Caleb Shin '21 Recruiting Profile

Water polo...it has become my sport over the past 6 years.  I can vividly remember my mom suggesting that I go to an introductory lesson at the local water polo club team.  "Just so see what it is... it will be fun, it's in the water."  At that time neither of us really knew much about water polo, and even today neither of us could have ever imagined how much the sport would mean to both of us.

It was in spring club polo during my 8th grade year that I started to play goalie.  I was asked to try for "a few" practices, and then in a club tournament, and I was completely thrilled to play this position.  At that time our high school goalie was very good, so being an upcoming freshman I was able to train a bit with him and get some really great pointers about playing the position.  The point at which my decision to continue with goalie was set happed in the summer before my freshman year when my Spartan Water Polo Club won the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament at the Michigan State University outside pool.  It was epic to play with such a talented team of guys, and at the same time have one of the greatest performances of my goalie career.  I will always remember that tournament and my teammates, some of which I still play with on my high school team.

Water polo has taught me much more than how to play a game, yet it has taught me about myself and life.  Through water polo I have become a more focused, dedicated, and open-minded person.  I have learned that no matter what my age I have possibility to learn and grow in water polo, school, and life.  Looking back through the past six years, as in life, I have been able to experience success and defeat, challenge, and triumphs.  But most of all I have learned that in any aspect of life, no matter what my age, I need to keep working and learning in order to strive to be my personal best for myself and my team.  

I know that I am very fortunate to have attend the 7th Best College Prep high school in Michigan.  Though the times recently have been different for the sport of water polo for everyone, it has not changed my resolve to play collegiate water polo in 2021-2022 freshman year in college.  The sport of water polo has given me a focus on health and being active thus directing my interests to pursue a future career in medicine in which through sport I can encourage others to find their passion and carry that with them through life as I will continue to do.