LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego women's water team was able to jump back in the pool for the first time since March in early October. The fall quarter presented a unique challenge for the team as they remained compliant with university, local and state COVID-19 regulations. UC San Diego Athletics chatted with Head Coach
Brad Kreutzkamp to talk about the team's fall quarter.
Q: What did you work on this fall?
First and foremost, we worked on getting back in shape. They didn't do nearly as much as they would do in the off season, especially since our season got cut short. We dropped off the cliff really fast. We conditioned a lot which was fine because our practices had to be socially distant and water polo is such a contact sport. So we started working on conditioning. Then we started working on a lot of passing, ball work, skill work, individual work and did a lot of shooting.
Q: How did the new players integrate with the team?
Great. Our goalies are getting shelled every day and our three field players are integrating really well. In fact, I have a lot of really big hopes for all of them.
Q: Did you have any sort of emphasis or team motto for the fall?
We kept saying it's getting better all the time. Let's stay positive. Let's not focus on what's going on. There's such an unknown with if we're allowed to play games, when we can practice, how many hours, etc. There are so many variables that the athletes have to deal with that I thought that we kept them focused on the fact that four months ago we didn't even know if we would get in the water. We didn't even know if we would be at school. Now we're at school and the athletes are playing with their friends. Now we're in shape. We weren't in shape four months ago.
Q: Anyone you want to highlight that has stepped up as a leader during this unique fall quarter?
I think both my team captains
Grace Pevehouse and
Jessee Ransone both have had such a unique challenge as captains more so than years before where athletes would just show up and tell their teammates what to do. Now they are dealing with people with sick family members and people who are sick themselves. They have been walking a fine, strange line on how to keep things sane and I think they have been doing a fantastic job.
Q: How important has your coaching staff been to you during this quarter?
Critical.
Randy Franke and
Nicki Davidson show up every morning. Nicki just had a baby and now she's on the pool deck. Clearly with the pool being spread out as much as it is, we ourselves have to be spread out and having our coaching staff here has been critical.
Q: Anything else you want to add about the past quarter?
It's been hard. I know it's getting better. We are fortunate we go to a school like UC San Diego where the testing capabilities are there and the protocols are there to keep us safe. But for 18-22 athletes to try and stay mentally health and focused on this, it's been hard. I'm really proud on what they have done so far. I think they are really excited because they get to go back to full contact practice next week. That will really change things around make them happy and put them in a good place.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
