San Marcos High School celebrated 10 student-athletes who signed to compete in their respective sports at the collegiate level on Thursday inside the Thunderhut.
Of the 10 signees, six came from the Royals’ aquatics teams of boys water polo, girls water polo and girls swimming.
Sadi Adams – University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (St. Louis) Lacrosse
Adams will take her talents to the Midwest for her academic and athletic career, competing on the lacrosse team at the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis.
“I loved the placement in a big city, I really wanted to go to a big city,” Adams said. Everyone (on the team) is very supportive and everyone just pushed each other to be better.”
The San Marcos girls lacrosse program has experienced plenty of success recently thanks in part to Adams, who helped lead the team to a Channel League title and an overall record of 17-3 last season.
“I started playing lacrosse freshman year so to be able to play in college and do something that I love so, so much is really amazing,” Adams said.
Marina Brown – Cal Water Polo
Brown is one of three San Marcos girls water polo players who put pen to paper on Thursday, completing a commitment to Cal Berkeley that has been years in the making.
“I’ve always wanted to go (to Cal), not just for the water polo program but for the academics,” Brown said. “My dad and grandfather both went there so it’s always been a dream of mine.”
San Marcos girls water polo has been one of the premier programs in town for years, and this year’s senior class which contains three Div. 1 signees will look to make a splash this season, which began on Tuesday.
“It really shows that all the work we put into this and all the hours in the pool really paid off,” Brown said. “[Naomi Enright] is one of my best friends so it means a lot that we were able to do it together.”
Naomi Enright – UCSB Water Polo
Enright will make the quick trip out to Isla Vista to join the Gaucho women’s water polo program as a local signee.
“I really like how young the team is and there’s a lot of potential for everyone to grow over the next couple of years so it will be really interesting to see where the team heads,” Enright said. “I was talking to a couple of different schools that were far away but I’m just a homebody at heart.”
The Gaucho women’s water polo program will welcome Enright with open arms as one of the latest in Santa Barbara’s long line of collegiate water polo players.
“I never really thought I would make it this far which is why it’s so rewarding but I’m definitely stoked on my decision,” Enright said.
Josie Gamberdella – Long Beach State Beach Volleyball
Gamberdella will head south to compete for the beach volleyball program at Long Beach State for her collegiate career.
“It’s really exciting and it’s an honor to be able to say that I am going to (college) to play beach,” Gamberdella said. “It’s always been a goal of mine and I’m just really blessed that I can do it.”
The senior has been a standout on the San Marcos indoor and beach teams throughout her high school career, but the beach volleyball program in Long Beach called her name.
“I just really love the coaching staff and the team camaraderie was something that really drew me there,” Gamberdella said.
Lucy Haaland-Ford – Stanford Water Polo
Haaland-Ford has been one of the top players in the nation throughout her high school years, and she will look to continue her success at Stanford in college.
The standout senior, another big piece of the Royals’ recent success in the pool, was not in attendance on Thursday as she is out of the country competing for Team USA Water Polo.
Carly Kieding – Yale Sailing
Kieding will head across the country for her college athletic career and be studying at the Ivy League level, competing on the Yale sailing team.
“It’s super exciting, this is a dream come true,” Kieding said. “I really like the coach, I like the campus and the whole team there.”
Sailing is not a CIF-sanctioned sport, so Kieding has committed herself to the sport outside of the San Marcos campus en route to securing a spot on Yale’s team.
“I do a lot of sailing outside of school and a lot of traveling across the country and it’s super fun,” Kieding said.
Mateo Obando – Loyola Marymount Water Polo
Obando will be playing at the NCAA Div. 1 level for Loyola Marymount men’s water polo beginning next fall.
“Ever since I was 8 years old I’ve been playing water polo, it’s a great feeling and I’m really excited,” Obando said. “I went on a visit there and it felt very much like a family, the team was very close and I love the coaches and all the players, and the school is an awesome school as well.”
Led by Obando, San Marcos boys water polo has had a strong past two seasons, winning the CIF-SS Div. 2 title last season before being placed in the rugged Open Division playoffs this year.
“Ever since my freshman year I’ve been looking forward to my final year and doing as well as we possibly could so ending last year with a CIF win and then this year in open (division) is a great feeling,” Obando said.
Taylor Steelman – TCU Swimming
Steelman will continue her swimming and academic career in the state of Texas for the TCU Horned Frogs.
“I just liked the nice campus and they have a lot of resources for athletes,” Steelman said. “It’s really exciting, I’ve worked a lot of years for this and it’s kind of a relief too.”
Steelman has put together a stellar high school career for the Royals, including a pair of All-American consideration performances in the 500 freestyle and 200 IM last season.
Sierra Tallman – San Diego State Swimming
Tallman has had a strong high school swimming career, and she will get a chance to continue that success beginning next year as a San Diego State Aztec.
“I’m so excited, I’ve put a lot of hard work into swimming so I’m really excited to see where I go at San Diego State,” Tallman said. “They have a great team, a lot of improvement, they have a really great coach so I’m excited for a new team environment.”
Tallman has had a historic San Marcos career of her own, helping the Royals to the state meet last year while also breaking a 44-year school record in the 200 IM with her time of 2:02.
Sofia Vazquez – Westmont Soccer
Vazquez will be staying close to home for her collegiate career, as she will be suiting up for the Westmont Warriors beginning next fall.
“It’s a relief, it’s really a weight off my shoulders and I don’t have to go to any tournaments or anywhere I’m being scouted so it’s nice to finish the year relaxed,” Vazquez said.
The soccer standout was drawn to the family atmosphere created on Westmont’s campus in Montecito.
“It’s a really beautiful campus, I really like it, and I think a reason why I chose is because of the community and I got along with everybody,” Vazquez said.