April 13, 2009

BERKELEY - At the Big Splash on April 11, the California women's water polo team honored its two seniors, one of which is this week's Q&A feature: goalkeeper Lauren Burke. Burke is an art major from Huntington Beach, Calif., and has 102 saves in 23 games of work for the Bears this season, to bring her career total to 171 saves. This season, she is only allowing 2.7 goals per game. CalBears.com sat down with the 5-10 keeper to learn about life inside and outside of the cage.

CalBears.com: You and your teammate Stephanie Schnugg are both majoring in art. What's your favorite aspect about your major and how did you decide on it?
Lauren Burke: The Art department at Cal is chock full of colorful individuals that inspire and or entertain me on a day-to-day basis. I love to paint, thus my time spent in the studio has been very rewarding. I intended on majoring in architecture, but quickly realized it would be impossible with water polo, so I chose the next best thing: practice of art. I will pursue a career and degree in architecture in my graduate studies.

CalBears.com: Goalkeeper is a unique position. When you first started playing water polo, were you a goalie? If not, how did you end up becoming a keeper?
LB: When I first started, I was put in the cage pretty quickly, because of my height and lack of swimming experience.

CalBears.com: What is your favorite part about being a goalkeeper?
LB: The best part about being a goalkeeper would have to be making saves and being the last line of defense.

CalBears.com: What is one word that can be used to describe you? If one word is too difficult, feel free to use a couple.
LB: CREATIVE

CalBears.com: What is your most irrational fear?
LB: When I was but a wee child, I was terrified of storm drains and shied away from ever walking near or over one because I didn't want to fall in. Silly to think this was a big fear of mine, but I am happy to say that I no longer carry this anxiety.

CalBears.com: Fill in the blank: I never...
LB: I never say never.

CalBears.com: As one of the many Southern California natives on the team, what do you miss about SoCal and what is the best thing about living in NorCal? Do you ever take part in the heated debate between SoCal and NorCal?
LB: Of course I miss the Southern California beaches, but I love the Bay Area - beautiful hills, fresh air and a gorgeous view of the Bay has kept me pretty happy to be in NorCal. I enjoy both places. SoCal will always be my hometown, but I would love to stay in the Bay Area.

CalBears.com: In the last women's water polo Q&A, Stephanie Schnugg wanted the next women's water polo student-athlete to answer: If you could be one of your teammates for a day, who would it be and why?
LB: I think it would be really interesting to be a lot of people on the team. But if I had to choose, I would be Camille Hewko and my day would go something like this...wake up fresh and rested with a big smile on my face, go surfing, catch some waves, sunbathe with out worrying about burning, listen to some happy mellow music on my way back to Berkeley, and hang out with all my favorite people, with lots of energy all day long. Maybe make a candy mosaic while I'm at it.

CalBears.com: What question would you want the next women's water polo student-athlete to answer?
LB: If you could only listen to one artist, musician, band, etc for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?

For a complete listing of past Q&As with the California women's water polo team, click here or look on the sidebar on the main women's water polo page.