By Kevin Park
Staff Writer
Freshman Sydney Shettleroe has proven to be one of the most experienced water polo players South Pasadena High School has ever seen. Ironically, Shettleroe only became the star she is today because of her parents’ mistake.
She gained an attraction for swimming when she was 11 years old. Her parents attempted to place her on the swim team, but accidentally signed her up for the water polo team. Surprisingly, she immediately fell in love with the game and has been been playing water polo ever since. Sydney’s decision to pursue water polo is one of the best choices of her life.
Shettleroe has played water polo for four years and has piled up many accomplishments. She began playing club water polo with Rose Bowl team since joining the game and she was a crucial component of the 14 and under team that won first place at the 2015 USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics last summer. In addition, Junior Olympics announced Shettleroe as a Second Team All-American, an award only given to the athletes who performed exceptionally well in the tournament.
Shettleroe also proves to be a key component to her South Pasadena varsity squad. This high school season, Shettleroe helped the Tigers clinch a spot in the CIF playoffs and aided the team to a quarterfinals run. Coach Meaghan Paschall calls her “the steamroller” because she leads the team with example and will not let anyone stand in her path to success. Her advanced knowledge of the game allows her to pave the way at practice and show her teammates the level of intensity needed to perform in games.
“I am lucky,” coach Paschall said. “I definitely have had my share of coaching talented individuals, but Sydney’s maturity as an athlete this season makes me believe that she will become one of the best athletes I will ever get to coach.”
