Granite Bay water polo players have a weekly ritual. Every Tuesday, the team gathers at Chipotle for a post-practice lunch - a unity-building idea by co-captain Michael Reynolds.
"Mike pretty much started Chipotle Tuesdays," said Adam Shea, the Grizzlies' other co-captain. "We've gone there so much, the manager knows us. He's given us all Chipotle cards."
The quick, cheap meals are part of Reynolds' unorthodox, but effective, leadership style. Reynolds -also Granite Bay's senior class president -said it's a lot easier to offer criticism once the team members become friends. So, Shea said, rather than bark orders at younger players, Reynolds takes a softer approach.
"Mike brings a sense of humor to the team, calling our coach (John MacLeane) Big Poppa J. He can be serious when he needs to be, but usually at the pool we joke around," Shea said.
The tactic has worked for the Grizzlies as they earned the Sacramento Valley League's second seed in the playoffs with a 19-10 record, trailing only powerful Jesuit. At the center of that success was Reynolds with his 50 goals, 15 assists and irreverent sense of humor.
Reynolds' humor showed its value this season after a 16-5 thumping by Jesuit, where Reynolds nearly transferred before deciding he "didn't want to go to school with all guys."
Reynolds maintains a friendship with a few Marauders, including defender Zack Cook, who greeted Reynolds with a sharp jab in the thigh at the beginning of their league match.
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