Ashleigh Bandimere Looks Ahead Towards Water Polo Season and New Conference

Ashleigh Bandimere Looks Ahead Towards Water Polo Season and New Conference
By: Ben Dines '15

Junior driver Ashleigh Bandimere (AB) of the women's water polo team has been making her presence known in the pool since her freshman year when she was named 2012 WWPA co-Newcomer of the Year.  As a consistent strength for the Broncos women's water polo team, she recorded 11 goals, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 19 earned ejections last season.  Now entering her third year for the Broncos, Bandimere looks to build on her previous success.  Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) caught up with Bandimere to talk about the upcoming season.

SCB: What are you looking forward to this season?

AB: This season I'm looking forward to seeing some new conference competition.  Hopefully we will become the first winners of the Golden Coast Conference.

SCB: How have you been preparing for this season?

AB: As a team, we spent the preseason practicing and ended with our fall scrimmages, where we beat East Bay and University of Pacific. Both were great wins for us and I think those games got us even more fired up and excited for the season. 

SCB: What does your pregame ritual consist of?

AB: Before a game, I always listen to music while I visualize the things I want to do during the game and what Coach Wilbur tells us to focus on. After that I just get in the pool and try to get in the right game mindset while I warm up.

SCB: As an upperclassman, will your role on the team be different this year?  How?

AB: Being an upperclassman means I've gotten the hang of the team dynamics and how Santa Clara water polo works.  I'm going to try to use all of this infinite wisdom and experience to be a good role model for our newcomers.

SCB: Do you foresee any difference in the new conference you will be playing in this season?

AB: I'm really excited to be in a new conference this year. We will still be facing Loyola Marymount, our old rival that we love to hate.  We will also get the opportunity to play some other competitive teams, including San Diego State and Pacific.  Both of them are very strong and we'll have to work even harder this year if we want to beat them. 

The team will report back in the beginning of January to start regular season training.  Make sure to come out and support your Broncos in their upcoming season.  Go Broncos!