Senior Captain Natalie Hoens Has Helped Shepherd the Youngest Team In San Marino High School Girls’ Varsity Water Polo History Through A Season Full of Challenges
It was said that the source of global warming had recently been traced to Natalie Hoens’ radiant smile. That is true, until she affixes the chinstrap on her water polo headgear and hops into the pool, when the icy stare of competition overtakes her pleasant visage.
Among the more cheerful and positive young people on the campus, Natalie transforms into an aquatic assassin for the Lady Titans, who have faced the challenges of a rebuilding year and the best Rio Hondo League opposition Coach Mark Barr has seen in his 17 years with the program.
“This is the best season in the history of the Rio Hondo League,” said Barr. “We have three teams ranked in the top five of our division.”
And though the Lady Titans are winless in league action, Barr says Natalie is the perfect person to captain the youngest varsity squad he has ever coached.
“Natalie is a great leader,” said Barr. “She is like having another coach in the water. Natalie never gives up and that sets a very good example for the younger players. Being a senior, she could have checked out a long time ago, but she is playing and fighting like there is still a CIF spot on the line. I really admire her for that effort.”
Natalie is what’s called in the water polo vernacular a utility player, someone who has the comprehensive skills to play multiple positions. Barr said she is best at what’s known as a driver, a player who makes diagonal cuts through the opposition in order to get in scoring position. Natalie’s improvement has seen her rank second in scoring this season.
“I am hoping she will play on college,” said Barr. “I clearly think Natalie can play at the next level. She is a very smart, physical player.”
But she’s not finished making her mark here just quite yet.
“Natalie is a great captain,” Barr continued. “One of her best qualities is her ability to admit mistakes. During the course of a game, I will frequently hear Natalie admit she made a bad pass or made a bad play. That is contagious to the rest of the team. When your captain is doing that, the rest of the team will pick up on it and take responsibility for their actions. You can’t ask for more of that from a young person.”
The Lady Titans are 0-7 in the Rio Hondo League and it’s doubtful they were able to upset Temple City after The Tribune went to print, but in no way does Barr see the season as anything but a success.
“We have all learned a great deal this year,” he said. “We are just very young, with three sophomores and only two seniors in our starting lineup. That just doesn’t happen.”
In the spring, Natalie refocuses her passions as a fan of the Titan baseball team, where she enthusiastically awaits the fifth-inning raffle.
“Natalie is a really good kid,” Barr concluded. She is just as good a person away from the pool as she is at it.”
