May 3, 2019

Hey, Bear fans!
 
Rachael here again! A quick update on my thesis - it is done! I studied the evolution of sports psychology and how it pertains to male versus female athletes. It was very intriguing and I learned so much. This week I also finished classes at Berkeley forever (unless, you know, I come back for my PhD). It is definitely bittersweet that I am practically done. I will miss Berkeley tremendously, but I am excited for what is next.
 
The last time you heard from us was the week before our Senior Game against ASU. The team did an incredible job celebrating us. We were surprised with our locker room being decorated, individualized posters, and goodie bags. Our juniors also took it one step further and got us all necklaces with bears on one side and the coordinates of our favorite place where we occasionally spend Saturday nights on the other side (most of us wear it everyday). I know I can speak for all us in that we felt incredibly special and more than a few tears were shed.

Before the game started we all got recognized by our families. Standing next to the people who have supported us these past four years will forever be memorable. We got the win and then after the game the parents put together Easter baskets for all of us. You may think the festivities end there, but they don't. The Tagg family graciously had the whole team and families at their home in Orinda for some home cooked food and ping pong that got too competitive too quickly.

 
Last weekend we participated in MPSFs, our conference tournament. We opened up playing against San Jose State. The game was a great way to begin our weekend, with everyone playing and multiple girls scoring. It was very exciting. Emma Wright scored seven goals, coming up just one short from tying the school record. We then played Stanford and UCLA. We ended up coming up short for both of these games. Nobody likes to lose, but I am excited to see how we can bounce back.
 
On Monday, we found that we are going to NCAAs!! This is going to be my third time going to this tournament; it's always a lot of fun and teams bring out all the stops in order to win a national championship. We are seeded fourth and will be playing Hawaii in the first round.We play at Stanford on Friday, May 10th, so if you're in the area make sure to stop by and wear that recognizable blue & gold.
 
Tune in for one last write-up next week from one of the other seniors.
 
As always, Go Bears!
 

April 19, 2019

Hi, Bear fans. In honor of our Senior Day this weekend, we decided that you should get to know us a little better! Please enjoy the following responses from the seniors.

Rachael Lewin
Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Jupiter!
Favorite book or movie?
Love a good Rom Com.
Favorite genre of music?
Country
What song do you listen to before games?
ACDC
How would you describe your dance style?
Bad with too many hand movements.
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Bernese Mountain Dog
What are your plans after graduation?
Catch up on sleep and lose muscle mass, but in actuality go to graduate school.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Fyre Island
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Enjoying coffee and time with friends at Cafe Strada. I will also never forget catching the oppossum.
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Either Carson or Grace because I would want to live in Blackwell for a day - but only for one day.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
My parents rock! I also wouldn't have survived these past four years without my fellow seniors.


Madison Tagg
Hometown: Orinda, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Angeline's or Barneys
Favorite movie?
Step Brother
Favorite genre of music?
Anything but Country.
What song do you listen to before games?
Turn off the lights by Chris Lake or any dancing/electronic music.
How would you describe your dance style?
Not the best
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Bulldog puppy
What are your plans after graduation?
Going to get my masters in business analytics in the UK.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Mykonos, Greece or Iceland
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Beating Stanford in triple overtime last year, traveling to Hawaii the past two years, going to the dungeon with the G fam and getting pelted with tennis balls.
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Aubrey because she dominates our weights/cardio workouts. I'm inspired by her work ethic and her ability to complete our stairs workout by 5 more reps than anyone else on the team.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
My family (especially my best friend and my brother), my friends, and my teammates.


Sofia Rivas
Hometown: Miami, Florida

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Used to be Joshuya before it closed :(
Favorite book or movie?
Mama Mia
Favorite genre of music?
Latin Music
What song do you listen to before games?
Whatever the team is blasting in the locker room.
How would you describe your dance style?
Fun
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Jack Russell Terrier
What are your plans after graduation?
Move to New York
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Singapore
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Game days and hiking the fire trails.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
Olivia Hauger because we made our schedules together and took all the same classes to ensure our mutual success.


Sarah Siepker
Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Taco Bell and King Pin
Favorite book or movie?
Kicking and Screaming
Favorite genre of music?
Country
What song do you listen to before games?
Spanish Music or Cardi B
How would you describe your dance style?
"Dad like"
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Bernese Mountain Dog
What are your plans after graduation?
Hopefully staying out of trouble and moving to Australia to play water polo!
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Jamaica
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Catching a baby opossum in the Jungle, Vicki thinking Hilary got kicked out when she didn't hehe, dying my hair brown, watching the men's team win NCAA at home, moving into the Jungle with my best friends and never ever wanting to leave :(
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Hannah DeRose so I could finally know what it feels like to bench more than 100 pounds and so that I COULD FINALLY BE RELATED TO CAROL!
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
I would like to thank my parents for making this once in a lifetime opportunity possible and for always being my number 1 support systems no matter what crazy ideas I conjure up.

 
Grace Morgan
Hometown: Newport Beach, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Italian Homemade or Jupiter!
Favorite book or movie?
Harry Potter series, but books over movies.
Favorite genre of music?
Country
What song do you listen to before games?
Rachael Lewin's acapella versions of popular songs (credit to backup singers Hannah Derose, Cassidy Ball, Grace Raisin and Georgia Gilmore).
How would you describe your dance style?
Mom at a high school party trying to blend in.
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
A type of doodle, one that sounds like it would be a really cute mix but then turns out a little weird, but still cute.
What are your plans after graduation?
Travel the world, move to ATX, and use my free time to find activities I like so I can finally say I have hobbies outside of water polo.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Croatia for Yacht Week (if you'd like to help me achieve my dream - gofundme.com/GraceGoes2YachtWeek).
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Living in the jungle (despite our unwelcome guest), game days, hiking the fire trails, exploring San Francisco, going to South Lake Tahoe, and the team's shenanigans in general.
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Kristina Garcia. I would love to be that fashionable for a day and I think she's a super cool human overall.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
Dear Parents and Siblings, if you're reading this - Thank you for putting up with me, it couldn't have been easy and I am so grateful I had you guys to lean on.


Lauren Charter
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Mezzo
Favorite book or movie?
Last Chance U
Favorite genre of music?
All over the place, but lately it has been Alternative.
What song do you listen to before games?
Hells Bells - AC/DC
How would you describe your dance style?
Mom-esque
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Labradoodle, basically I want to be Oliver.
What are your plans after graduation?
Travel, cook more, maybe start doing Yoga.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Iceland
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Living in the Jungle and meeting people from all over the world.
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Geo - I want to ride around on her Urbe.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
My parents. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here. They also helped me edit all of my papers.
 
Hilary Adkins
Hometown: Glendora, CA

Favorite restaurant in Berkeley?
Toss
Favorite book or movie?
Because I said So
Favorite genre of music?
Country YeeHaw
What song do you listen to before games?
The girls on the team singing.
How would you describe your dance style?
Like a Grandma or just flailing my arms.
If you were a dog, what kind of dog would you be?
Golden Retriever
What are your plans after graduation?
Got to Law School and save the world.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for free, where would you go?
Greece
What are some of your favorite moments at Cal?
Study abroad, being apart of the team - coming into college and automatically having a family, and game days.
If you could swap lives with anyone on the team, who would it be and why?
Geo to be able to rock her style and experience how cool she is.
Would you like to thank anyone for helping you succeed at Cal?
My parents!


April 11, 2019

Hi Bear fans, Grace Morgan here! Hope you are having a great week and are as excited for Big Splash this weekend as we are! 

The Bears faced off against the Trojans last weekend. After a hard-fought battle, our team fell 8-3. We are looking forward to getting back in the water this weekend against Stanford on Saturday and Indiana on Sunday. 

This week the seniors attended a dinner hosted by the Big C Society. The dinner featured speeches from the Big C president, our Athletic Director, and many other prominent members of our athletic community at Cal. It was an exceptional night, one the seniors had been looking forward to for a while. We wore our navy sweaters with yellow stripes on the sleeves that indicate how many players are in the field during the game. It was a huge honor to be at the dinner, and we are excited to represent Cal Water Polo and the Big C Society in the future. 



After our trip to Hawaii, it became apparent to our team that some members are meant to excel in the pool and not the kitchen. But we do have some superstars on the team that manage to shine in both. One team member in particular, Georgia Gilmore, is known for her ability to whip up incredible food (almost as good as her ability to whip you around in center). Gigi opens up her home and invites teammates over for dinner when they need it most and cooks them something that reminds them of home. As someone who has been invited to one of those dinners, I will never forget the mushroom cream sauce pasta that she made and the advice that she gave.

Can't wait to see you on the deck this weekend to watch us take on the Cardinal and the Hoosiers! As always, Go Bears! 


April 4, 2019

My name is Madison Tagg and I am another one of your six seniors on this 2019 team. I am a local when it comes to the Bay Area, being born in San Francisco and raised over the hill in Orinda with my twin brother, Spencer Tagg. When Spencer and I both decided to come to Cal for water polo, it was the best decision that I have ever made to share this incredible collegiate experience with my best friend. Even though we have spent the past 22 years together, I will be graduating with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and will hopefully continue my education in a graduate school abroad.
 
As we settle back into our daily academic and athletic schedules, coming off of our exciting spring break trip in Hawaii, we can't help but dream of the beautiful warm weather we once had. Our trip started off with an early bus ride to SFO at 6 a.m. to catch our flight (I don't think 've ever seen our team so energetic at such an early time before). After we landed and completed our scheduled practice, we finally arrived at the same light blue house from last year. We were so ready to make more memories with our 2019 team that we ran as fast as we could into the house to claim the best rooms — preferably, the ones with an oceanside view, or the biggest bed.
 


On the second day, we hiked the beautiful Diamond Head State Monument. The trail wasn't very long but the hike took us on the edge of the 300,000 year old crater that overlooked the beautiful Pacific Ocean and Honolulu. We stopped prior to the hike at the bottom of the crater and stopped again at the halfway point to take more team pictures. In addition, Brigit and Cynthia Mulder took a sister picture, and Aubrey Milham and Carson Broad took an artsy photo at the midway point. Finally at the top, you can see Claire Mcdowell and the seniors with the most beautiful view.  




One of the best part of the trip was that the time difference (time went back 3 hours) allowed us to become morning people. One person on the team would wake up at 6 a.m. to make coffee and all of a sudden, the whole house would be up by 6:30 to watch the sunrise on the balcony with a cup in their hand. The team building that we shared simply by making breakfast in the kitchen together or sharing the visual experience of the sunrises were a few of my favorite memories of the trip.


Finally as the week progressed, we got to spend some time at Waikiki Beach the last two days of the trip. Although some individuals (including myself) could have applied sunscreen a little bit better, relaxing with our toes in the sand was very much needed after a hectic academic semester. Georgia Bogle, Cassidy Ball, Kristina Garcia and Claire McDowell spent a good amount of time basking in the sun in the shallows of the ocean with big smiles on their faces. In addition, a big thank you to our coaches for getting us boogie boards and surfboards to use because secretly it was another way to get us to work on our freestyle and our freestyle kick. In between surfing and boogie boarding sessions, the parents were so generous to treat us to shaved ice on the last day of the trip. My favorite was called the Pink Island: Mango and Strawberry on each side with mochi, popping boba and frozen yogurt on the inside (in the span of our fove-day trip, I think i had eaten at least 3 of them).


Thank you for tuning in for this week's Senior Scene and we are looking forward to our upcoming games the rest of our season. Make sure to tune in and catch the update on Saturday, April 6th, as we face the University of Southern California.
 
Go Bears!
    

March 22, 2019


Welcome back, Bear fans!
 
Rachael here again! Update on my thesis - it's going very well. I have decided that I am writing it on the evolution of sports psychology and how it pertains (and differs) to women's and men's sports. Although it still seems a little daunting, it's already been a rewarding process and I have learned so much about the topic!
 
As my time is running up here at Berkeley, I thought I would talk about a few other things I have learned here.
 
Quite possibly the most important thing I have learned was not actually in the classroom. It's how crucial diversity is. As most people can attest to, Berkeley is extremely diverse. I remember my very first week as a freshman, I was walking on campus in what we call our "eucalyptus forest" and everyone I passed was speaking a different language. Through other experiences like that, I have learned the importance of diversity and how it can lead to great innovations, conversations, and an overall deeper appreciation of what makes people who they are.
 
I could write for hours about what I have learned about in the classroom, but one class sticks out. I took a psychology of sleep class, which was absolutely amazing. Our professor, Matthew Walker, is a world-renowned sleep psychologist and also works with our fellow Bay Area sports team, the Golden State Warriors. He talked about how crucial sleep is to an athlete's performance, which made me realize that pulling an all-nighter is probably not worth it.
 
I have also learned some really cool fun facts about Berkeley itself. One of my favorites is our bell tower, commonly known as the Campanile, stands at 307 feet tall, making it the third-tallest bell and clock tower in the world (also making it 22 feet taller than Stanford's). Another fun fact is that we have two chemical elements named after our school, Berkelium and Californium. Also just as interesting, our four major libraries are connected by underground tunnels. Oh, and we are the #1 public university - that's definitely my favorite fact about Berkeley.
 
In regard to the pool, I have learned that it's very important to speak quickly, decisively, and loudly. Apparently my usual way of calling defense is more a capella than athletic.
 
We have a few exciting things in store for Cal Polo this week. Tomorrow we play San Jose State, which is an important MPSF game. Santa Barbara is visiting us on Tuesday for an exhibition game. And on Wednesday, we take off to Hawai'i to spend the rest of our Spring Break on the topical island of Oahu. I am looking forward to what I will learn while we're there!
 
Tune in next week to hear an update on our games and our time in Hawai'i!
 
Go Bears!


March 15, 2019

Hello, Bear fans!
 
My name is Lauren Charter and I am another one of your six seniors this year! I grew up in Sacramento, California, but Berkeley has always felt like home since I attended football and rugby games with my dad as a kid. In May, I will be graduating with a B.A. in Public Health and becoming the fourth generation from my family to graduate as a Golden Bear.
 
This past weekend your Bears had a huge home win against the University of Hawai'i! The Bears came out strong with a 9-3 lead by the third quarter, riding on a 7-0 run led by Emma Wright's four goals in the match. The Rainbow Wahine came back in the fourth, but the Golden Bears withstood the late quarter surge and got the 10-9 win!
 
Instead of recapping our team's past week in the pool, I wanted to introduce you to more of our Bears. I'll be highlighting interesting facts many of you don't know about my teammates! (Honestly, I didn't even know some of these accomplishments before doing my research!). Their hidden talents and special accomplishments make our team so unique and original.
 
Some of us Bears have already accomplished impressive athletic feats before coming to Cal. Years before I even gave water polo a try, basketball was looking like a real possibility for my athletic future. In the fifth grade I became a champion of the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition for the Great Sacramento area. For those of you wondering: yes, the plaque I won is still hanging in my dad's athletic shrine to his children.

Rachael Lewin was also a prodigy of another sport, long before she ever started water polo. Rachael was a member of the USA Synchronized Swimming team, enduring eight-hour Saturday practices (with only a 30-minute lunch break) to nail all her routines!! Looking back on her synchro days, Rachael can still fondly recall her most memorable routine, which played to the tune of "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles.

When not playing water polo over the summers, Claire Sonne was excelling on the sand, earning her title of Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard of the Year at the age of 11. Claire competed in ocean swims, sprints for time and distance runs on the sand, earning her rightful place as lifeguard of the year. All this competition definitely prepared Claire for her days at Cal.


Our next series of hidden talents revolves around linguistic accomplishments. Many of our Bears are multilingual, but some have gone above and beyond to master their chosen languages. Daily Hartmeier first began her journey with linguistics in high school by taking Mandarin. She has continued her Mandarin studies here at Berkeley and will be earning her minor in Chinese come May 2020! Daily continually shares her knowledge from the classroom with our team by singing us many Chinese songs. Her song of choice: ????(Gong xi gong xi).

Next up are two of our San Diego girls. Both Cassidy Ball and Georgia Gilmore attended Spanish immersion schools growing up. Cassidy never had English classes until she attended high school, and was the soloist performing the national anthem every Wednesday in Spanish! Elli Protopapas rounds out this group of accomplished linguists with an impressive list of language proficiency. While Greece is her true homeland, Elli lived in five different countries during her childhood. This exposed her to an array of diverse cultures and gave her the ability to pick up French, German, and English, fluently, along the way. 
 
While the Bears are all about teamwork and comradery, some of our teammates have a flare for entrepreneurship and a desire to strike it big on their own. Before water polo, Georgia Bogle was a rising child star. Her biggest role was starring next to Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. In an interview with me, Geo shared her greatest highs, as well as the final straw that made her ditch the industry: "It was quite an honor to work with Natalie Portman (aka the white swan). But I decided to leave my stardom in the past…that lifestyle didn't cut it for me." While Geo spent her childhood under the bright lights of Hollywood, Claire McDowell was developing her entrepreneurial spirit in Miami, selling her ice cream pies left and right for $12 a pop. Claire spent her childhood making ice cream pies with her grandma and would bring them to school for her classmates to enjoy. Early on, Claire realized these freebies were cutting into her profit margin, so she made a business out of her pies. She hung flyers and menus around her elementary school and sat back as she watched the money fly in. (Did I mention she was in second grade running an operational business?).



Lastly, our Dutchies bring some unique hidden talents outside the water. Brigit and Cynthia Mulder spent their Saturdays practicing yoga. The special talent they've both proudly acquired is Sirsasana, or a yoga headstand. One of the most difficult poses to master, it highlights the sisters' dedication to perfection in and out of the water! Kitty Lynn Joustra spent her days on her elementary schools' blacktop becoming proficient on the unicycle. Unfortunately, there is no photographical evidence of this feat, so if her parents are reading this, please pass those photos along. Not only can she balance on one wheel, but Kitty shines on the stage, as she was the lead in her graduating class' school musical.
 
That's the rundown for just some of my teammates' amazing talents and accomplishments that influence our team every day. Thanks for reading this week and be sure to check back next week for a recap, as our Bears take on Michigan on Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
Go Bears!


March 8, 2019

Hi Bear fans, Grace Morgan here again! We hope you are having a great week and have plans for a fun weekend. I know we do! We play University of Hawai'i at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. if you can make it on deck. The team is really excited to get some action in at Spieker and play in front of our fellow Bears. 

This past weekend we were in L.A. and faced off against UCLA. After a tough first half we battled back but ultimately lost by two in the final minutes. The Hartmeier family graciously hosted us after the game and we got to spend some time with our families. Senior Sarah Siepker was more excited to spend time with the Hartmeiers' chickens than she was with her parents, but who can blame her; they were really cute. 

This week the Bears got on top of their academics and extracurricular activities. Some of our very own have started a Feminist club on campus and have been actively seeking new members and making a difference on campus. Led by senior team manager Hilary Adkins, who interned with the nonprofit Feminist Majority organization this past summer, the group has been tabling on Sproul Plaza. Other team members that help lead the club are Madison Tagg, Hannah DeRose, Claire Sonne, Aubrey Milham and Cassidy Ball. Follow them on social media to stay up to date with their awesome activities and learn about how they are making a difference (@fmlaberkeley). 

Also, special happy birthday shoutout to Catie Wallace who turns 21 tomorrow! For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Catie Wallace (first and last name must be said together), she has one of the bigger personalities on the team and one of the most contagious laughs. We will hopefully be celebrating her birthday with a W on Sunday! 

Hope to see you on deck, and as always, Go Bears! 

 

March 1, 2019

Hi, Bear fans! It's Grace Morgan again to update you on how last week went!

Last weekend we were down south playing in the Barbara Kalbus tournament at UC Irvine. We had a great weekend against some top teams and came away with third place. Our team locked it down early against UC San Diego and Hawai'i to play USC in the semifinals. The Bears put up a fight against the Trojans but fell 9-8. We then played UCLA and came out with a W (7-6) after two overtime periods. 

After the final game, players got to spend some family time before flying back to Berkeley. I can't tell if I was more excited to see my parents or my fluffy dog. I was not the only one to be reunited with their furry family members - junior Hannah DeRose also got to spend some quality time with her two favorites, Craig and Bruce…and her parents (go follow their Instagram account @frenchieandiggylove). Freshman Carla Traplin was also reunited with her mom, Beck, who flew 15 hours from Australia to see her daughter play. My mom didn't make it to the start of our 9 a.m. game from our house 15 minutes away, but I digress (Mom if you're reading this, I am just joking. Thank you for being the ultimate cheerleader and supporting me through the ups and downs. Also, thank you for hosting amazing team dinners - I don't know what we would do without you and the taco cart.). We are really grateful for our amazing families who come out and support us. Our Bear family would not be the same with out you all.

The Lewin family secured their spot as the ultimate Cal fans with their sweet ride. Rachael was cheered on by her whole family this past weekend. Her mom, Kristin Lewin, has a special place on our team as she is the one in charge of making sure that we have the best food after games. Our snack table is unmatched and we are always grateful to exit the pool deck and see what she has planned for us. Mrs. Lewin, thank you so much for going above and beyond!  

We are traveling to Los Angeles this weekend to face off against UCLA on Sunday at 12 p.m. Tune in next week to hear from a new senior *cough Lauren Charter,* *cough Madison Tagg*. We are approaching midterm season and the seniors are on the home stretch. 

As always, GO BEARS! 
 

February 21, 2019

Hello, Bear fans!
 
My name is Sarah Siepker and I am another one of the six seniors on the team this year! I grew up in Los Alamitos, California and will be (hopefully) graduating with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on sports nutrition. Along with my fellow senior, Rachael Lewin, I have the opportunity of making my own major from combining a few other majors together and also have the pleasure of writing a 30-page thesis. My research combines anthropology, nutrition, and sociology to study diet practices among athletes in both the United States and Spain. Even though a 30-page thesis in the middle of season might seem like academic destruction, I am excited to finally finish my research and put it all into a 10,000-word document.
 
The Bears are coming off an 11-6 win over UC Davis last weekend. Traveling to another team's home pool is never an easy task but the Bears were able to come out successful. Junior Hannah DeRose explains "we had a solid game but not our best which is exciting to see our potential to grow." This week in practice proved to be crucial to get ready for this coming weekend's Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine.
 
A lot of the Bears come from near and far to play for this prestigious school, but for some that means not being able to see family all of the time. Although all of our fans our loyal, there are some that never cease to make it out to a game. For senior Lauren Charter, her parents, and doodle Oliver, do just that. Once again, the Charters graced us with their bubbly energy and team dog after our game on Saturday.

 Following our single game on Saturday morning, the Bears were gifted a day off and a break from the rain and west coast polar vortex. Usually, Sundays are spent with teammates studying or going into the city for an impromptu shopping spree. Due to the shift in weather, some Bears decided to spend their day taking advantage of the sun and soaking up the rare Vitamin D. Senior Sofia Rivas and juniors Claire McDowell and Daily Hartmeier live in the wonderful apartment known as the "Met." Not only is this the home of Daily's endless amounts of baked goods but where some of the best sunsets in the Bay Area can be enjoyed from the rooftop deck. For Sofia and fellow senior Grace Morgan, last Sunday's sunset was extra special since the sun had not come out all week. A cotton candy sunset was the perfect end to a rather wet and gloomy week.

 The Bears will be heading to my stomping grounds of Southern California this weekend for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. This week at practice we have been focusing on communication and urgency and simply playing Bear ball. We are excited to put our hard work to the test this weekend with our first game against UC San Diego and three games to follow.
 
Thanks for reading this week and be sure to check back next week for a recap of the tournament and to hear from another one of our wonderful seniors.
 
As always, Go Bears!

 
February 15, 2019

Bom dia, Bear fans!

My name is Sofia Rivas and I am another one of your six lovely seniors this year. I grew up in Miami, Florida and will be moving back to the east coast after graduating this semester with a B.A. in Business Administration.

The Bears spent these past two weekends competing in 40-degree weather and pouring rain both at Stanford and at home. Needless to say that these conditions were less than ideal for your local Florida gal, who considers any temperature below 65 quite criminal, warranting boots, beanies, and mitts. Although the Bears are no strangers to a little water, I must applaud all of our loyal fans for bearing the weather and sticking by our side through sunshine and rainstorms. Nothing warms our hearts more than looking at the stands to find Mr. and Mrs. Siepker in matching rain ponchos alongside a sea of blue and gold umbrellas concealing other parents from the downpour.

We were also pleasantly surprised this weekend by a guest appearance from our extremely talented Cal Band at our home game against the University of Pacific. I personally can never get over just how harmonious our band is and find myself fangirling every time they step onto the pool deck. Although I wish I could say that I am the Cal Band's No. 1, I fear my admiration falls second to that of junior Claire McDowell, who one time dressed up as a member of the band to portray her adoration for the group (back when she had long dark hair).

As I mentioned, we faced No. 10 Pacific this past weekend and pulled off a 15-11 victory following a tight first half. After a hard-fought game, the Bears enjoyed a hearty meal replete with warm comfort food provided by our incredible team moms, Mrs. Lewin and Mrs. Tagg. These two Mamma Bears deserve a special shoutout because in the nearly four years that I have been at Cal, I can barely count on one hand how many games we have walked out of and not found a table filled with food, snacks, and drinks. They certainly spoil us and will be greatly missed by the program in the years to come.

Berkeley is a long way from home for the majority of our team, with some girls joining us from the other end of the state, others from the opposite side of the country, and some even from the other side of the globe. It is easy to find yourself feeling homesick while also training hard and studying for classes. On these days we rely on one another and on our Bear family to pick us up when we are feeling down. On Sunday morning, the Lewins did just that when they graciously invited a group of girls into their home in Walnut Creek for brunch. As we pulled up to the Lewin household, senior Grace Morgan mentioned how nice it felt to be in a residential neighborhood that reminded her of home. It was a perfect morning filled with plenty of coffee, bacon, and great company in true family style fashion.

The Bears are back in action with a full week of training before facing No. 11 UC Davis on Saturday at Davis. This will be our second time matching up against Davis this season following a 13-11 victory at the Cal Cup.

Check back next week to hear from another senior about how the match goes and how we plan to prepare for our weekend ahead at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine.

Thank you for tuning in and as always, Go Bears!
 

January 31, 2019

Hello, Bear fans!
 
My name is Rachael Lewin and I am another one of the six seniors on the team this year! I am originally from Walnut Creek, California, which is a quick 25-minute drive away. But you do have to drive through a tunnel so it seems far enough.
 
If things go how they are supposed to, I will be graduating with a B.A. in American Studies focusing on sports psychology. Cal allows students to independently make their own major with the help and allowance from an advisor. With that being said, I have had the pleasure of taking classes from many different concentrations. For instance, I have taken psychology of sleep, sociology of sport, and a leadership class which was offered through our business school. This semester I get to write a thesis which will include different aspects from classes I have taken that relate back to sports psychology. Although this seems like a daunting task, I am eager to write about what I have learned and am more eager to prove to myself that I can write that large of a paper.
 
When I am not in the pool I can usually be found at a good coffee shop. I help facilitate a club on campus, Athletes in Action (AiA), that allows student-athletes to explore their faith in sport. I have been a part of AiA since my very first week of freshman year and have only missed a handful of meetings because the community and amazing people keeps me coming back. It has been a huge part of my time here at Cal and has been super impactful as it has allowed me to grow tremendously in my faith.
 
One thing we pride ourselves on at AiA is our coffee culture. One way we want to reach more athletes in simply through casual coffee dates where we can get to know each other and have conversations. AiA has been a place where I have met some of my best friends and has truly sparked my obsession with good coffee.
 
Anyway, back to water polo. We are undefeated at 3-0 (4-0 if we were to count our exhibition win against UCLA)! This past weekend we hosted our annual Cal Cup here in Berkeley. Many teams make the trip to spend the weekend with us for some much anticipated play. We played well and are excited to learn how we can continue to better ourselves.
 
Sophomore Claire Sonne explains how "our team definitely showed that we know how to battle back" despite having some close games and that "we have so much potential as a team" which she is looking forward to continuing to build.  Our new freshman Aussie, Carla Traplin, loved playing her first home game at Spieker. She said "it was such a great experience, especially getting to play in front of a home crowd and getting the win. The team is amazing and [she] feel[s] so lucky to be a part of it." 

Parents near and far also made the trip to join us in Berkeley last weekend. Senior Sofia Rivas enjoyed spending the weekend with her parents, as well as celebrating her 22^nd birthday! The Dutchie sisters, Bri and Cynthia Mulder, also enjoyed showing their parents around Berkeley. The family also celebrated a birthday, as Bri turned 21! The girls enjoyed homemade meals by their mother to give them a little taste of home and Bri was gifted a bike for her birthday! 

This weekend we travel to Palo Alto to participate in the Stanford Invitational where we will face Indiana, Pacific, Stanford, and the Chinese National Team. We're looking forward to a weekend full of good competition and continuing to implement skills learned at practice into the games. If you're in the area, we'd love to see you sporting the Blue and Gold in the stands.

 Thanks for tuning in this week; come back next week to hear from another senior.
 
 As always, Go Bears!


January 24, 2019
 
Hi, Bear fans!
 
My name is Grace Morgan and I am one of the six seniors on the women's water polo Team at Cal for the 2019 season. I am from Newport Beach, California and will be graduating with a B.A. in Media Studies. This year all of the seniors will be taking turns writing this blog to give you a behind-the-scenes look into our season, and I am honored to give you the first sneak peek!
 
We just wrapped up our winter training camp that consisted of double-day practices for two weeks to prepare for the season! We were joined by two new Bears - Cynthia Mulder (little sister of our stellar center guard Bri Mulder) and Carla Traplin. Cynthia Mulder made the journey to the Bay Area from The Netherlands while Carla Traplin swapped her Australian summer for a little rain in Berkeley. Both girls have fit in seamlessly and we are excited to see what they can do this season.
 
Our head coach, Coralie Simmons, kept us on our toes the entire camp and got us out of our comfort zones. For the first weekend of training, we traveled to Sonoma, where we participated in a team activity in the morning followed by pool time in the afternoon. Preston Raisin, uncle of freshman Grace Raisin, graciously hosted the Bears on his farm. The team was ecstatic to pet baby goats, sleep all together in a bunk room and eat meals at a huge table all together.

The first night the seniors made grain bowls for the team and our culinary knowledge was put to the test. We learned it wasn't necessary to cook the entire Costco size bag of quinoa for 25 girls and that cooking in an industrial kitchen is harder than it looks on Chopped!
 
Our team activities were everyone's favorite part of the trip. We did a ropes course where people conquered their fear of heights, a beach workout consisting of wheelbarrowing your partner up a sand dune in the pouring rain, and a relaxing yoga workout to re-center ourselves and stretch out some of the soreness from training. It was a great trip and huge shout out to Sonoma Broadway Farms for hosting us and making us feel at home!



We returned to Berkeley and resumed our normal workouts. Everyone pushed themselves to be better everyday and conquer new obstacles. It was awesome to see everyone get faster and hone skills they had been practicing all of camp.
 
We also started school this week and the team was looking forward to getting back in the classroom. Junior Claire McDowell is really excited to switch it up from her usual business courses to take a nutritional science class, but she is even more excited that freshman Cynthia Mulder is in the class with her. Seniors Rachael Lewin and Sarah Siepker will be writing theses this semester and are looking forward to researching their topics and developing their ideas.
 
We open the season this weekend by by participating in the Cal Cup at Spieker and we are eager to get some games under our belt. We will face off against Fresno State and UC Davis on Saturday, followed by an exhibition game against UCLA on Sunday morning and a later game against Long Beach State that afternoon.
 
We hope to see everyone on the pool deck and can not wait for what this season has in store.
 
Tune in next week to hear from another senior about how we do in Cal Cup and what else is coming up for your Golden Bears!