Sept. 15, 2008

By Anna Oleson-Wheeler

Editor's note: The following feature appears in the fall 2008 issue of the Cal Sports Quarterly

If Spencer Warden had not torn his meniscus the summer before his ninth-grade year, he probably would never have come to Cal. He may not have been a two-time national champion, or even a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. In fact, he may have never been a water polo player at all.

Spencer Warden was supposed to play football. But after his knee injury, he received a little push from his mom to give water polo a try. From there, Warden honed his already superior athletic ability in the pool, where he guided his Soquel High School team to three consecutive league titles and a Central Coast Section championship in 2002.

"After my mom suggested it, I gave it two weeks to see if I would enjoy it, and I did," Warden said. "It took me about a year to learn the sport and get to the competitive level. I didn't think, at first, that I'd be playing collegiately. It was a long shot. But I thought if I worked hard, got good grades and set goals, I might have chance."

After spending a year as a novice and becoming acclimated to the sport, Warden was elevated from the junior varsity to the varsity team halfway through his sophomore season. With his success in high school, as well as on a club team, Warden unsuccessfully tried out for the U.S. national youth team in 2004. But in his second attempt the following year, he earned a spot on the squad that traveled to Slovakia.

Warden's performances in the water garnered the attention of several college coaches, including Cal's Kirk Everist. Several members of his Soquel High School water polo team went on to UCLA, and Warden almost joined them. Warden, who was born in Berkeley and whose father attended Cal, was drawn the coaching style and overall environment at the University.

"I liked Berkeley a lot, which helped make my decision," the 6-4 junior attacker said. "I didn't come from a necessarily hard-edge coach in high school, but I liked the way Kirk and [associate head coach] Boyd Lachance were talking to me and I had seen how they coach. Instead of following the crowd to UCLA, I choose my own path." Several weeks into his first semester at Cal, the U.S. junior national coach approached Warden about joining the team for a month to compete at Junior World Championships in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Everist, who also competed at Junior Worlds as a player, encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunity. Both Warden and his Cal team saw great results from the experience.

"After Junior Worlds, he had a lot of confidence," said sophomore attacker Mike Sample, who has played on teams with Warden since high school. "He had learned a lot of new skills and increased his knowledge of the game."

In 2007, Warden traveled with the junior team to Spain, Croatia and Italy to compete in a series of small tournaments before returning to the States for the Junior World Championships in Los Alamitos, Calif. Everist noted that Warden's international time was immediately apparent in his play at Cal and has helped transform him into a more competitive and talented player.

"The experience level he's gained through making Junior Worlds and being a part of a world championship team helps us out," Everist said. "He's constantly trying to make an impact, and when he plays, it's contagious to the rest of the players. It's hard to let down when you have a player like that."

According to coaches and teammates, Warden exemplifies the adage "practice how you play." While not the most vocal leader, his knowledge and technique speak for themselves. Warden serves as a role model for his fellow Golden Bears, many of whom try to duplicate his playing style, both in and out of the pool.

"He plays so hard and the players tend to look at him for inspiration just because of how hard he plays," Everist describes. "When he talks, it's with his teammates behind the scenes and in the locker room."

Warden's work ethic has paid dividends with two national championship rings. He had a goal in the 8-6 win over USC for the 2007 crown and dished off the match-winning assist to Jeff Tyrrell in the 2006 title match. Among the accolades he has earned are 2007 third-team All-American, 2006 honorable mention All-American, 2006 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Year and the 2005 Cal Alumni Leadership Scholarship Award.

"Spencer gives 100 percent all the time, both in practices and in games," Sample said. "His knowledge of the game helps him lead because everyone looks to him to make things happen. He doesn't even have to say anything because you watch him see that he knows exactly what he's doing. A lot of the guys try to play like Spencer." Warden is much more modest.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to find whatever hole so that I can help improve and try to fill that hole," he said.

Warden earned his first playing time as a redshirt freshman by excelling as a defender in man-advantage situations. His defensive capabilities caught the eye of the coaching staff and from there, Warden's role expanded into one of a team leader and starter.

In addition to enjoying his time as a student-athlete, Warden has fit seamlessly into academics at Cal. After trying on a variety of subjects and majors, such as public health and American studies, Warden decided to be an interdisciplinary studies field major with a focus in international trade and foreign development. He has found motivation for academic achievement from his parents, who have always had high expectations for him in college.

"They classes are hard if you make them hard," Warden said. "You need to set aside time to study every day and that's not a problem for me. My parents are helping me out and the school is helping me out. I want to take advantage of it because I know it's very important to my family and to my future."

Warden has further begun preparing for this future by spending his summer interning with a commercial real estate office in Oakland, spending the majority of his time conducting market research. He also hopes to use the summer of 2009, his last before graduating in 2010, to intern elsewhere. Though he does not currently have a set career goal, no matter what he pursues, Warden plans to use his time as a student-athlete to his benefit.

`If water polo was the work force, I would apply the same work ethic, and I think that will translate after graduating," Spencer said.

In the meantime, as Warden and company are preparing to attempt to three-peat as national champions this fall, Everist feels fortunate that Warden turned to water polo when he had the chance.