Benjamin Villareal '20 Recruiting Profile

    For most of my life, basketball was my love and passion.  I would spend hours after school shooting and playing with my friends. When I wasn't outside, I was inside playing a basketball video game, or watching basketball on the television.  With high school approaching, I recognized my passion outweighed my skill level, and it was best I find a new sport.  Reluctantly, at first, I followed in my brother's footsteps and joined the water polo team. The only experience I had with water polo, prior to the season, was a week long camp. I quickly realized that a lot of the things I loved about basketball,  existed in water polo, too.  Surprisingly,  my body was a good fit for the sport.  I discovered that all the hours I prepped for basketball allowed me to understand ball movement and communicating as a team.

    The first two years of high school, I played goalie.  My junior year I wanted to move out into the field, realizing that this would require me to strengthen different parts of my game. I worked hard at developing my skills for the field. That change has made me more appreciative of the importance of communication and versatility. I really enjoy working with diverse groups of people, working together to solve problems and accomplish tasks. Not only is this important in the pool, but it is also important in life.  One of the things I value most about playing club polo is the opportunity to work with teammates from different cultures and backgrounds.  Water polo has truly enriched my life.  It has created invaluable opportunities and experiences for me, like playing in the Junior Olympics tournament in California.