For many sports, North Atlanta competes against rival schools such as Grady and other APS schools to see who emerges as victor. However, the Warriors unite on the same team as their rivals on a water polo team known as the “APS Knights” in a way that’s unique to the North Atlanta sporting scene.  

The team is divided into three levels: A, B, and C, where they compete against other teams in the Georgia High School Water Polo Association (GHSWPA). The Knight’s A team for boys consists of five players from North Atlanta, including seniors Ethan Levy, Drew Sheldon, Ethan Roman, Chris Lee and Ben Aspenwall. The Knight’s A team for girls consists of Elise Smith-David, Alison Christmann-Vener, Jamie Matherson, Maya Dickson and Anna Topful.

The team has been coached by Stuart Sheldon for the past nine years. The coach said the team has been such a memorable squad that has had some of the best talent he’s seen, “This year the team has shown a lot of resilience with the season, ending with one of the best records we’ve had in program history,” said Coach Sheldon. “Although it will be sad to see some go as they graduate, this team will most certainly be one to remember.” `

In the 2018 campaign, the APS Knights A team finished third in Division 1, with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses. With a division that is full of tough competition such as Pius, Norcross and Lakeside, placing third is an achievement all in itself. In the 2018 GHSWPA Women’s State Championship and the D1 State Championship, both teams for the Knights placed third in their brackets. “This is the highest the team has placed ever,” said senior Drew Sheldon. “It’s representative of the work we put in throughout the season as well as the bond we have created as a team.”

At the end of the season, the GHSWPA announces its All-State Teams for the 2018 campaign. Seniors Drew Sheldon and Ethan Roman made the Division 1 All-State Team 2, which is a massive achievement for players. Roman says making the All-State squad is an achievement that he has been working towards since his freshman year. “Making All-State Team 2 this season was truly an honor for me,” he said. “We’ve put so much work in together and it really feels like that work is paying off.”

Competing with players from all over APS is a unifying experience for the Warriors on the teams. Being able to compete with instead of against fellow APS schools makes the bond between the Knights. North Atlanta and Grady working together? When it comes to water polo, that’s the winning game plan.