Vance Black '24 Recruiting Profile

My name is Vance Russell Black and I am currently a Junior at Centennial High School, in Bakersfield Ca.  I am interested in and striving to play water polo at the collegiate level.  I am a starting goalie for the boys Centennial High School water polo team.  I was a starter for each of the two active years of the Centennial water polo team.  I played a wing position, due to my coach taking advantage of my left handed abilities.  Since starting water polo in fall of 2020, I had a strong desire to become goalie and with much hard work off season, I maneuvered over to a goalie position for my high school Varsity team in fall of 2022 which I will also strive for in club this coming spring/summer.  I worked with a specialized goalie coach, Randy Galza, in his off season clinics as well with the head coach of the Kern Premier water polo club.

According to MaxPreps, I am ranked #44 out of 334 goalies nation wide for my saves, as well as titled a Stat Leader and ranked #9 out of 54  goalies from California’s Central Valley. This is also with me having around 5-15 fewer games played than other players who ranked high for saves. I just finished my season of water polo for this school year and was award the 2022-2023 River League 1st team All League as well as being awarded the 2022-2023 Leadership Award for my team. Being that this is my first season playing as goalie and am doing as well as I am, I feel I can only continue to grow going forward. 

I have always been a very goal oriented athlete and have always strived to achieve the highest physical abilities for whatever sport I’ve been involved in.  In 2019 I received a Physical Education Award as well as an Honor Band Award.  I was very involved in band, but was steered towards water polo just before high school when my cousin who’s a Varsity goalie with UCSD’s women’s water polo team inspired me to try out and play.  

My past activities include Robotics Club, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble in which for two years I performed for in the Kern County Honor Band.  I also have close to 1 year of work experience with the Ingenious Escape Room in which I have promoted to a senior game master. I began water polo my Freshmen year of high school (2020) but due to Covid restrictions I was unable to play for my high school team due to the cancellation of all sports activities.  I joined Pretorian Water Polo Club in the summer of 2021, which allowed me to participate in the Junior Olympics.  I have excelled in all past sports I have played such as soccer, football and baseball.  My attention was set on water polo, which I believe has the highest level of training, skills and abilities which you must obtain to perform at the highest level in this sport.  I feel I have great mental fortitude, physical ability and determination to perform at the highest level in water polo.

I volunteer my time at my local church, Christ Church of the Valley, where I assist with the digital aspect of the church service, including sound, slides and software operation. I am also involved in the high school youth group at my church.

My academic strengths include mathematics and architectural design.  I strive each and every day to obtain the highest level of education, while also working with my team five days a week.  I work well with others and also with my teachers.  I strive to be very studious, and to get the most out of my education. 

My hobbies include bicycling, weight lifting, swimming, and sketching/design.  I believe my strengths are in design and I want to pursue an education in engineering and/or architecture.  

My personal strengths are that I am a great team player, I am outgoing, I get along great with others, I am very personable as well as being very respectful.  I believe I am emotionally mature and most of all very hard working.  I strive to be the best and work my hardest no matter what my goal is. 

Most of all, no matter what school I attend, I truly believe I will be a great asset to your team, in all fatcets of the team/sport.