Cypress College Alumni Spotlight: Chargers women's water polo star, Natasha Velez
CYPRESS - Cypress College alum, Natasha Velez (2017-2019), was a standout athlete in her two years with the Chargers. She has since moved on to play at Whitter College and has excelled at the next level.
Velez grew up in La Habra and attended Cypress high school as well as Cypress College. After two years of domination at Cypress College she took her talents to the next level and earned an ACWPC (The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coache) All-American honorable mention in her first season as a Poet. Natasha also earned the final SCIAC (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Player of the Week Award for her spectacular performance in the final game of the Poets shortened water polo season. Velez scored four goals including the game-winning goal in the second overtime period.
The junior attacker has been a prolific goal scorer in her career leading Cypress College with the most goals scored over the last ten seasons. In her Freshman year, Velez scored 104 goals in 27 matches played. She followed up her terrific freshman season with 77 goals in 21 games, to total an incredible 181 goals in her Cypress career. Velez was named team captain in both her freshman and sophomore season as she led the Chargers to the state playoffs twice. In her sophomore season, she was named First Team All-OEC and was a 2x Charger of the Week award winner.
We spoke with the most recent Alumni Spotlight to discuss her career at Cypress College and her plans for the future.
Q: What was the most memorable experience from your time at Cypress?
"My most memorable moment at Cypress was helping this program become more successful and making it to state both of the years that I was apart of the team."
Q: What skill or technique have you learned from Coach Canner to push you to the next level?
"Coach Canner has been a huge influence in both my life and water polo career. He has always pushed me to my limits but the one thing that I will take away from his coaching skills is that he taught me to be mentally strong and overcome any adversity that is being thrown at me."
Q: What advice do you have for any incoming freshman who may be apart of the Cypress College Water Polo program?
"My advice for incoming players that will be a part of Cypress College, is to give it your all before it is too late and never give up."
Q: What are your career goals and aspirations after your water polo career comes to an end?
"My future aspirations for my career is to obtain my bachelors degree, then go to med school to graduate with my PhD in Kinesiology with a concentration in PT."
(Cypress College Athletics)