This week’s athlete spotlight is on Mia Duran (12), co-captain of the girls’ water polo team. She first joined the sport as a freshman after attending a summer practice with her cousin, who was team captain at the time. 

That one practice was all it took; she knew water polo was the sport for her. Since then, Duran has played water polo every year in high school.

She said, “After that summer practice, I knew that water polo was going to be my sport.”

Now in her senior year, Duran plays a big role on the team. As co-captain, she helps lead both in and out of the water. She acts as the voice of the team during games, sets up goal assists, and mainly defends the other team’s top shooter. 

Being a leader isn’t always easy especially when the pressure is high, but Duran works hard to stay focused and set a good example for her younger teammates. 

As she put it, “The most challenging part of water polo is definitely trying to keep my cool and be a responsible team player.”

One of her favorite parts of water polo is helping introduce new players to the sport and watching them fall in love with it the same way she did. Her personal goal for the season is to help the team grow and improve together. 

“I just want to see growth from my team and leave them better than we started,” Duran said.

Outside of water polo, she is also a multi-sport athlete, she competes in golf, swim, and track. She says water polo has helped her become a better teammate and develop strong sportsmanship, which carries over into everything else she does.

Although being a captain, she still finds a way to balance school and sports. When asked about her considering playing water polo after high school, she stated, “I am considering playing water polo for Merced College.”

From stepping into her first practice as a freshman to leading the team as a senior, Duran has shown what it means to grow, lead, and give back.