When Jessica and Julie Zedaker came to Grove City College as Texas state water polo champions in 2001, they didn't know what to expect.

But they didn't quite expect what was waiting for them.

The Wolverines' water polo team was coming off a winless inaugural season. Some players didn't know how to swim, let alone know the finer points of the sport.

"Our freshman year, we were like, 'Oh my gosh. What did we get ourselves into?'" said Julie Zedaker. "When we came to visit, they didn't show us the girls who couldn't swim. They must have hidden them away."

The Zedakers were water polo players through and through.

With Julie, a goalie, and Jessica, a goal scorer with a powerful shot, the Zedakers helped Cypress Creek High School in Houston to the state championship.

Now they were thrust into a pool with a team full of beginners.

An eggbeater wasn't the name for the leg kicks used to stay afloat in the water; it was something used to make an omelet.

But the Zedakers knew it was going to be tough. When they visited the campus and talked with former coach Keith Bullion, it was understood that they were going to be the players to raise the program to the next levels.

And now, the early tumult, which included a mid-season coaching change in 2002, is over.

After winning 25 games in the first four seasons combined, the Wolverines are 17-17 this year as they prepare for a trip to Santa Cruz, Calif., Friday for the 2004 Collegiate Division III National Championships.

After an 0-7 start, the Wolverines are 17-10.

"At the beginning of the season, I would have never guessed we would win 17 games," said Julie Zedaker, who is an All-American goalie.

But the Wolverines have, and in the process they have beaten Slippery Rock University and Washington and Jefferson College this season.

The Wolverines had never defeated those schools before.Now they are focusing on upsetting a California team at the national championships.Grove City lost its first five games this season to California teams, which traditionally dominate eastern teams."It would be a tremendous accomplishment," said coach Dave Fritz. "In the past, we'd go out to California and really get blown away. I feel we are a far better team than we were in the past. Even if we lose a 9-7 game, I think it would be huge. It will get us noticed and help us get recognized."I really do feel we've turned a corner."The corner may have been turned the day Fritz took over.When Bullion left for another job unexpectedly during the 2002 season, Fritz took over on an interim basis after starting the water polo program at Chartiers Valley High School.He was also the boys swimming and diving coach at the school.But Fritz had never played water polo. He did play football at Grove City College."A football mentality?" Fritz asks. "I don't even know what that is. But people have said I have it. I don't do it consciously.When Fritz started the water polo program at Chartiers Valley, he immersed himself in the sport, learning all the nuances."I figured if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right," he said.By the time he got to Grove City, he was knowledgeable in the sport.But he had to convince the Zedakers."Our question was, 'Had be played water polo before?'" Jessica Zedaker said. "They said no, but he played football."That didn't convince the Zedakers that Fritz was the man for the job. They thought about leaving the team.Until they met him."We didn't want a new coach," Julie Zedaker said. "After the first practice, we really liked his approach. It was a lot like high school again. He wanted to make us the best."While Grove City is not the best yet, it is on its way.Fritz has five prized recruits ready to take the place of Zedaker and leading scorer Katie Flaherty."All these girls have such a big heart for the sport," Jessica Zedaker said. "When Julie and I think about our first year here, we can't believe it. Recruiting has been amazing."All we wanted was to leave with the team in better shape than when we came. I think we are going to do that. This team is going to be really good next year."