LJ g water polo: Q & A with Kiley McClure

Senior Kiley McClure, who scored two goals in the
Vikings' 7-6 overtime win over Bishop's.

By Ed Piper

Interview Tues., Jan. 16, after La Jolla took a 7-6 victory
over rival Bishop's in overtime, playing two three-minute
overtime periods.

Year in school: Senior
Role on team: Reserve

EP: Congrats on the win. It was a really physical match. You were playing
really physical defense.

KMc: They're pretty grabby (chuckling). My other teammates, they (Bishop's)
were punching their heads. It was a physical game but we made it through.

EP: Bishop's is a great rivalry game. What does that mean for you guys?

KMc: It means a lot to us, because we always play them every year in the (CIF) semifinals, so winning just gives us more confidence. We're going to play them again soon, so...

EP: You're a senior, right? So you're a veteran with a leadership role. How do you see that? How do you try to carry that out?

KMc: Try and help others, and if they don't know what to do, tell them what to do. Try to give advice, but not be overbearing.

EP: Who is a younger player who has really stepped up this year? Or even surprised you?

KMc: Kyla Westfall. She's a freshman.

EP: What has she contributed so far?

KMc: She's a set (post) player, which is probably one of the hardest (positions) except guard.

EP: Set is the two-meter (in the middle of the offense, like the center in basketball)?

KMc: Yeah...

EP: On offense?

KMc: Yeah.

EP: How does she end up excelling at that?

KMc: I think that she has really good shooting. She's really good at turning people. The fact she's a freshman but gets played in games shows a lot about how our coach (Amy Jennings) thinks about her. I think she does well.

EP: Just you personally. I'm asking, so you're not bragging. What is a strength in your game, as you see it?

KMc: I don't normally start, (so) I was really nervous. But I let my nerves calm down and I scored two goals, so I was really stoked about that.

EP: What's something you keep in mind to play your best?

KMc: Umm, well, we have a mental training coach (Brian). He told us this one thing: Always think "green light" thoughts. He told us not to think about bad stuff we do in games, but just to build off it and think more about what you did good and keep doing that.

McClure (8) played monster defense in La Jolla's
league win at Coggan Pool.
(Photos by Ed Piper)