UCSB Brings in 11 Recruits for Next Season

May 21, 2013 at 4:42 am by Roy Kim

With the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, the UCSB women’s water polo team will graduate four seniors from its program. Defender Kacey Creek, attacker Shelby Haroldson, utility Rachel Nelson and All-American goalkeeper Ruth Milne will depart but pass on the mantle to the squad’s rising youth and 11 decorated recruits for the 2013-14 season.

The entirety of the class hails from California and is composed of five attackers, two defenders, three utilities and one goalkeeper.

Mackenzie Baldridge, an attacker, competed with the Laguna Beach High School program and S.E.T. Water Polo Club, and collected All-Orange Coast League First Team honors in 2012. Carly Christian, an attacker, is a two-time USA Water Polo Honorable Mention All-American from Newport Beach, whose brother Myles is the starting goalkeeper for the UCSB men’s water polo team.

Brea Cook, an attacker, helped bring Glendora High School to the 2011 CIF Division II Swim Championship and is a three-time All-Baseline League honoree. Casey Pond, a defender for San Ramon Valley High School, has garnered Honorable Mention All-American accolades from both NISCA and USA Water Polo.

Nikki Quinn, a goalkeeper, plays for Los Alamitos High School and is an honoree for the 2012 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics All-American Second Team. With the departure of Milne, UCSB’s all time saves-leader, Quinn will look to help Santa Barbara address the void at the position.

Delaney Riley, an attacker for El Toro High School, also plays with S.E.T. Water Polo Club and has participated in the USA Water Polo SOPAC Zone Team. Shore, a utility player for Santiago High School, has competed with the Xtreme Water Polo Club and garnered USA Water Polo All-American honors.

Jenna Solberg, a utility player for Chadwick High School, has helped the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club to a silver medal finish at the 2012 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics, in addition to attaining Second Team All-American honors. Brenna Thomas, an attacker, also played for the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club and garnered Second Team honors at the 2012 Junior Olympics.

Sophie Trabucco, a defender, is a local Santa Barbara product and four-time gold medal winner at the U.S. Club Water Polo Championships with the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club.

Tess Wardle, a utility player for Ventura High School, played with the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club as well and won the 2011 Junior Olympics as well as successive U.S. Club Championships.

With the addition of this incoming recruiting class, UCSB looks to be in prime position to continue its recent success heading into next season.