Kristina Garcia '17 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Kristina, I am 5'8, 140 lbs, and play water polo for both the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club 16 A's team and the Varsity team at Santa Barbara High School. I know I'm a great candidate for your team because I am extremely competitive, hard working and I am very easy to get along with. I am known for always having a smile on my face even in the worst situations, and  I love to make people laugh. But in a field of competition such as school and water polo I become much more focused on my work rather than just trying to have a good time because I want to win.

This past year as a Sophmore, my high school coach referred to me as the x-factor on our Varsity team and later had me nominated for athlete of the week at the athletic round table after defeating Corona Del Mar High School in our last chance to qualify for CIF where we palyed against Newport Harbor. What I didn't mention is that the previous year we had lost three of our best starters that graduated and went on to play at some of the top performing water polo colleges in the state; UCLA, UC Berkley, and UCSB, plus two other starting seniors. We were not supposed to perform anywhere close to how we did that season, but little did we know we ended up in the exact same position in losing to Newport Harbor in the semis.

Another reason I  see my self a better candidate than others is because I am not only a top scorer but also a strong defensive player. When I was thirteen I played club volleyball and my 13 As coach brought a speed gun to practice where my overhand serve was measured at a speed of 48mph, so since then i can only imagine I've only grown stronger. Which probably makes you wonder how hard and fast I can throw a water polo ball, or at least I hope it does. In my 4 years of water polo I have also learned about and played many of the other girls my age who I am up against for your school, and let me tell you that I am sure that I am faster and stronger than AT LEAST 80% of them.

Freshman and Sophmore year I managed to qualify for division 1 CIF swim and water polo and was able to medal overall, but also brake a Channel League record which hadn't been broken for many, many years. For this accomplishment we were reconized by our school and Presidio Sports which I am very proud to admit.