By Jimmy Friery
The Santa Barbara City College Women's Water Polo team took home plenty of personal accolades after the season, with nine players earning some type of individual honor—including five All-Americans. Rightfully so, as the back-to-back state champions had the winningest season in 3C2A history.
Beginning with the coaching staff, head coach Chuckie Roth earned his fifth Western State Conference (WSC) Coach of the Year award, as well as Southern California Regional Coach of the Year and State Coach of the Year. Roth led the Vaqueros to their ninth straight WSC title, third state title, and an undefeated season against 3C2A opponents.
Claire Daland was named WSC Player of the Year, State Tournament MVP, Southern California Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Regional, and an All-American. She ended her Vaquero career 5th all-time in goals with 142 and had a school record 10 steals in this year's state semifinal win over Sierra. In the state championship game against Riverside, she led the team with 3 goals, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. Claire led the 2023 team in goals (74), steals (90), exclusions drawn (38), and blocks (9). One of the best players in SBCC history, she is a member of the first and, so far, only Vaqueros class to win state championships in both years with the program.
Addie Lane made 1st Team All-WSC, 1st Team All-Regional, and was named an All-American. The freshman was second on the team in goals with 65 and second in assists with 33. She is tied for second in single-game assists with 6, which she did on October 28th against UCSB Club A. The solid attacker was a star on this year's championship team, and she is poised to have another great season next fall.
Lily Carrick also made 1st Team All-WSC, 1st Team All-Regional, and was named an All-American. The Aussie freshman had a whopping 73 assists to vastly lead the team, the most by a Vaquero since Addison Seale had 103 in 2016. Carrick also had a 6-assist game on October 20th against Fullerton, tied for second in SBCC record books. She swiped 89 steals, 1 behind Claire Daland for the team lead, and was second in exclusions drawn with 33. Look for her numbers to reach ridiculous levels in 2024.
Gabrielle Muehring earned 1st Team All-WSC, 1st Team All-Regional, and All-American honors. A leader on this year's team, she finished her SBCC career with 79 goals, 43 assists, 92 steals, and a two-time state champion. Muehring scored a smart, crucial goal in this year's state championship game against Riverside after netting 2 in the 2022 state championship win versus Orange Coast.
Caroline Oates was named 1st Team All-WSC, an All-American, and 2nd Team All-Regional. The composed and reliable sophomore played all 38 games and was a force in the Vaqueros' dominant defense, having a 7-steal game on November 11th against Long Beach. Overall, she was third on the team in steals with 73, tied for third in assists with 18, and second in blocks with 8. Oates provided 4 steals and a goal in the state championship game win.
Cate Daland made 1st Team All-Regional, was named an All-American, and WSC Honorable Mention. She was third on the team in goals with 56 and was another of only three Vaqueros to play all 38 games. Building off a strong freshman season, Cate is an easy bet to have an even stronger 2024 season.
Kate Densmore played every minute in goal for the Vaqueros—304, to be exact—earning State Tournament Team and 2nd Team All-WSC. Densmore holds the record for most saves in a game (21, against San Joaquin Delta on October 7th) and is also tied for second with 17 (versus Palomar on October 20th). Her 336 saves and 37 wins on the season are both program records, as well. Densmore had 10 and 11 saves in the state semifinal and final, respectively, while allowing just 5 goals in each game.
Maddie Myers made the State Tournament Team and 2nd Team All-WSC. Myers was solid across the board, having a 33-goal, 17-assist, 50-steal, 18-exclusions drawn, 5-block season. She was a standout in the Regional tournament with 6 goals, 3 assists, and 6 steals in 3 games. Myers will be one of a handful of returning starters for Roth's squad next season.
Natalie Mancinelli rounds out the group, earning WSC Honorable Mention. The sophomore had back-to-back 40 goal seasons, finishing her SBCC career with 81 goals, 31 assists, 72 steals, and 2 state championships. Mancinelli came into the program as a quiet freshman but grew significantly as a leader on this year's team. Her championship-clinching goal to put the Vaqueros up 8-5 with less than a minute left showed maturity, poise, and water polo IQ that only a select few possess at this level.
