Hoover’s girls’ water polo team has plenty to celebrate this season, as several players earned All-Pacific League honors.
Senior Candela Roman Capdevila was named to the All-League First Team, while fellow senior Valentine Sinclair received Honorable Mention recognition.
“It means that my hard work and effort paid off,” Capdevila said. “I am proud of how far I’ve come since starting freshman year with no experience. These girls are more than just a team—they’re like a family, and I’m really proud of everything we’ve done together.”
The four-year player reflected on one of her favorite moments from the season.
“The first time we beat CV in league, we finally saw how much potential we had,” she said. “We realized how much we had improved and how far we could go in the season.”
Hoover Coach Domenico Ponziano praised Capdevila’s impact, calling her one of the league’s top players.
“Candela is, in my opinion, the best player in the league because of her complete understanding of the game and her impact on both ends of the pool,” he said. “She is an exceptionally skilled set guard who can play effectively behind the center by anticipating movements and shutting down options, but she truly shines when playing in front of the center while the rest of the team presses aggressively.
“She is fast, an outstanding swimmer, and has incredible endurance, allowing her to maintain a high level of intensity throughout the entire game. Offensively, she possesses one of the most powerful shots in the league—a true cannonball that makes her a constant threat to any defense. What makes her growth even more remarkable is that she never played club water polo; she started the sport as a freshman at Hoover.”
Sinclair also expressed pride in being recognized after a successful season.
“To have been part of such a successful team and to be selected after a historic season feels really great,” she said. “I owe it all to my wonderful teammates, the trust we built in each other, and Coach Ponziano, who taught me so much more than I could have imagined.”
She echoed Capdevila’s sentiment about defeating CV as a defining moment.
“Not only was it a historic win, but during that game we truly played as a team and established ourselves as a threat—something we hadn’t been before,” Sinclair said. “Gaining that confidence and experience alongside my teammates was unforgettable, and celebrating that win was incredibly rewarding.”
In addition to their success in the pool, the team also excelled academically.
Senior Aimee Ross earned Hoover’s Student-Athlete GPA Award with an outstanding 4.47 GPA, the highest among all winter athletes.
“The girls’ water polo team earned the highest collective GPA among all winter sports teams—an impressive 3.95,” Ponziano said. “I’m truly honored to coach athletes who compete with intensity, support one another like family, and excel in the classroom at the highest level.
“This team proves every day that success is measured by character, discipline, work ethic, and academic excellence. I’m so proud of this group—champions in the water and leaders in the classroom.”
