Family, Friends and Goals Connect Aley Vilches To Agoura High School Water Polo Program

When it comes to Agoura High School’s (AHS) water polo program, sophomore and girls team starting defender, Aley Vilches, and her family are in deep. With four family members participating in the sport, three of whom are, or will be, AHS Chargers, their love of the game might even be described as genetic. And while AHS water polo has a long history of sibling teammates, the Vilches cousins will tie only the Altman family alumni for most relatives concurrently participating in the AHS water polo program when Aley’s younger cousin, Gabriela (Gaby), joins the 2013-2014 girls team roster, according to Athletic Director and head girls water polo coach, Jason Rosenthal. Which begs the question: What exactly is so contagious to family members about the AHS water polo experience? Must be something in the water.

For Aley, that something was older brother, Valentino.

“Everything my older brother did, I wanted to do as well,” says Aley. So, when Valentino joined his first water polo club team, then nine-year-old cousins, Aley and Nico, (also currently a sophomore and defender on the AHS boys water polo team), jumped in, too. Not to be outdone or excluded, Aley’s younger cousin, Gaby, (and, Nico’s younger sister), joined the club. Currently a seventh grader at , Gaby will join the AHS girls team roster just in time for her cousin's and brother's senior year. Already a capable athlete in her own right, Gaby says her cousin, Aley, gives her much to admire and aspire to. “She never gives up, she's strong and knows what she's doing,” says Gaby. “I love my cousin, we are very close. She's more like a sister to me than a cousin,” she adds. 

Of her younger cousin, Aley says, "I can't wait for Gaby to come to Agoura!" 

As children, Aley played with Gaby and Nico on Los Angeles Water Polo Club's then co-ed teams. And, while she has since become an accomplished athlete, early attempts at the sport as a nine-year-old newcomer were hardly proficient, says Aley. “I was recently watching a video of Nico, my brother, and me playing a game when we were in the Novice League,” Aley says. “It is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. All you can see is my brother swimming up and down the pool while Nico, and I just floated in one spot, and once in a while, took a stroke. It didn't even look like we were in the pool since we were so tiny and could barely stay above water. I would just turn my head side to side to watch [the game],” she says. "And, I can remember Nico once playing goalie, hanging onto the back of the cage, and basically sinking for a couple of seconds whenever someone took a shot," she says. "But, it was fun learning and playing together. I have always loved a challenge, and we were all always extremely competitive." 

Early training obviously paid off for the Vilches water polo athletes; Valentino went on to become a talented high school student athlete, and played for the Long Beach College Vikings; Aley and Nico earned AHS Varsity spots as freshmen; Gaby is a current club team standout. 

“Aley is very knowledgeable of the game, and she has a lot of experience coming into the program. She has a great offensive mind set, and shows no fear in the pool,” says Coach Rosenthal.

Aley’s aspirations, ambitions and competitive spirit are a perfect fit for the Chargers, whose dedication to “showcasing Agoura High School as a symbol of academic and athletic excellence in the community by helping each student-athlete realize her maximum potential as a young woman of exceptional character, drive, talent and achievement,” continues significant realization based on the number of graduates earning top college spots. 

When considering her high school choices, Aley says Agoura High School was at the top of her list. 

“I knew I wanted to go to Agoura because of the water polo program, and it helped a lot already having friends here," she says. "I live in the LAUSD area, but none of the schools are competitive enough [for me]. If I hadn't come here, I would have never gotten to where I am now,” she says. “I’m hoping to play for the Senior National Team someday and be able to get into [and play at] a good college,” says Aley.

It appears she is well on her way to reaching her goals, too. Last summer Aley earned a spot on the USA National Cadet Team that traveled to Puerto Rico for the Pan American UANA Championships.

For now, however, Aley and her teammates remain focused on upcoming CIF finals and bringing home another CIF crown to complement the boys team’s 2011-2012 championship trophy.

The Agoura High School girls water polo team is the area’s top contender for another CIF title. The team is ranked No. 3 in the CIF-Southern Section Division II poll, and has won a total of 12 Marmonte League championships in coach Jason Rosenthal's fifteen years as coach. All divisions are currently undefeated in League play. Winners in 2001 and 2007 (along with the boys team), the girls lost last year to Long Beach Wilson in a CIF quarter final upset. As a freshman Varsity player last season, Aley earned All-CIF Division II Third Team honors.

“We are all so excited and determined to win CIF,” says Aley. “Even though our division is difficult, we have a really good chance to win. We've all bonded so well together as a team this year, and if we work hard and set our minds to it, we will win,” she says.

As for the team's substandard , Aley says, “It would help having a bigger pool, because we would be able to practice the drills and plays without feeling so crowded. For CIF we're never going to play in a pool the size of Agoura’s, so if we were to train in a bigger pool…we would be better prepared. We would be use to the environment,” she concludes.