By Emily Whichard
Daily Bruin Contributor
PALO ALTO “”mdash; A booming band, a brand-new packed stadium
that seats more than 3,000, a monumental scoreboard and a raucous
crowd”¦ it sounds more like a football game than a
women’s water polo championship.
But the surroundings only proved that women’s water polo
has finally come into its own as a college varsity sport.
The first NCAA finals for women’s water polo on Sunday
paved the way for an exciting future in the sport with a heavily
contested match and an impressive showing from the spectators, all
showcased in a world-class facility.
The inaugural NCAA championship game gave Stanford a chance to
show off its unprecedented facility. Completed just a few weeks
ago, the multimillion-dollar Avery Aquatic Center boasts three
pools, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, a bowl-like stadium and
seating for 3,000.
The notoriously rowdy Stanford band came out in full force for
the day’s event. Clad in Dr. Seuss costumes, playing crazy
toons and sporting their very own dancing tree, they set the tone
for an exciting afternoon.
It may have been home turf for the Cardinal, but the Bruins were
ready with their own cheering arsenal. The stands studded with as
many animated blue and gold bodies as maroon. Parents, former
teammates and alumni lead the eight-clap over and over while the
Stanford fans tried to keep up.
“Fans and family came out before the band even did. Before
Stanford could open their eyes we were cheering and leading the
way,” senior Coralie Simmons said. “It was like we were
at home.”
The roaring crowd overpowered the softball championship, soccer
game and track meet that were all taking place within a few yards
of the facility.
The enthusiastic support for the game is an indicator of where
the future of women’s water polo is headed.
“I think today’s crowd is a great indication of
where women’s water polo is going. This was a victory for
UCLA, but for women’s water polo as well,” UCLA Head
Coach Adam Krikorian said.
In the past few years, college women’s water polo has
sky-rocketed from a sport with only 20 varsity teams nationwide to
a competitive sport with more than 70 teams competing for the NCAA
championship.
“Hopefully, exciting games like this one will pave the way
for a strong base of girls coming out of high school
programs,” Krikorian said. “I think today proves that
the sport is gonna keep growing and fast. It’s a really
exciting time.”