Roth has high hopes for new water polo squad

The first edition of SBCC women's water polo won't jump in the water until the Fall of 2014 but coach Chuckie Roth thinks his new team will do just fine.

"Not all swimmers play water polo but a good majority will," noted Roth, who's also coaching SBCC women's swimming in its first season right now. "And you have many water polo players who will swim. Having a water polo team will help with numbers, it will help with recruiting and it will help with any athlete who plays both sports in high school. It will provide full opportunities on a year-round basis."

Water polo is the 10th women's intercollegiate sport at SBCC and brings the Vaqueros' overall total to 18 teams.

"I think water polo at SBCC is long overdue in this community," Roth added. "With the addition of swimming, we're seeing a lot of recruits coming from out of the area. When you add a strong pool of local kids, I think we're going to be alright.

"You need seven players at a time (in water polo) and a roster of 15 to 20. I don't see us having any problem fielding a team."

The water polo team will practice and play home games at San Marcos High, where Roth is also the girls water polo and swimming coach. He led the Royals' water polo squad to a share of their first-ever Channel League title this year.

In 2000 he went to Temple City High and resurrected the boys' team while starting the girls water polo program. In four years, he won three league championships, 2 CIF championships, coached 6 All-Americans and sent 9 athletes to swim and play college water polo at various schools. He was also recognized as CIF Division 3 coach of the year in 2003 and 2004.

Roth has worked with the Santa Barbara Aquatics Club for over 14 years, coaching all age groups. During that time, he has developed several USWP All Americans, made 5 Final Four appearances, and won two national championships.

"We could be very competitive in our first year," said Roth, a former swimmer at Citrus College and UCSB. "I've already identified five girls who will play for us and they'll do very well."

SBCC water polo will join six teams in the Western State Conference – Ventura, L.A. Pierce, L.A. Valley, Santa Monica, Citrus and Cuesta.

"The No. 1 thing to building a program is supporting kids in their academic endeavors," Roth added. "If you go in understanding that, I think you can be successful. If you go in trying to win a state championship, that's hard to do. That could come in time but it's all about the academics first and providing opportunities for these kids.

"We have to support them athletically, socially and academically. If you get that combination, it can breed success."