Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a new feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos throughout their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com.

LA JOLLA, Calif. – As our “Fab Five” series continues, UC San Diego men's water polo rising redshirt senior Calder Hilde-Jones shares his favorite photos from his career thus far. The Stanford native is majoring in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience. Last season he was named to the All-WWPA Second team.

1. Final Four Bound

In order to reach the final four in the NCAA tournament in 2018 we had to beat LBSU in the quarterfinals. We knew they were going to play hard, having lost to us earlier in the season but we put together an unforgettable team performance. This game was a statement that the Tritons were to not be underestimated. This picture is one of my favorites, not only because I had just scored in the NCAA play-in game, but because I had just received one of the greatest passes I've ever seen from Skyler Munatones. It was a special moment between me and my friend/teammate, and I'll never forget it. 

2. WWPA Champions

After a two-year drought, we finally brought back the WWPA title in 2018. Part of what made this moment so special was that much of this group of people had been paying together for three seasons. We had lost together the two seasons before, and that made winning together in 2018 all the more special. It was a truly historic season, and that afternoon in Fresno was one of the greatest moments of my life.

3. Home Opener pt.1

The home opener is always an amazing experience. The rivalry between us and LMU combined with the almost 2000 fans in attendance always makes for a great game. Even though we lost, the 2019 home opener was one of the most intense and exciting games I've ever played in. This photo is a beautiful action shot of one of my favorite goals I've ever scored. Not only did I have to swim harder than I possibly ever have, I also got hit surprisingly hard! This was my second of three goals, and a highlight in one of my best performances.

4. Home Opener pt. 2

This image is from the same game as the previous one (2019 home opener), but I had to select it because it was such a fun moment for me. Part of what makes the home opener so fun is being able to put on a show for the fans. UC San Diego's own Jack Spitser, captured the moment after my goal, when I got to turn to the fans and share my excitement with them. We wish we could have delivered a win for everyone in attendance, but the excitement of the game made it one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career.

5. New Seasons

The beginning of any season is always exciting. This picture is from the second day of the 2019 Triton Invitational, which for us is the first competition of the year. This photo reminds me of all the pre-game huddles I've been in over my career. It brings back feelings of excitement and anticipation for the season, and memories of listening to Denny's speeches surrounded by my teammates. The atmosphere at the start of the season can be particularly overwhelming, but our coaches make sure we know to stay calm, trust our teammates, and to take it one game at a time. 

Stay tuned for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Below are previous “Fab Five” collections: 

• Zeinab Torabi (women's track and field)
• Isabel Lavrov (softball)
• Cameron Leonard (baseball)
• Neil Tengbumroong (men's tennis)
• Konami Masui (fencing)
• Natalie Widmer (women's soccer)
• Anu Bhadada (women's tennis)

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 DivisionsIII and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-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.