Virginia Vazquez-Azpiri '22 Recruiting Profile

I have been playing water polo competitively every year since I was eight, when I first joined the Lamorinda 10U co-ed water polo team under Coach Bill Brown. Since 2012, I have spent every year of my life playing water polo competitively. I have always been surrounded by other competitive kids who; like me, enjoy working hard together. Almost all of my former teammates, even ones on my first co-ed 10U team have gone on to play D1 water polo in college and continue sharing their passion for the sport. I have made it a goal to follow in their footsteps to play collegiate water polo.

When it was time to start thinking about my future in high school, I was faced with a tough decision. My local public school, Campolindo, has an incredible program for water polo and I would have been able to play at one of the highest levels in the country, and be noticed by many collegiate water polo coaches.  At the same time, academics have always been my priority, and I have always dreamed of going to the best academic institution I could possibly go to. I wanted to be in an environment where people took learning seriously and strove to achieve the highest possible academic standards.  I was able to find the best of both worlds by moving 3000 miles to Phillips Exeter Academy.  I was ecstatic about the chance to continue playing water polo and still attend one of the most academically rigorous programs in the country. Although East Coast water polo isn't the same league as in California, Phillips Exeter is one of the best high school teams in the East, and I am proud to be a member of the Girls Varsity team. 

In college, I am hoping to have a similarly rigorous academic experience while still playing water polo at a high level.  I am confident that my academic and athletic preparation will allow me to do both.  By playing in college, I hope  not only to become a better player, but also to grow as a person by  continuing to experience the team spirit, competitiveness and hard work that water polo offers.  I plan to study Philosophy and Modern Languages and am planning to become an attorney and bring the same passion to my career that I had in the pool.