Building a championship-winning culture is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in team sports. While it's challenging enough just to reach the pinnacle of success, it's even harder to sustain it over prolonged periods.

Competing at the highest level typically requires great talent. But no matter how good a team looks on paper, expectations are rarely going to be met without the presence of another key component.

It's something that California men's water polo is no stranger to - chemistry.

"There's a lot of competition, but everybody understands that they have a role on our team," fifth-year senior goalkeeper Xavier Casabella said. "Everybody is important, and that's why our team is so good in terms of bonding. Whether you're the one scoring the last goal or making the big save, we all feel like we are champions."

While certain key parts of the Golden Bears' lineup have stayed the same over the past three years, Cal has been buoyed by its ability to adapt, finding success no matter which pieces have had to be replaced. It's a big reason why the two-time defending national champion Bears are the only program that has held a top-two national ranking every week of the 2023 season.

This year, left-handed sophomore Albert Ponferrada joined two-time ACWPC All-Americans Roberto Valera and Max Casabella in the starting lineup, making up a devastating combination on the perimeter that has totaled 147 goals and over 150 assists between them. If it has ever seemed like there is a unique level of chemistry and understanding between the trio, it's because there is.

Along with Max's older brother, Xavier, and junior center Jordi Gascon, their connection has extended well beyond their time spent in Berkeley.

"All five Spaniards on the team are from different parts of Catalonia in Spain. We practiced every day together for the national team, so you can imagine how good the chemistry is between us," Max said. "We knew each other very well before committing here."

After playing alongside each other since their earliest teen years, the Bears' Spanish quintet has yet to end a season at Cal without winning a national title. But all of that success might not have been possible without Xavier, who was the first of the group to make the move across the globe.

"It's very difficult to study and play at the highest level back home. Here, there are great opportunities and resources for us, which is huge," Xavier said. "I'm more of an independent person, and that's why I started to think outside the box. I've always seen the U.S. as a great opportunity for student-athletes, so I thought it was the best option."

Shortly after arriving in California in 2019, Xavier took on a starring role as the goalkeeper at West Valley College, where he was a CCCAA First Team All-American and Coast Conference swimming champion in the mile. As the eldest of Cal's Spaniards, he came alone, landing on a rainy night following a direct flight from Barcelona to Oakland. 

"One of my teammates who I had never met picked me up and I stayed in a Motel 6 for five days because I didn't have an apartment yet," Xavier said. "I remember eating a Little Caesars pizza and thinking to myself, 'What am I doing on the other side of the world? I don't know anyone here.' It was a lot to process and a lot of learning. It was an experience."

Xavier's initial ties to Berkeley were borne from his connection with Cal women's water polo alumni Roser Tarrago. After interviewing Tarrago – a three-time Olympian for Team Spain – for his high school research project, Xavier had his sights set on joining the Bears.

"Around the same time that Cal won the 2016 national championship for men's water polo, Roser taught me about Berkeley. Since then I've wanted to come to this school and program that I've admired," Xavier said. "I wanted to experience it for myself."

The life-altering path that Xavier chose eventually paid off. Two years later, he not only earned a spot with his number one option for both academics and athletics at Cal, but he was also reunited with three of his former Spanish National Team partners, including his younger brother.

"As soon as I got here, Xavi was the one who showed me everything," Max said. "He looked around every day to find us an apartment. He sacrificed part of the summer to make sure that as soon as we arrived in July, we wouldn't have to worry about anything. He helped me with every single part of the process. I'm really thankful as a little brother."

Thanks to Xavier's two years of experience living in California, the task of acclimating to a new country and culture was made much less daunting for the others as well.

"I kind of take more of a parental figure of those other four," Xavier said. "Whatever needs to be done for them, whether it's finding an apartment, signing up for a family phone plan, or taking them to create a bank account, that's been my role."

While the Spanish cohort often operates like a family amongst itself, it was also fortunate to join a team with its own family-like bonds. It's a culture that has been carefully cultivated for many years by head coach Kirk Everist.

"Their quality as players is evident, but I think their ability to mix in with the team is also very valuable. They had to be able to assimilate quickly into a group," Everist said. "When they're trying to transition in, find a role, figure things out, and earn the respect of the coaches and the players, that's the hardest part, but they've done it just about as well as any group of kids. They all embraced the opportunity and wanted to immerse themselves into all of it. It's a great part of the mix that we have within our team."

Cal opens the 2023 NCAA Championship Friday in the quarterfinals against Fordham at 4 P.M. PT at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center.


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