Bucknell University Athletics
Continuing the Freshman Tradition
2/6/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 6, 2008
By Todd Merriett, Bucknell Athletic Communications
In 2005, freshman Meagan Gins was among the top offensive performers on the Bucknell women's water polo team, registering 48 goals and 13 assists on her way to a first-team all-conference selection. The next year freshman Aubrey Rowe totaled 58 goals and 21 assists as she claimed a first-team all-conference citation. The latest in the line of freshman success stories for the Bison was Valentina Rozas, who earned her own all-conference nod last spring when she netted 49 goals and 21 assists to rank among the team leaders in both categories.
It would have been tough for Rozas to continue that amazing tradition if not for a pre-existing relationship between her high school coach and her current mentor. Bucknell interim head coach John Abdou, who at the time was a first-year Bison assistant, learned about Rozas from his best friend, Marcelo Leonardi, Rozas' head coach at El Rancho High School in California.
During Rozas' recruiting process, Leonardi took a job as an assistant at Cal State Northridge, causing an internal struggle for Abdou, who was recently the best man at Leonardi's wedding.
"I knew all about Valentina, but I didn't think there was a chance she was going to come to Bucknell," recalls Abdou, who was elevated to interim head coach of the Bison program in January. "Knowing her and knowing her success in high school and on the club level, I knew she would have an impact not only on our program, but on East Coast water polo in general.
"Once she gave me the nod that she was interested, there was a little bit of an awkward phase between Marcelo and me. I didn't know if it was okay for me to recruit her since I know he really wanted her to go to Northridge. Once she showed interest in us, I pursued the process. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it in the end."
In the end, the impressive academics at Bucknell and a memorable campus visit made Rozas' choice easy.
"I was looking for a school that was great academically and had strong athletics and Bucknell had that," mentions Rozas. "I came on my recruiting trip and fell in love with it (Bucknell) immediately."
While many Californians might feel nervous coming across the country to a tiny town in the middle of Pennsylvania, it was not a concern for Rozas, who already had the experience of moving long distances. She thrived in her hometown of Pico Rivera, Calif., after moving there at the age of 12 from her native Chile.
When Rozas arrived in California she could speak only Spanish, but by the time she leaves Bucknell she expects to be fluent in three languages (English, French and Spanish) as she pursues her dream of working at the United Nations.
Rozas embraced her move East, looking at it as the latest in a line of memorable experiences.
"The weather! It (Lewisburg) is safer!," Rozas responds emphatically in her accent when asked about the differences between Pico Rivera and quaint Lewisburg, where residents can comfortably leave their homes and cars unlocked, a stark contrast from the Los Angeles suburb where she spent many of her teen years.
In terms of water polo, the two coasts are very similar in Rozas' world. While in California, Rozas earned all-league, All-California Interscholastic Federation and All-America honors. Those plaudits continued upon her arrival at Bucknell when she copped the team's Rookie of the Year award and was named First Team All-Collegiate Water Polo Association and All-ECAC while putting together one of the best rookie seasons in program history.
A modest Rozas did not expect her first-year success or the many accolades that accompanied it, but Abdou saw it coming.
"I absolutely expected that kind of season from Valentina," says Abdou quickly when asked about her impressive freshman campaign. "I would be lying if I said I didn't think she would have that kind of impact."
Rozas was not the only Bison freshman to help the team to 15 victories against a potent schedule that featured 11 nationally ranked teams. Shana Palencia, Rozas' teammate on a club team back in California, also joined the Bucknell squad last year and was an integral part of the Bison's success. She scored 18 goals and dished out 18 assists while starting 16 games. Having that familiar face around helped Rozas' transition, both in and out of the water.
"Shana and I have a lot of chemistry together," Rozas explains about her relationship with her roommate. "Even though we only played together for a year before coming here, we don't have to talk to each other in the pool. We can just give each other a look and know what we are thinking."
Given the tremendous friendship between Rozas and Palencia, it would seem natural that they came to Bucknell as a package deal. However, that was not the case. Abdou recruited each of them separately. Rozas committed to Bucknell first, with Palencia following after a short stint on the university's waiting list.
With her tremendous freshman year now well behind her Rozas must now focus on the 2008 campaign, which begins this weekend with a tournament at Colorado State. Unfortunately, Rozas suffered a sprained ankle in the offeseason and that hampered her training. Despite that speed bump, both Rozas and Abdou expect a lot this spring.
"Valentina had such a great season last year that I don't think she will fly under the radar anymore," predicts Abdou. "She is going to face many more double and triple teams this year, but she will learn how to deal with those properly. I expect great things from her, but at the same time, it isn't going to be easy because opponents know she is coming."
Luckily Rozas is not sitting on her accomplishments. She desperately wants to continue her improvement, but interestingly enough, her biggest goal does not have to do directly with water polo. Instead, it is more in the realm of swimming, a sport she participated in before being introduced to water polo by her sister shortly after moving to California. She would like to break the one-minute mark in the 100-yard freestlye, an elusive time she is still about two seconds from reaching.
Whether or not Rozas accomplishes her goal, she is sure to have an outstanding sophomore season in Orange and Blue as Abdou is counting on her to be one of the team's primary options. If the success of Gins and Rowe as sophomores before her is any indication, Rozas is in for one outstanding second year.
