Joseph Lovallo
Assistant Editor

For the first time in its short history, the University of La Verne women’s water polo team earned a bid to the National Collegiate III Women’s Water Polo Championship. Kristen McKown, a red shirt junior utility, provided the team with the leadership it needed.

Stepping up and taking the initiative is nothing new to McKown, who has taken charge and made changes not only in the pool, but also in her life.

McKown first found water sports in the eighth grade when she joined a local swim club.

“I always wanted to play sports, but we moved around a lot when I was growing up,” McKown said. “My dad swam when he was younger and when we settled down he thought I should give it a try.”

She competed all through high school, but didn’t even hear about water polo until her junior year when the boy’s team was having success. She decided that she wanted to give it a shot, but Bonita High School did not have a girl’s team.

McKown and a few of her swimming teammates did some investigating and took the steps to start up a girl’s team. They were successful, and fielded enough players for a club squad her junior year.

By her senior year, they were recognized as a school team, and even found a head coach.

After graduating, she enrolled at UC Irvine to play water polo, but before her first semester was over, decided Irvine wasn’t right for her.

“Being a first generation college student, my family wasn’t really familiar with the process,” said McKown. “I had good grades. I didn’t really apply to that many colleges at all; I overlooked the small schools.”

As a biology major, she was overwhelmed by Irvine’s class sizes.

“The big school scene wasn’t for me,” McKown said. “There were 500 people in some of my lectures. At La Verne, I have no more than 10 to 20 people in my classes.”

Re-evaluating her situation, McKown wanted out. Her boss at the time was current ULV swim coach John Hallman.

Hallman convinced McKown that La Verne would be a good fit for her.

Although she helped lead ULV to one of the program’s most successful years, her first three seasons as a Leopard were not exactly storybook.

During her first year on the team, she struggled with problems in her right shoulder and didn’t see much action.

Hoping to battle back in her second year, her shoulder woes continued. She eventually would red shirt after tearing the ligaments and undergoing surgery.

“When people first hear about water polo they wouldn’t think it was such an intense sport.” McKown said. “It’s rougher than it looks; a lot goes on under the water that the spectator doesn’t see. When people try for the first time, they usually have trouble even staying above the water.”

Last year had its ups and downs and started rough, after she strained an abdomen muscle and dislocated her thumb in the first game of the season.

“Kristen is tough,” head coach Tim Hugar said. “She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve coached and has been a greater leader for this team.”

McKown attributes Hugar for much of her success.

Hugar, who also has been successful coaching the La Verne men’s water polo team, does a great job of encouraging his players and seeing the bright side of things, says McKown.

“Coach Hugar is one of the funniest coaches you’ll meet,” McKown said. “He encourages us and always stays positive. I think that’s a big part of why this program has improved so much.”

As far as being a leader in the pool, McKown has had no problems.

“Kristen definitely takes the role of captain on this team,” sophomore utility Jessica Egbert said. “She brings us up before the matches and gives us all the pre-game speech and does anything she can to help our team.”

Although she says making it to the National tournament and defeating eventual champion Pomona-Pitzer is her best water polo memory, McKown hopes to top it next year.

The Leopards played some good games this year and won matches no one thought they would pull out.

The team started the season hot with big wins over Sonoma State and Cal State East Bay on Feb. 26 at the Seawolf Splash in Sonoma.

But in hindsight, the Leopards dropped some frustrating matches, including nine by two goals or less.

“We upset some teams this year, but we lost too many close games,” McKown said.

She thinks an increased chemistry and more time in the water is what the squad needs.

“Jessica (Figgins) is the only person we’re losing, and though she was a big part of our success, we’ve got a young team returning,” McKown said.

The team also may need to be more aggressive on the offensive end to put more goals on the board and support the defense.

“If we can set up our shooters and get them to take more shots, it’ll put us in position to win more games.” McKown said.

Egbert agrees with McKown and thinks that a hungry offense combined with McKown’s leadership can be the Leopards recipe for success.

The outlook is bright with a youthful team and the continued leadership from McKown.

“We have an opportunity to be really good next year,” Egbert said. “And with Kristen returning as our leader, we’ll stay right on track.”

Joseph Lovallo can be reached at jlovallo@ulv.edu.