Lompoc High School's water polo team might not even exist today if it weren't for senior Jarred Torres.
Torres, who started playing water polo his freshman year, according to head coach Carl Thacker, has always been a committed athlete. But Torres went above and beyond last school year, when Lompoc High School officials failed to find a coach for the 2017 season.
The team ceased to exist for a year, until Torres encouraged the athletic department to reboot the program and raised more than $1,000 for the team's equipment.
Since then, Thacker said Torres has led the team as its only senior, captain, and highest scoring player with 41 points this season.
And most importantly, Thacker said Torres helped mentor Lompoc High's younger athletes, many of whom had never played water polo before because of the lapse in the program.
"Jarred has shared his knowledge and experience to help teach the team a better understanding of the sport," Thacker said. "Jarred leads by example with his positive attitude and work ethic."
