There is one thing that all athletes have in common: an ambition to better oneself. Throughout my time at USC and competing versus teams from all over the U.S., I’ve come to realize that the power of sport turns individuals into teammates and teammates into champions. From different backgrounds, stories and levels of physical capabilities, Division I sports put top tier athletes on a path to find meaning in their lives. For me, joining a team is about the brotherhood. More so, it’s about the blood, sweat and tears shed from the wins, losses, injuries and battles. The meaning that D1 Water Polo brings me is inexplicable because of how different each player’s story, attitude and background are. Among the several life lessons I've uncovered throughout my athletic career, I learned that engaging in the highest level of college athletics brings me closer to becoming less of an individual and more of a team player.

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I learned that engaging in the highest level of college athletics brings me closer to becoming less of an individual and more of a team player.

 

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As an immature kid from Northern California, I used sport to push my mental and physical capabilities daily. Like many other kids growing up, I tried my hand in a variety of sports, from baseball and basketball to swimming. This variety created a foundation of competitiveness, but it wasn't until 5th grade that this foundation turned into a lifelong passion for aquatic sports. I combined my swimming abilities with my competitiveness and set forth on a journey into the world of water polo. Ever since then, I have continued to love the joy and hardship this sport has brought me both in and out of the pool.

 

As I matured, so did my commitment to the sport of water polo.

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As I matured, so did my commitment to the sport of water polo.

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In high school, I made the decision to attend St. Ignatius College Preparatory, which was an hour commute from my home. I made this commitment to better my skills and be immersed in a more competitive environment so that my D1 dreams could come into fruition. While my high school was not a powerhouse by any means, I learned some of my most valuable lessons there. Waking up at 5 a.m. to commute to school for morning practice ingrained a sense of mental stamina and grit in me. I learned what it feels like to be completely drained, yet still manage my workload and extracurriculars. My life became a battle between sleep, competition and school life. My days began early and ended late. From morning training, to classes, then to high school training and then club training, my days were long, challenging and tough. While I don’t think I have spent 10,000+ hours in the pool in the same time span Kobe did on the basketball court, this part of my life proved to be extremely transformative for my athletic career.

 

My high school experience was so integral to my journey because although it was tough, it brought me to where I am today, and I wouldn't change any of it. My dream of playing D1 water polo motivated me to get out of bed at the crack of dawn day after day, week after week. However, this dedication was not always recognized. When I was an upperclassman in high school, I spoke to a sports recruiter who said I was “too small” to play water polo on a larger scale. This criticism only furthered my ambition to win and to perform stronger than ever before.

Being recruited by universities is extremely different for each athlete. When I signed my letter of intent, I knew I was going into a winning program. In my journey, I made a difficult decision between The Naval Academy, UCLA and USC. Each recruiting visit offered unique aspects into the lives of students at each school. I contemplated the decision to attend the Naval Academy heavily because of my deep-rooted respect and admiration for our country's servicemen and women. Although I would have been honored to attend The Naval Academy, my visit to USC showed me a home I could not resist. I felt an instant connection with the campus, students, coaches, and atmosphere. The decision to attend SC proved to change my life forever.

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The decision to attend SC proved to change my life forever.

 

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My life as a Trojan started before I ever graduated high school. After receiving clearance from administrators at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, the last four weeks of my senior year turned into me flying back and forth to Los Angeles for USC’s offseason club team training. The travel added extra chaos to my life, but it developed my time management and communication abilities. 

 

My first day of summer training camp hit me like a train. Bouncing around from a three-hour morning training to a much-needed nap then back to weights and another three-hour training made it so that I could hardly walk by the end of the day. My days exhausted me quickly and fatigue set in. While summer was long and at times made me want to quit, I kept my eyes set on winning. Conditioning proved to prevail and routine set in. In addition, winning woke me up and winning helped me fall asleep. One comment my strength coach reiterated time and again is that “we don’t work out, we train to win championships…” This stuck with me. Throughout the summer, hopping around from sleeping at one house to the next, I learned the art of couch surfing in addition to water polo stamina. Despite being uncomfortable, I was lucky to have the older guys to mentor me and teach me SC tradition and character– which runs deep. With over 16 National Championships between both the men’s and women’s water polo programs, tradition is strong. Whether it has to do with minuscule details in training or pre-game rituals and routines, we differentiate from other teams through our attention to detail and commitment to USC history.

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By following the rigid structure of USC water polo my freshmen year, I was able to develop a backbone that would support me through some of my toughest years at SC. In the midst of the pandemic, being COVID tested roughly nine times a week and following strict social distancing guidelines made being on a team extremely difficult. Not being allowed to hang out with teammates outside of my apartment and thus mitigating any reason to take our team out of competition was a priority.

 

These isolation protocols created a sense of disconnect between me and my teammates. I felt called upon to step up as a leader and bridge this gap to strengthen the bond of our team, even amidst a global pandemic.

 

I felt called upon to step up as a leader and bridge this gap to strengthen the bond of our team, even amidst a global pandemic.

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I did so by encouraging my teammates to be the best versions of themselves in difficult times. As a team, we learned that not everything can go smoothly, but there is a lesson in everything. During my COVID seasons of water polo, ultimately what propelled my teammates and me through challenging times was the power that sport holds on human beings. The power is displayed in the heart of the athlete, the courage of the fanbase and the support of our university to believe in our team’s capabilities.

 

The power is displayed in the heart of the athlete, the courage of the fanbase and the support of our university to believe in our team’s capabilities.

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Some think of sport as their faith, some as a hobby and some as an outlet to get out of a dark place. For me, it was a chance to shape my life and prepare me for my future outside of college.

 

Throughout the past four years, my ambition to be the best version of myself while also encouraging those around me to do the same produced huge dividends for my team and me. Concluding my last semester at USC goes to show how commitment to the coaches, my body, my teammates and my family and friends is much more powerful than being an individual. Though I said I didn’t have only one meaning in life since beginning my journey, one huge takeaway is that the team is always stronger than the individual. I know this lesson will persist in my endeavors outside of the pool and will continue in my professional life. While I can say the long summers, disappointing losses and exhilarating wins will be memorable for different reasons, the most memorable moments come from the culmination of the entire journey shaping who I am today. SC is a home, a logo, a family and a journey and without it, my drive to be more than an individual would not be possible.

 

SC is a home, a logo, a family and a journey and without it, my drive to be more than an individual would not be possible.

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I am proud to wear our letters, I am proud to yell our mottos and I am proud to be a Trojan. Fight On!