By Inno Sita |Staff Writer|
Sarah Reneker, CSUSB’s head coach for the women’s water polo team opens up about her life experience of leading a great team.
Reneker is a CSUSB alumni graduate of 2006, majoring in Communication-Mass Media.
Her major has given her the experience to interact with individuals on multiple levels.
She also expanded her photography skills as a side business.
“I began doing photography when I wrote for Coyote Chronicle,” said Reneker.
She began playing water polo at John W. North High School and then after graduation she decided to play at CSUSB while she coached an age group club team in Riverside.
“After I graduated, I assisted at John W. North. In 2007 I moved to Seattle, but ended up coming back in 2008 where I was approached by CSUSB to come out and assist.
The following year I became head coach,” said Reneker.
Since being coach, her players have motivated her throughout the seasons and work extremely hard.
“It is an amazing feeling to see how well they come together and see how they are able to achieve the goals I set for them and what they set for themselves,” she said.
Her role model is her father and her high school/college coach.
“My father taught me to always go after my dreams and my coach taught me what it takes to be dedicated.
He made me the athlete that I am today,” said Reneker.
A struggle that she had in the beginning was her age and gender, gaining the respect from other coaches took some time.
She shared her coaching philosophy.
“I always emphasize on putting forth your best effort and always strive to be the best you can be. By doing both of these, you will be successful. I want my players to not only apply this in their playing, but in life as well.”
Also, she states that coaching is very rewarding. Her greatest advantage is being able to influence athletes and help them with their experiences and life lessons and see them succeed.
“Usually before every game I have a goal that I set for the girls,” said Reneker.
“I revert back to my philosophy after the game and let them know that we succeeded because we focused on our goal and gave our best effort. Each game we become more successful. We are striving to accomplish a goal and it’s being done as a team.”
Head Coach Sarah Reneker continues to lead her team to success and follows her dreams as her father advised.
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