Samantha Pantoja (12) co-captains the girls water polo team for her senior year. Pantoja’s goals for this season are to have fun and to enjoy her last year playing on the team. 

“I chose water polo because when I was younger I would go to my older sister’s water polo games and seeing her play inspired me to try this sport when I got into high school,” said Pantoja. 

She has been playing water polo since her freshmen year. Pantoja, number 14 can be spotted in the pool as a sprinter. At the beginning of each quarter she is responsible for sprinting to the middle of the pool to aim to get possession of the ball before the opponent does. Alongside water polo Pantoja does swim as her main sport. 

“I like the friendships that are made, as a team we bond and as individuals we are able to look up to each other,” Pantoja stated as her favorite thing about the sport.

 Pantoja encourages students to try this sport because of the friendships that are made through the sport. Furthermore she emphasizes how water polo is a good way to stay in shape, by stating how the most challenging part of the sport is trying not to drown in games. 

Pantoja said, “I will miss the friendships that were made and playing with my team.” 

She does not plan on playing water polo in college, but her goal is to continue swimming. Since freshman year she has known that after college, she wants to go into pre-med to become a doctor.  

“Since water polo shares a pool with Pacheco our practice is later which gives me enough time to work on my homework before practice,” said Pantoja.

Pantoja handles being a student athlete by focusing on time management. On the days the team has an away game, Pantoja completes her school work on the bus rides. Pantoja’s leadership shows outside of the pool too, as she is the president for ASB. 

The next home game is at Pacheco Oct 14 against Golden Valley. Girls play at 4 p.m. and boys at 5 p.m.