Lady Dragon Water Polo, Utility
In one word, Dragon Pride is: Tradition
How did your love for the sport begin? My love for water polo began after my first Junior Olympics in 2012. When I was younger I played a lot of sports, but after that trip I knew water polo was the sport I was going to commit all my time to.
I joined the team because: My brothers always played aggressive sports and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. Also, to be able to be a part of a growing program with my best friends was another huge reason for joining the team.
Why do you have Dragon Pride? I have Dragon Pride because I want to protect the tradition those before me have set.
How do you show your Dragon Pride? I show my Dragon Pride by pushing myself to be the best student in the classroom and teammate in the water, while also trying to build relationships with people in every aspect of the Dragon community.
What is your pre-game ritual? My pre-game ritual is to listen and dance to throwback songs with my teammates in order to loosen up before important games.
Hours spent training each week: I spend around 12-15 hours each week training.
Favorite classes in school: My favorite classes I have ever taken are AP Psychology and Calculus.
Future plans: I am attending Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York next year. I am going to play for their Division One Water Polo team while majoring in Political Science.
Most challenging part of being a non-UIL athlete: The most challenging part of being a non-UIL athlete is having to work 10x harder to get the same recognition for our achievements as a UIL sport does.
Most rewarding part: The most rewarding part is definitely the friends and people I have met over the four years. Being part of the team also means being in a tight-knit group of people who want to support and foster you to be the most successful and happy person you can be, in and out of the water.
Biggest influence: My biggest influences have been my older brothers, Raymond and Anthony. As student-athletes they understand the drive and ambition it takes to be successful. They have always been my loudest cheerers, the most supportive, and the best role models a sister could have.