Q: What made you decide to stay at Saint Francis after last year’s announcement that the program would move from Division I to Division III?
A: “It’s my final year and I’m in the PA program, so it was about academics and athletics. The switch doesn’t change anything for me this year, so I decided to stick through it, but I know it impacts the younger players on the team.”
Q: Coming from California, how different is it playing water polo in the East?
A: “Environmental factors are the biggest change. Every pool is indoors, so there’s no worrying about the sun, sunscreen, rain, fog or your eyes hurting. The referees are also different – they let you get away with more aggressive play in California. You must be more subtle out here.”
Q: Since your freshman year, what’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in yourself as a player?
A: “I would say confidence and game smarts. (Head Coach) Jay O’Neil loves to talk about water polo IQ and mine has definitely improved. I have had great mentors who helped improve my game a lot. I’m now able to anticipate plays more frequently and read the pool.”
Q: You recently surpassed 300 career points here at SFU. What do you think has contributed most to your growth as a scorer?
A: “Cleaning up my execution. Less offensive fouls and turnovers lead to more time on the offensive side to work around and diversify play. Jay wants me to shoot across cage, but my favorite shot is near-side low, or near-side skip. Being able to see where defenders and goalies are and adjusting to that and reacting to what’s in front of me has also helped me improve.”
Q: How would you describe the vibe on the team this year with so many new faces?
A: “It’s a fun energy because we’re adjusting to new people and learning new things about each other. It keeps things fresh. It’s an obstacle in the pool, since we’ve only been playing about a month together.”
Q: How do you manage being a water polo player and a Physician Assistant major?
A: “Through the time management skills I’ve developed over the years. I’ve been playing since I was 8. I’ve always prioritized school, while also knowing that I made a commitment to a team and can’t skip out. A lot of caffeine also gets me through. I also prioritize sleep and try to get eight hours every night.”
Q: Is there someone on the team or a coach who’s shaped how you play?
A: “Yes, my club coach when I was younger, Luis Moreno. I stayed with him from the time I was 8 years old until high school. He was a father figure to me. He would drive me to practice when my parents were busy and supported me in many ways. He required lots of discipline in the pool.
He pushed us hard from the time we were young, and he exposed us to higher levels play. We were 10U but playing at a high school level. He always focused on the basics, not fluff play. He passed two years ago from cancer and I’m still close to his daughter.
Another coach, Wolf Wigo, also shaped how I play. He was an Olympian in water polo in the early 2000s and is now the head coach of the UC-Santa Barbara men’s water polo program. He always made it fun for us. I would go to his summer camps and it really instilled in me a love of the game.”
Q: As the season continues, what are you hoping to achieve with this year’s team?
A: “Getting the best results we can and playing to the fullest. It’s my senior year and I want to have no regrets and put it all out there. I also want to have fun.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or habits before you step in the pool?
“I must have some sort of caffeine. A lot of the time it’s Celsius. I try not to drink two in one day if we have multiple games. I also must have music to hype me up and be a little silly before I play, so I don’t get in my head.”
