Naperville has long been considered among the “blue blood” communities in the United States when it comes to aquatic sports, and the last name Menis is a familiar one because of Mark Sr.’s role in the foundation of the Naperville Summer Subdivision Water Polo League. While it’s only natural that Mark Jr. would follow in his father’s footsteps as a dynamic water polo player, a quick glance at the swim record board at the Maplebrook 2 Pool serves as a reminder that Mark Menis was not only dominant with a ball in front of him, but also an exceptional swimmer, holding records as far back as 1995 when he was still an 8 & under swimmer.At Naperville Central, records and titles became a Mark Menis habit, filling the Redhawk record board with achievements. A multiple event All-American, Menis and his teammates finished 3rd in the 2010 IHSA state meet in the 200 Medley relay, and followed that performance with state titles in both the 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay at the very same meet. Menis recalls, “My favorite high school athletic memory was watching my childhood best friend anchor the 400 free relay and come from behind to win the event, the entire meet, and the last race of my swimming career. Thank you, Danny Tucker!” That 400 free relay not only broke a school record, but secured the 2010 State Championship for the Redhawks and head coach Mike Adams, the second state title in less than a decade. Later that night, Menis, Tucker, and the other Redhawk senior swimmers would head to the annual Senior Party overnight celebration and be turned away for arriving past the deadline. When the boys produced the state championship trophy as an excuse for being tardy, the parent volunteers softened their position and the entire class of 2010 had a chance to celebrate with their classmates.Coming off an exceptional senior swim season, Menis found even more success in the pool during the spring. While he would cap an impressive career as the 2010 Illinois Player of the Year, the groundwork was laid as a much earlier age, competing in and winning a Midwest League Championship as a part of a 12&under team in 1997. Menis’ resume with USA Water Polo’s Olympic Development Program is extensive, highlighted by multiple Midwest Zone roster selections, national tryout invitations and a designation as the “Top Player” at the ODP regional tryouts in Kearns, Utah in 2010 that would ultimately earn him a place in the National Team selection camp at Los Alamitos, California. Back in the Midwest, no individual player could compete at his level. Mark Menis’ 4-year tenure at the varsity level for head boys water polo coach Bill Salentine was an impressive run of success. The 2008 team finished as state runner-up, the 2009 team brought home a 3rd place trophy, and in 2010, Naperville Central amassed a 30-5 record before falling to Fenwick in the state championship game for another 2nd place finish. Menis shares that his biggest goal while he was a student-athlete at NCHS had been to hold the 1st place trophy for water polo and tackle the coaches into the water after their win. While the opportunity didn’t present itself in 2010, in 2016, Menis returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, and helped guide the Redhawks to the program’s 1st state title. He finally had his chance to “watch them dunk Sal in the pool after winning state. While I had to wait six years to hold the state trophy, it was worth the wait!”During his senior year at Naperville Central, Menis accepted a scholarship offer to continue his water polo career for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. There, he would be a part of a Lions squad that would win a Western Water Polo Conference championship and finish 3rd at the 2011 NCAA National Championship tournament. After college, Menis took a position with W.E. O’Neil Construction, finding a special connection with the company’s CEO at the time, Richard Erickson, a 1964 graduate of Naperville Community high school and 2014 inductee into the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame. Most recently, Menis works for Glenstar, managing large scale construction and real estate projects. One of his current duties is to oversee the construction of a 450,000 square foot health and wellness facility that includes a pool. It’s safe to say that Menis’ history of dominating pools has given him the appropriate background to begin building them.Now that he’s back in the area, Mark Menis has stayed connected to the sport he loves by coaching the West Suburban Water Polo Club and Taft High School girls water polo team. He’s also dedicated his time to giving back to others, supporting the non-profit KidsMatter, an organization that does incredible work on behalf of more than 45,000 young people in Naperville and the surrounding area. Mark Menis shares credit for his success with three specific coaches: Bill Salentine, Mike Adams, and his father, Mark Sr.; they instilled in him the same values of hard work, persistence, and care for others. As he reminds current athletes, “You’ll never regret working hard, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with a little bit of perseverance. Dream big and set goals. Live in the moment and focus on what actions you can take each day for a brighter tomorrow. Go volunteer and help those less fortunate than you. Go hear the stories of your parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Go out and see the world. If you can find gratitude for what you have in life, you will find success.”Menis learned early the power of footsteps; inspired by his dad’s, he himself has created a life that inspires those who follow him – on the pool deck, in the water, on the record boards, and in the world at large.