By Steven Shaff, Assistant AD/Sports Information
DAVIS, Calif. – Alumna Lauren Charter '15 played in Davis on Feb. 16 with her nationally-ranked Cal Water Polo program in a single match against the Aggies. Four years after leaving Sacramento to attend UC-Berkeley, Charter has made her mark in and out of the pool during her time with the Golden Bears.
"She brings a ton of experience from learning how to be a good teammate and competing, knowing what the focus is for us as a squad and getting better and better each day," said Head Coach Coralie Simmons. "Ultimately that translates into individuals getting better each day. She takes pride in getting better and improving. It has been her MO. Every day getting a little better and the baby steps to earn respect from the staff and the team."
Charter was named one of the team's captains this season during her senior season.
"It means a lot," said Charter of her captain title. "I never imagined that it would be where I would be right now. I am trying to help everyone move through this season. It is not about me but how we can facilitate everyone else as a unit."
Simmons says the captain honor is well earned for effort and work as a teammate in her first three seasons.
"Charter is kinda our marque for how you do things and how you do things right," said Simmons. "It is nice having someone who sees eye to eye with you as a coach and a player and as a player coach. I could not have been happier to inherit her and have her take things to the next level."
She appeared in 14 games as a junior, scoring two goals. She has single goal in eight games this season but she likes to hang her cap on her defense.
"I just want to be a bigger presence in the pool especially on defense is where I take my most pride," said Charter. "Every time I get a chance to play I want to provide lock-down defense."
Charter has helped the Golden Bears to a No. 4 national ranking and a 7-1 record through the first month including a 14-6 win over No. 14 UC Davis on Saturday.
"It has been a lot of hard work and pushing myself to get better and try something new," said Charter. "I had a lot to learn going in and I still do every day at practice. It has been a lot of fun."
Charter is majoring in public health and will get her degree this spring. She has earned ACWPC All-Academic Excellent status each of the last two seasons after being a three-time USA Water Polo Academic All-American at St. Francis. She also earned NISCA/Speedo All-American, was a two-time All-Delta League selection and was chosen as the school's Scholar-Athlete Award winner as a Troubadour. Charter was also recognized by the Sac-Joaquin Section as a Lackey Award winner.
"It has been a cool opportunity because Cal is one the only undergraduate programs for public health degree," said Charter. "I am trying to meet as many professors and get as much guidance as I can because I know I am at a really prestigious school with a lot of movers and shakers."
After graduation she is considering several options including working towards a digital health degree in the UK or going to medical school.
"We will see what doors open and close for me right now," said Charter.
For now, she will also have her focus on the pool as her team competes for a national championship later this spring. The NCAA Championships are hosted by Stanford.
"We are focusing and the mentality is one game at a time," said Charter. "Next weekend we have our tournament at UC Irvine."
With Charter assisting with the team leadership, Simmons said the Golden Bears are in good hands.
"We get to model everything around her work ethic and the ability to make jumps in the time I have been her," said Simmons. "(She flipped) the switch saying I want to make this happen and I am going to do everything in my capacity to make it happen. It is an awesome as a coach to use her as example of how to get things done."
