SEASIDE --- Coach Gary Figueroa has added a deep pool of talent to the CSU Monterey Bay women’s water polo team, which finished the 2008 season with an 18-14 record, it’s best ever. Now, with the additional talent, Figueroa looks to take another step forward.
“This looks to be the best recruiting class we have ever had at CSUMB,” said Figueroa.
Five athletes have signed letters of intent to compete at CSUMB, four of them from California and one all the way from Canada, Kelly Thompson. Thompson, from West Vancouver, British Columbia, has won three national water polo championships and was named to the Canadian Top 25 Youth National Team. She attends Rockridge Secondary School and has a 2.8 GPA.
“Kelly is our first international player and we are very excited to have her joining us at CSU Monterey Bay,” said coach Figueroa. “She has already learned much in her training and play in Canada and we expect her to really help us in goal next year.”
Figueroa is also expecting a splash from Sarah Saunders. Saunders attends Vintage High School in the Napa Valley was MVP of the the Monticello Empire League this year and made the all-league team in 2007 and 2006. She also made the San Joaquin Section Second Team this season.
Last year she competed on the Central California Water Polo team and went to the national trails. Saunders said she learned a lot from the experience as Olympic water polo coaches attended and coached the girls for a weekend.
“Sarah brings us an excellent mix of size, speed and experience,” said Figueroa. “We expect her to step in and start helping us right away.”
Recruited out of Esperanza High in Anaheim, Katie Sowul should help replace some of the offense the Otters will miss with the graduation of the NCAA’s all-time leading goal scorer Chelsea Laning. Sowul had a stellar run at Esperanza High. She was the 2005 JV Rookie of the Year, the 2007 Offensive Player of the Year, the 2008 Outstanding Offensive Award Winner and the 2008 Aztec Award Winner, she made the 2008 All-Sunset League second team and was the team captain her senior year.
She’s also an excellent swimmer. She made the 2003 ORCA Junior Olympic Team, the 2006 and 2007 SET Junior Olympic Teams, and was a 2008 CIF Finalist in the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Free Relay. She was also a 2008 Masters Swim Meet participant. She had a 3.33 GPA in high school.
“Katie is definitely one of our top recruits,” said Figueroa. “She possesses good speed and strength, an excellent arm, water polo smarts and a very positive personality. We expect Katie to make a very strong contribution to our program.”
Two others are also expected to contribute and both have a connection to past CSUMB players. Heather Penna of Long Beach, Calif. will return to the game after taking a few years off. She last played in 2005 at Long Beach City College as a teammate of CSUMB’s outstanding graduating goalkeeper Jenna Beer.
Penna was named an All-American that year and was the All-South Coast Conference co-MVP. She shared her team’s MVP award with Beer.
“Heather comes to us from a strong program at Long Beach City College,” said Figueroa. “Her speed, strength, fitness and game experience will have an immediate, positive impact.”
Shelby Carillo is the other recruit with ties, graduating from the same school, Live Oak High, as Laning. Carillo made the honorable mention All-Section team in 2007 while competing in the Central Coast Section as a goalie for Live Oak. She was also the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s co-senior of the year.
“We are very happy to have a ‘local’ player join us again at CSUMB. Shelby was one of the top high school goalkeepers in our area and we have very high expectations for her continued improvement and play at the college level,” said Figueroa “We hope she fills the swimsuit of our graduating star Chelsea Laning, who just so happened to also graduate from Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill.”