By Ben Dines '15
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Junior Erin Sheridan (ES) of the women's water polo team spoke with Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) about the upcoming season, as well as teamwork both inside and outside the pool.
SCB: What did you do over summer?
ES: This summer I coached my high school water polo team and was a judicial intern at the Superior Court in Santa Clara.
SCB: You guys made the switch over to the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) this past season. How are you preparing for it this year?
ES: Our season is a little ways away as we are about to start our preseason, but we're excited for it! There are a lot of great teams in the GCC including Loyola Marymount, San Diego State, Pacific, Cal Baptist, etc. They are teams that we enjoy playing because of the great competition. Last year was our first year in the new conference so we were up against different teams than we had played in the past, and every year teams change, but now that we have played them we will know how to prepare for the individual games a little bit better than before.
SCB: Describe your mindset when you and your team are getting ready to start a match.
ES: Pumped up and focused. Individually, everyone has their pregame rituals that we all respect, but collectively we listen to music on the deck, blast it in our locker room and, in unspoken ways, get each other prepared for the game. Once we walk out on deck we're excited to get going.
SCB: In your freshman and sophomore years you made a serious impact on the women's water polo team. How are you looking to build from your previous success in the upcoming season?
ES: My experience from my past two years has taught me that I'm lucky to be on a team where we are extremely supportive of each other in and out of the pool. I attribute a lot of my own success to my teammates because they have been there for me through the difficult practices, injuries and situations that do not relate to water polo, all of which made me better in games. In my first two years I worked my hardest for them and I know they did the same for me. This year I look to do the same because if I'm not working for them to improve then how do I expect myself to get better? I will also be very aware of staying healthy because injuries happen throughout the course of the year and this is something that I want to avoid at all costs. I'm excited to see where we go!
