SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's water polo will recognize its senior class prior to the final home game of the season.
The seven seniors - Mac Carey, Keaton Fox, Shane Hughes, Patrick Kirk, Nate Miller, Luca Pagano and Ryan Werner - will make their final appearance in Sullivan Aquatic Center on Sunday against Air Force.
Here are some reflections, memories and special moments of their time on the Mission Campus.
What he'll miss most: Pushing through the physical and mental grind of the season while being surrounded by 25 of my closest friends.
Best part of being student-athlete: Coming into college there are a lot of nerves around meeting new people and creating new relationships. But being a student athlete allowed me to be welcomed into the family that is Santa Clara men's water polo. The best part of being a student athlete is meeting and hanging out with your best friends every day.
Plans after college: I will be going into software sales working as a business development representative at Twilio Inc in San Francisco.
Favorite moment/memories: My freshman year when we beat Air Force for the first time in Colorado Springs or last year beating Brown at the Princeton Invitational.
What he'll miss most: Our team is so special. We all connect extremely well and are like brothers. I'm going to miss working our tails off together in and out of the pool especially playing with my class. I'll miss grinding with the team.
Best thing about being student athlete: The pride that comes with it. There are not many student-athletes on campus and as one, you are supposed to hold yourself to a certain level. Student-athletes represent themselves, the team, and the university. Being a student athlete is great because you are a part of something much bigger than one thinks. Also, being a student athlete is what I have known my whole life. Nothing beats being on a team with so many special people around you.
Favorite moment/memories: There are so many great memories I've made on this team. One of the best was going 4-0 at the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament last year. Last year's senior class was the last one to play with Julian so having our team play for something bigger than ourselves was an inspiring, amazing moment.
What he'll miss most: I'm definitely going to miss working out with my best friends everyday. Practice is a grind but going through it with the team makes every tough moment worth it.
Plans after college: I've been interviewing for rotational programs at large tech companies. I will most likely remain located in the Bay Area upon graduation.
Best aspect about being student-athlete: The best part of being a student athlete is the relationships you build with your team. Everyone in college has friends, but the relationships that an athlete builds with their teammates is different and so special. Since the first day I first arrived at Santa Clara University all the way from Chicago, I was welcomed by 30 guys with open arms. The lifelong friendships I have made with the team have been extremely special and is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Favorite moment: It had to be winning a close game against Harvard at last year's Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. We had a great crowd to cheer us on to victory.
What he'll miss most: Competing every day in practice. There's a great sense of camaraderie that comes out of getting after it and pushing each other in the pool.
Best aspect about being student-athlete: The friendships that I've made on the team. We have a special group.
Favorite moment/memories: Seeing a new group of freshmen join the team and find their place amongst the team.
What he'll miss most: I will miss the competitive drive that water polo gives me as well as the social dynamics of being on a team.
Plans after college: I plan to get a job in the Bay Area in a physics lab before going to graduate school in a few years.
Favorite moment/memories: Upsetting Harvard and going 4-0 in last year's Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. That was the first year of the tournament after it was changed from the Rodeo Tournament. It was a very important weekend for the older guys on that team who had been best friends and teammates with Julian. It was amazing to be a part of something greater than just water polo. It was a weekend of camaraderie for my fellow teammates.
What he'll miss most: The amount of time that we put in every single day. The guys on this team are some of my best friends that I could ever have. Grinding in the pool, weight room, or late nights in the library just won't be the same anymore without the team by my side. The biggest part that I will miss however is living with the team. The fun times outside of the pool match the amount of memory inside the pool. It will be different not spending every day with the team.
Best aspect about being student-athlete: Learning how to manage work, practice and school work. It provides great time management practice. Also, being a student-athlete you have the opportunity to represent your team and school which not a lot of college students get to do. Beyond all that the most rewarding part of being a student athlete is having a tight-knit group of guys that I can go to for anything. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
Favorite moment/memories: Traveling with the team to the season-opening Princeton Invitational each September with the team.
What he'll miss most: The memories, stories and laughs shared throughout the day-in and day-out grind of practice with my teammates and more so best friends.
Plans after college: I hope to work in the commercial real estate industry.