ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD
4/2/2011 7:25:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
Just a little over seven years ago Camryn Rogers was a freshman at Santiago High School with no athletic aspirations. Today the junior goalkeeper sits alone atop the California Baptist all-time saves list.
“In high school I didn't play any sports and then my friend talked me into playing water polo. I remember when I [tried out] the coach just told me, 'Hey get in the goal,'” Rogers recalls. “I was like, 'OK.'”
Since then she's been anything but. Rogers, now a junior, has been starting since her freshman season and has helped continue the program's path towards being a perennial player on the national scene. Oh, and she also holds three CBU records; not bad for a girl who just happened to stumble into the sport.
“I'm extremely blessed to play water polo,” said Rogers. “I feel like God's just blessed me with the opportunity because I wasn't even playing a sport and then it just happened.”
Rogers is already the all-time saves leader (916) at CBU and also holds the Lancers' career steals mark with 109. This season she ranks third in the nation in saves (246), and leads all goalies with 47 steals. But even with the accolades Rogers remains grounded.
“I feel like there isn't anything that's set me apart,” she says about being the school's all-time saves leader. “I know the program has improved a lot so we play more games now.”
Her coach however, sees it differently.
“I think the best thing about [Rogers], which is the best thing you can say about any goalie, is that she's consistent,” said Head Coach Jacob Medina. “Ya, she'll come up with big saves here and there but she consistently makes blocks…the big saves are just icing on the cake.”
Medina also added that her work ethic and mindset have set her apart.
“She doesn't take the shortcut…she always expects herself to work hard,” said Medina. “She's one of the best goalies around and she's still doing the extra work and becoming a better [player].”
“In years past after practice and prayer everyone would just take off. This year Camryn is staying after and then all of a sudden three or four girls are staying after with her. She's infectious.”
But that fateful day back in high school wasn't just about water polo. The sport has been a vehicle towards her choice to attend CBU and ultimately change the very core of who she is.
“I gave my life to Christ at the end of my freshman year in college,” said Rogers about the impact polo has made. “I had a completely different mindset before.”
Her new mindset helps her deal with the struggles of a position that offers little celebration.
“It's hard as a goalie…it's a very negative position. The only positive thing you do is block, and that's almost expected,” said Rogers. “There are always frustrating situations. A lot of times I get mad at myself.”
However, her perspective assists her ability to deal with the thankless nature of being a goalie.
“She has to walk a fine line and she does a good job of it…of that balance of expecting a lot of herself, and moving on after a goal,” said Medina. “She's harder on herself than I am of her. She'll dwell, but she does a good job of letting it go.”
“You have to realize you're playing for fun. It's good to get that realization that it's just a water polo game,” said Rogers.
This season the Lancers have faced the toughest competition in program history. CBU has already played 10 CWPA top-20 teams, four that have been in the top-10.
In those matches the Lancers have struggled, winning just once while giving up an average of 13.6 goals per game.
But even though her inclination is to get down on herself, Rogers has been able to overcome the reality of giving up goals.
“I talk to my teammates about it and I'm always like, 'Sorry guys that that goal went in.' But [they] have been really encouraging because I'm my biggest critic,” said Rogers. “You have to realize as a goalie that there are some that are going to get by you because some girls just have awesome shots.”
Her record breaking save came in a 6-12 loss to No. 16 Hartwick College (N.Y.), but there was little individual celebration. Instead the goalie deflected the attention to the program.
“I was definitely super excited about it. It's always a really cool thing when a record is broken. At the same time I know that records are meant to be broken,” she said.
“I have respect for Kasey Weaver (the previous record holder)…I've heard great stories about her. It's just a really cool thing because it shows the program's improvement. It gets me really excited to think of the program and the future.”
As a freshman she became the first goalie to tally 300 saves in a season, and with eight games left in 2011 she has a chance to reach that mark for the third straight year.
Although this year she has given up the most goals per game (8.20) in her career (mostly due to the increased caliber of the competition), Rogers has 12 10+ save games. She also has eight multi-assist games and 12 multi-steal matches to go with an impressive seven 5-meter blocks.
On top of that she has limited opposing teams to convert just 31.3 percent (90 out of 288) of 6-on-5 opportunities.
But what may have been most impressive about her 2011 campaign is her leadership role.
“She's the anchor of our defense. She's the one organizing the team,” said Medina. “Girls listen to her, not just because she's a captain, but because she's good and she works hard.”
And that sums up Rogers' career at CBU: she's good and she works hard. Not much higher praise can be given to a player, let alone one of the best in program history.
