Francisco Paredes '23 Recruiting Profile

My goal for being a collegiate athlete is to advance my level of play as much as possible and continue to enjoy the sport I already love. I have been playing water polo for three years, and I have been swimming since I was five. I've always loved being in the water, whether it's in the pool for recreation, practice, or competition or surfing at the beach. During high school swim season, I excel at both individual and team competitions, rigorously pushing my own personal limits and rallying behind my team members.  During the summer before my freshman year, I realized just how important water polo was to me;  being a collegiate player is my goal and water polo is my passion. I have participated in various local high level water polo camps, such as the ODP National Team Selection camps in Orange County, California, as well as the LA Athletic Club National Team selection camp. I've medaled in the 2021 Junior Olympics Gold Division.  I always strive to compete at the highest level of water polo, and eventually, I would like to participate in a Division 1 or 2 University Water Polo Team, the Olympics, and/or on a national team abroad. I'd like to participate and play water polo year round.

Academically, I understand what it means to be a student-athlete.  I work hard to keep my studies at a strict balance with my sports endeavors. I am a coachable athlete, always willing to improve my skills.  Academically, I am proud to say that I earn As and Bs, all while taking  Honors, AP, and IB courses available to me. My senior year will continue to be filled with as many challenging classes as my schedule will fit, to help towards college.  Although I am very committed to school and water polo, I am also involved in various activities outside of that. I am involved in club water polo, volunteer coach for 12, 14, and 16u water polo teams, and I've served as a student body treasurer representative in both junior high and high school.   I enjoy surfing and body surfing at the beach throughout the year because it is a fun and demanding full body workout, and I appreciate being in the ocean with nature.  Additionally, I volunteer at the City of Oceanside Surf Camp for kids during the summertime.  Involvement in my community (community service) is important to me, so I volunteer at the local junior high school as well as at the local Boys and Girls Club.

Overall, my dream is to succeed in playing water polo at a competitive, collegiate level, and eventually, at the national level, along with furthering my studies in business or biology, in hopes of entrepreneurship in the water polo industry.

I am a committed, reliable, and positive player and teammate. I have the stamina required to be a strong D1 or D2 Center, and my passion for the sport grows each passing year.  I AM your #1 recruit!