Ferigo Fires for Sacred Heart

“We really wanted to keep our unbeaten record, but during the game it's not something you think about. It’s about performing the best we can and getting the outcome we deserve,” Louie Ferigo responds when asked if he was nervous at three quarter time in the National Secondary Schools Water Polo final yesterday.
 
Unbeaten Auckland and North Island champions, Sacred Heart College only led surprise finalists Westlake Boys’ High School 8-7. Sacred Heart had scored three unanswered goals in the first two minutes with Ferigo netting two of them.
 
Was sudden complacency a reason for Westlake’s come back?
 
“We weren’t complacent at all,” Ferigo retorts.
 
“We had only played Westlake once all season and that was in our second game. We knew they had been improving and had beaten some strong teams in the tournament like St Kents, Rangitoto and Rosmini,” he continued.
 
What was said at the break?
 
“Our coach, Kurt Goldsworthy, is experienced and has been in many finals. He told us to play our game and put away our opportunities. Westlake would be looking for counter opportunities so we had to keep our defence strong.” Ferigo reveals.
 
Sacred Heart didn’t concede in the last five minutes and pulled clear to win 12-7. Ferigo scored four goals in the decider and was named tournament MVP.  
 
“I’ve always been smaller than most players so I’ve had to work really hard on defence. However my size allows me to move quickly around the pool, and a lot of the goals I score are counter goals because of my swimming,” Ferigo replies when asked why he believes he was named tournament MVP.
 
Who is the toughest player Ferigo has marked this season?

Rowan Brown from Rangitoto College. He’s got strong legs, speed and game awareness. His cross cage shot is hard to block,” Ferigo says.

Ferigo has been in the Sacred Heart Premier team for three years, but his association with the top side stretches back a lot longer.
 
“A lot of Sacred’s success comes from the investment in the water polo institute for Year 7 to 10 students.  Most of the current team have all come through the institute. Were lucky to have had great coaches like Jonathan Ware, Matthew Lewis, Josh Campbell and now Kurt,” Ferigo explains.
 
National triumphs are an obvious peak for Ferigo, but winning the local league earlier this month was equally satisfying.

“Winning the Auckland final in front of many Sacred Heart supporters was awesome. The Auckland final was held during a break of play in the Fina World League tournament and the Fina Reps enjoyed witnessing the school spirit,” Ferigo enthuses.
 
Ferigo comes from keen aquatic family. His three older siblings all played water polo and Louis has coached younger teams at Sacred Heart. Earlier this year Louis was employed by Swimtastic as a swim instructor.  
 
Next year is Ferigo’s final season at Sacred Heart. His goal is to defend the 2018 titles, but acknowledges with eight players departing it will take time to form a team with similar quality.