Feb. 27, 2009

By Scott Ball, Cal Athletic Media Relations

Editor's note: The following feature appears in the winter 2009 issue of the Cal Sports Quarterly.

For junior women's water polo player Camille Hewko, the University of California has proven to be a perfect place for her to pursue her two greatest passions - art and water polo.

Hewko, one of the 10 talented juniors on Richard Corso's 2009 squad, is a history of art major sporting an impressive 3.28 GPA. She joins women's swimmer Lauren Rogers as one of only two Golden Bear student-athletes who are majoring in art history

"When I was growing up in Newport Beach, I took all the art courses I could in high school," said Hewko. "One of the courses was an art history class and I ended up loving it. Now that I am here at Cal, I'm still taking as many art classes as I can. I am one of hose people who really enjoys going to class. I love learning history through the artist's perspective. You learn about the artist' reaction to what is happening around them. You can lean history through the artist's eyes."

It is impressive that the Bears were able to lure the talented Hewko to Berkeley. She was a high decorated performer out of Corona del Mar High School, as she was selected the 2006 Southern California Water Polo Coaches Association Player of the Year, the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year, the Orange County Register Player of the Year and the CIF Division II Co-Player of the Year as a senior.

"I came to Cal because it was so much different than what I was used to in Southern California," explained Hewko, who has scored 19 goals in two seasons with the Bears and is expected to be a major contributor this spring. "Berkeley was a change of scenery and different from everything I had ever known. I was originally going to go to UCLA, but when Rich (Corso) got hired and took me on my recruiting trip, I knew immediately that Berkeley was the perfect place for me. The other programs were already established, but Cal was an up-and-coming program and I liked the challenge. I like the challenge of trying to build up a program. I totally believe we can be successful here and that soon we will be vying for a national title. To build a program takes time, but we are definitely on the right track."

Coming from a self described "water family," Hewko is part of an amazingly successful heritage of water polo players. One of her cousins, Johnathan Hewko, was a member of an NCAA champion USC team in 1998, and another cousin, Josh Hewko, won an NCAA title with UCLA in 2004. Yet another cousin, Adam Hewko, is currently a standout player at Pepperdine who was in the running to make the 2008 USA Olympic team. Cousin Tyler Hewko competes in water polo at the Air Force Academy, as well.

But the one water polo player Hewko admires the most is her sister, Christina Hewko, who graduated from Stanford in 2007.

"My sister is my favorite water polo player because she always does what it takes to be successful," said Hewko. "She uses her brain as well as her physical abilities. At this level of water polo, everyone is powerful and fast, but it is the ones who do a little bit extra and think one step ahead that are really the best. That is what I aspire to be - a player who uses her artistic sense as well as my physical talents to be successful. I love and admire creativity, so when I see a player who is creative it is motivational to me.

"And that is why I love Cal so much. Cal allows you to be free thinking, creative and form your own opinions. At Cal I really like the person I am becoming, both as an athlete and as a student."