Nov. 22, 2013
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's water polo head coach Carin Crawford announced Friday the signing of five high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. Arriving on campus in 2014-15 will be Courtney Jarvis, Brigette Kimbrough, Katrina King, Kate McDonnell and Ella Weber.
Jarvis inks with the Aztecs while finishing her prep career at Mater Dei High School and Regency Water Polo Club. A four-year varsity team member at Mater Dei, Jarvis helped her squad to a pair of Trinity League championships (2011-12) and two CIF Division II runner-up performances. Individually, Jarvis is a three-time second-team all-Trinity League honoree and a 2013 all-CIF third-team choice.
"Courtney is a strong all-around player and we will look to her to make an impact for us at the center position where she is showing outstanding strength and skill," Crawford said.
A 16-U Junior Olympic champion and first-team All-American, Kimbrough will head south to San Diego from San Clemente High School. At San Clemente, Kimbrough posted 53 goals, 56 assists and 53 steals in 2013, en route to first-team all-South Coast League accolades and team MVP honors. The team captain helped SCHS to the 2011 CIF title and the South Coast League championship in 2011 and 2012, while picking up 2012 second-team all-league honors. At the club level, Kimbrough competed for the Laguna Beach Water Polo Club (2004-10) where she earned 14-U All-America accolades in 2010 and was a member of the Olympic Development team (2008-10). The last four seasons, Kimbrough has played for SET Water Polo Club where she has played in a pair of Junior Olympics.
"Brigette gained championship experience leading her SET 16-U club team to a gold medal this past summer at Junior Olympics," Crawford said. "She is strong and smart and has experience at the top level of club competition in Southern California. This experience will make her a strong contributor to our program next season."
King is a local product from Carlsbad High School. Entering her fourth varsity season this year, King has guided Carlsbad to CIF San Diego Section Division I championships in 2012 and 2013, and a semifinal appearance in 2011. King is coming off a 2013 campaign in which she earned all-San Diego County, first-team all-CIF and first-team all-Avocado West League accolades. At the Avocado League level, King has helped Carlsbad to three straight league titles. This past summer, King and her team won a gold medal at JOs in the Gold Division. King also competes for Carlsbad Water Polo Club and was a part of the Olympic Development Program from 2008-10, where she played for former Aztec Gubba Sheehy in 2009-10.
"Katrina King is a strong, smart attacker with a tenacious style of play," Crawford said. "She moves well in the water and has excellent balance and agility. Carlsbad High School, coached by Greg Horman, is one of the strongest programs in San Diego County and Katrina King is a leader this year for the defending CIF and JO Gold Division champs. We are happy to have her join our Aztec family."
McDonnell, a goalkeeper from Tualatin, Ore., pledged her allegiance to San Diego State out of Tualatin High School. A starter ever since she stepped foot on campus, McDonnell guided Tualatin the 2010 and 2011 league and state championships, and a second-place Oregon state finish in 2012. The 6-0 keeper also helped her squad to the 18-U Junior Olympics Gold division title in 2012 before competing in the event in 2013. Individually, McDonnell, is a 2010-11 first-team all-league performer, 2010-11 second-team all-state goalkeeper and a 2012 second-team all-league and honorable mention all-Oregon choice.
"Kate is an accomplished goalkeeper who has been an impact player for her Tualatin High School team and has had success on the national level winning the silver medal at JOs this summer in the Gold Division at JOs," Crawford said. "Kate is a proven winner who will help us continue our tradition of fielding defensive-minded teams anchored by strong goalkeepers"
Weber will graduate from Los Alamitos High School at the end of the academic year and head south to SDSU. In 2013, Weber earned first-team all-Sunset League honors and was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team, while being voted Los Alamitos' Offensive Player of the Year. In 2012, Weber helped Los Alamitos to the Sunset League title.
"Ella has a great water polo IQ, and is a scoring threat anytime the ball is in her hand," Crawford said. "She has championship experience with SoCal Club and with Los Alamitos High School. Ella's high school coach Dave Carlson has developed Los Alamitos into a perennial contender in the highly competitive Sunset League. Carlson consistently puts out disciplined teams and high-level players and Ella Weber is a standout among some very accomplished athletes from Los Alamitos High School."