The high caliber coaches!

Stanford is unique in that it has overqualified coaches at every level in the club, and this is something that many people don’t fully appreciate until they’ve left the club or have gone on to play at the collegiate level.  Players who have grown up in the club are more prepared to play at the college level than many others, and at the college level are much more technically sound than their classmates; a true testament to their years of great coaching from the club coaches.

Every now and then at Stanford alumni games.  I was injured while playing in college and despite having two surgeries to repair my torn labrums (in both shoulders), have never fully recovered to the state I was in pre-injury.  While I can still physically play, I do have limitations as far as my shoulders are concerned.  Water polo will always be my favorite sport, but as an attorney with a fairly hectic schedule, the limited time I do have to workout is more easily spent in individual sports as it can be hard to get on a team’s practice schedule, as well.

When I look back on my time at Stanford, I think of the best 4 consecutive years of my life.  I met some amazing people, played elite water polo, tackled challenges in and out of the pool, and had some of the most fun of my life.

My husband and I recently bought a home in Los Gatos, California.  For the last three and a half years I have been a litigator practicing business and real estate law at Rossi Hamerslough Reischl & Chuck, located in San Jose.

With facebook it is so easy!  It has been great to keep in touch with my old teammates and to see all the life milestones everyone has been achieving.

Hiking, skiing, surfing, traveling

There was a summer where our fantastic goalie was dealing with a chronic injury.  Throughout the summer (and even at J.O.’s), and because we did not have a backup goalie, one of our feisty field players, Lindsey O’Farriell, volunteered to play in goal.  Nearly every game that she played goalie, there were numerous near-heart attacks for our coaches and those on the bench; Lindsey, while excellent for a field player in the goal, had a tendency to swim out and play second defender on the 2-meter player when the ball was thrown into set.  This left the goal wide open, and our coaches’ stomachs in their mouths.  For the most part, Lindsey was quick enough that her swimming out of the cage resulted in steals or turnovers, but I’ll never forget the post-game jokes from the parents in the stands who had full view of our coaches throwing their hands over their mouths, on their heads, or screaming in fear each time it happened.

As a 2-meter defender, my favorite move is counter-spinning on a 2-meter player right when she thinks she is “set” and ready for the ball.  I use leg hooks, core strength, and am always 1/2 to 1 full arm’s length away so that the 2-meter player cannot “back” into me and doesn’t quite know exactly where I am or where I’m going.  This move proved enormously effective even at the college level.

I played 2-meter D in college.  Prior to college I was a utility player, driving, posting up into set, defending, sprinting for the ball, etc.

To play it!  (I did not start until I was 13.)  Joking aside, here is my list:

The importance of training and competing on a swim team, to start sleeping with a polo ball in my bed, to try to use both hands in practice at some point everyday, to buy suits that are 1-2 sizes too small, to attend as many water polo camps as possible, to start watching videos of water polo games, to attend local college games, to never let sports be an excuse for not having excellent grades, to learn and master time management as soon as possible, to sleep as much as possible, and to start listening to and taking care of my body (icing, stretching, massage, etc).  Finally, that it is all worth it – the early morning practices, the sacrifices with friends, the pain and tears, and all the challenges that aren’t always “fun” – ARE WORTH IT.

A re-direct from 6 to 3 or 6 to 2 on 6-on-5.

Staying active, my pets, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and enjoying our new home.

Married a wonderful man in September of 2012, and recently bought our first home together.

High school water polo was great.  You end up playing against your Stanford club teammates which is always fun.  High school water polo also opens many opportunities to learn to be a leader, since generally speaking the caliber of the entire team is not as strong as it is in the summers with the Stanford club.  This is the time to learn to lead your peers, to teach them what you know, and to be vocal in the pool.

Do you have pets?

Yes!  We have two cats: Simba and Bagheera, and a dog: Kona.