sounds really unfortunate. Why did you decide to stay?

WG: I decided to stick around this year because we have a great bunch of guys. I really enjoy hanging out with them and playing with them.

I have never been on a better team, and I am disappointed I can't play, but I am happy I stayed and am able to be an assistant coach.

CF: Do you have a favorite game that you either played in or watched the other guys play in?

WG: One of my favorite games I played in was last year when we beat 10th ranked UOP. That game was huge, it was at home, and it was the first time we beat a top 10 team. Although I didn't play in the LMU game this year, I liked watching the guys take it to them.

CF: What is your role in the team's recent success?

WG: I like to think I have a role in the guys' success this year, but the credit is all on them. They are the ones doing it, and coach is the one getting them ready to go, but I still like to think I am helping.

CF: What are your duties as a coach?

WG: As far as coaching duties go, I'm more of a leader. It's easy because Coach Wilbur is such a great coach, so I try to be more of an in between guy. I talk to a lot of the players and gauge how they are feeling, how they are playing and just try to act as more of a leader. I was obviously planning on having a pretty big role on the team, but unfortunately it didn't work out. This is second best though.

CF: What do you think of the program and the team this year?

WG: The program has really progressed under Coach. When I came in my freshman year, we barely had enough guys to field two sides for practice, and we had about 10 wins. Now we are ranked top 15, and playing really well. It's a great change.

CF: What are your plans for after the season?

WG: After this season, I plan to move back home and work, and perhaps even coach with my club team down there a bit. I definitely want to stay connected with water polo somehow, but hopefully I can get a solid job and get out on my own.

Contact Chris Furnari at (408) 551-1918 or cfurnari@scu.edu.