Ex-Ohio water polo state champ Milford brings back program in 2025

The Milford boys water polo team won state titles in 2006 and 2008. The Milford girls program reached the state Final Four six times between 2000 and 2014. In January, Milford decided to discontinue its water polo program effective immediately.

That decision didn’t last until the fall, when the next water polo season is slated to start. Milford announced on Saturday that it has decided to sponsor both boys and girls water polo this fall.

Per a release from Milford: “Thanks to the outpouring of support from the Milford community and water polo alumni and families, the decision to eliminate water polo as a school-sponsored sport has been reversed. The Eagles will field both varsity and junior varsity squads for girls, along with a junior varsity-only program for the boys. A return to varsity competition on the boys side is open to possibility in the future.”

Milford has hired three school alums to lead the programs. Arija Walsh, who started playing at Milford before moving to California, will be the head coach of the girls program, while 2017 graduate Skyler Fontaine will be an assistant. On the boys side, 1999 graduate and state-title winning coach Paul Splitt will be the head coach.

Walsh played collegiate water polo at the University of Michigan, and she’s coached for the Cincinnati Mavericks, St. Xavier, Mason and other local clubs, including the Olympic Development Program. She has also served as a match official.

“From player, to coach, to ref, and back to coaching again, I just love water polo,” Walsh said. “Starting my career at Milford High School in 2012 opened doors that I never knew possible. I’ve played at the highest levels of the game and continue to be an athlete on the side while giving back to the water polo community through mentorship and coaching. With coaching specialties in center, center defense, and power plays, I’m a fundamentals coach with heavy emphasis on making team connections.”

Fontaine played one year of college water polo at Mercyhurst University and participated in the Olympic Development Program for four years. She has coached with the Moose Water Polo Club and was formerly an assistant at Milford.

Splitt started coaching at Milford as an assistant from 2001 to 2011, helping the Eagles to those two state championships. He won another state title with the Cincinnati Mavericks in 2018 and has also coached at Sycamore, St. Xavier and, most recently, Mason. He also served as an Olympic Development Program coach from 2012 to 2022, a USA National Team Futures Coach in 2019, and various other high-level coaching stops. He is a four-time Cincinnati Enquirer coach of the year.

“This community gave me everything,” Splitt said. “My start in the sport, my first coaching opportunity, and the values that shaped who I am. I look forward to bringing the culture that helped us win two state championships back to Milford. Coming back to Milford is more than a job; it’s a chance to give back to the place that gave me so much. This Eagle is finally home.”