Women’s water polo honors LBCC’s 2003 State Championship team in the inaugural alumni game filled with laughs and with a splash of competition on Saturday.
Before the start of the game, LBCC’s current players were seen gathering around dancing to the music playing, warming up and enjoying each other’s company.
“Hopefully we win, I hate to lose. I’m looking forward to the W. I know this game is for fun, but my competitive nature is in high gear,” said alumni Chayma Hlanadis who played for LBCC during last year’s team and has since transferred to Whittier College where she continues playing water polo.
Within the first two minutes of the first quarter LBCC played a game of teamwork helping assist freshman attacker Olivia Slavens with the goal.
Alumni player, Hlanadis followed up with a goal of her own, tying up the score in the first quarter.
Leading into the second quarter, the alumni team scored again within the first 52 seconds.
The LBCC team then kicks things into overdrive. Slavens, with the help from her teammates scored three goals within the span of three minutes.
With the alumni down 4-2 at halftime, there was hope that they could come back.
The current Vikings team scored an additional three goals from Kaylee Vanasopha, Katie Juarez all in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, the alumni answered back inching themselves closer to LBCC’s lead with two goals. However it was not close enough as LBCC’s current team was up by five.
With a final score of LBCC 9 and the alumni 4, both sides were all smiles and cheering each other on in unisync.
Freshman Gabby Gillott blocks a shot from the alumni team. LBCC women’s water polo team won in an alumni game in honor of 2003 LBCC champions on Saturday at the LAC campus pool, 9-4. (Izzy Juarez)
“I just wanted to see if I could still play. I didn’t play a lot, but what I did play was fun,” alumni player Julia Smith who played with the school in 2009.
After the game, women’s water polo coach Chris Oeding talked about the tradition of the alumni vs LBCC game each year.
“It’s all about shared experiences. Both teams get to connect the old and the new,” Odeing said.
“It’s been 20 years since they earned that championship, so today was a great way to honor that team and their accomplishments.”