Dec. 17, 2014
SAN DIEGO - Starting with the first week of classes back in late August, we began to look at every varsity women's water polo team in school history, which spans 20 seasons. This week we look at the 2004 team. The Aztecs finished with a 26-9 record (8-3 MPSF) and finished seventh in the nation under head coach Carin Crawford. The 26 victories are the fourth most in program history.
Where are they now?
Holly Hartzell played at SDSU from 2001-04 and was an All-American all four seasons to become the first player in program history to accomplish the feat. The 2004 first-team All-American is the Aztecs' all-time leading scorer with 278 goals to her credit. Hartzell also ended her career as a four-time all-MPSF performer and a three-time all-MPSF academic team honoree.
Questions for Holly:
1. Where are you living and what have you been doing since graduating from SDSU?
"I am currently living in North County San Diego. I live within 10 minutes of my entire family. This has come in handy because I recently became an aunt to my oldest sister's twin boys, Asher and Hudson. After graduating from SDSU, I attended CSUSM and earned an elementary education teaching credential. Since graduating from CSUSM, I have been teaching elementary school in grades kindergarten through sixth. For the past five years, I have been teaching first grade at San Marcos Elementary School. First grade is an amazing grade to teach because I get to build the foundation for students that will impact their entire career as a student. I feel so grateful to have a career that I am passionate about and love going to work every day. Plus, I get to spend my days with the coolest little kids!"
2. What was your favorite trip you went on with the women's water polo team and why?
"My favorite trip during my time playing water polo at SDSU was to Hawaii over spring break. We were lucky enough to have an awesome coach, Carin, who would schedule a training trip the week before our University of Hawaii game. It was an incredible week as a team because we would train hard, but also enjoy fun together, like going surfing, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, or jumping off huge rocks on the North Shore. I have such wonderful memories with my teammates during these bonding moments. By the time we got to the University of Hawaii to play our game, we were always amped up to win because we had spent the week in Hawaii preparing and bonding as a team!"
3. As a San Diego local, what made you choose SDSU out of high school?
"I chose SDSU because I had met Carin and knew that she was building a solid women's water polo program. As an incoming freshman to a developing program, I knew I would get the opportunity to play and develop as a player. Also, I thought with hard work, our talented team could be on par with the other teams in our league: Stanford, USC, UCLA and Cal. My senior year we were ranked fourth in the nation and I take great pride in that! Another reason I chose SDSU over other schools is because I wanted to be close to my family. We are very close and I love spending time with them. For both these reasons, going to SDSU was the best decision I ever made. My family was able to come to my games each week, I made the most fabulous friends, I got an incredible education, and I helped develop an amazing water polo program."
4. You are the first women's water polo four-time All-American at SDSU. What does that mean to you and are you still involved in water polo in any way?
"It is so special to have been the first four-time All-American at SDSU! I know I would never have been able to earn All-America honors without my teammates and coaches. They were the ones passing me the ball so I could score and teaching me to be a better player. I am super proud of what I was able to accomplish while I was a player at SDSU. I look forward to telling my kids about being the first women's water polo four-time All-American one day and about all the people who helped me get to that point in my career. Currently, I am not involved in water polo. Even though I miss scoring goals and beating people up, I tend to just swim for fun now!"
5. Who is your favorite Aztec athlete of all time and why?
"My favorite Aztec athlete of all time is Tony Gwynn. I love him for many reasons! He stands out to me because he played two sports while he was at SDSU. Being the amazing athlete he was, he excelled at both baseball and basketball while he was an Aztec. Also, I think it is pretty cool that he came back to coach the baseball team while I was an athlete there. He was just an all-around great guy!"
6. Can you tell us your fondest memory of being an athlete at SDSU?
"There are so many fond memories I have from being an athlete at SDSU. The friendships that I made while I was there are still so important to me. It is not often that you meet such strong, independent women who are on your side no matter what. Those girls are still my best friends today! Also, I learned that if I worked hard and focused on my goals, I could accomplish anything. I feel like SDSU fostered the notion that hard work helps you accomplish your dreams. This mentality is something I try to pass on to my students today. Finally, I just loved the competitive atmosphere while I played water polo at SDSU. Carin was such a great coach who wanted to win every game, but also have fun. That balance of competitiveness and fun is something I still bring to everything I do. I am so thankful for my time at SDSU!"
Stay Connected with SDSU Water Polo
Make sure to stay updated with Aztec water polo by liking them on Facebook, and following them on Twitter and Instagram.
Former Aztecs can also stay connected with other former student-athletes through the Aztec Varsity Club. For more information on the newly formed athletics group, visit goaztecs.com/avc or contact Johanna Pfeiffer at (619) 594-6444 or aztecvarsityclub@mail.sdsu.edu.
A Look Back at 20 Years of SDSU Water Polo: 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003