Cathedral Catholic High School guidance counselor Miss Colette Reid, last season’s assistant coach at Carlsbad High School, found herself celebrating a California Interscholastic Federation girls water polo Open Division victory last February, while players from star-studded Cathedral Catholic High School stood in shock on the other side of the pool.

In an ironic twist of fate, Miss Reid will spend the coming season leading a rebuilding effort as the CCHS girls’ water polo team new head coach.

“Getting to coach swim here for the last couple of years has been such a positive experience, and I am really excited to be growing here at CCHS,” Miss Reid said. “I definitely think there’s huge advantage for myself and the athletes that I am on campus. We can utilize lunches for film break down and goal setting.”

The pool is not Miss Reid’s only connection with CCHS, as she has been a part of the CCHS community for several years as varsity boys’ swim team coach and a college counselor.

Last year’s team consisted of nine seniors, top-seeded in the San Diego Open Division, won 25 games, with its only loss being against Miss Reid’s Carlsbad High School.

“Our team did extremely well last year, and I hope for the same this upcoming season,” CCHS water polo player Caira Sontigco ‘19 said. “There will be many newcomers who have great potential for making this a great season.”

Miss Reid faces many challenges leading this year’s squad.

“This season will likely be more of a rebuilding year since we lost so many seniors, but it’ll be a good chance to work on more fundamentals of the game and regain team chemistry rather than the technicalities of striving for CIF and State,” Hailey Colman ‘19 said.

The team’s upcoming remake is expected to be smoother than the typical transition to a new head coach. As conditioning recently began for the upcoming season, the girls immediately recognized the benefits that Miss Reid brings.

“For Miss Reid, she is quite involved in CCHS as both a counselor and swim coach, which makes our lives easier as players because Miss Reid is so accessible to us,” Colman said.

Miss Reid’s enthusiasm about the sport of water polo traces to her roots playing for Sonoma State University as a student athlete.

“I just love how fast paced and strategic the game is,” Miss Reid said.

Her love for the game itself and perspective as an experienced player will help shape this new team to be as close as last year’s.

“My favorite thing about last year’s season was the team chemistry,” Sontingco said. “We had a tight bond and quickly became trusting of one other, which I think helped us in being successful that year.”

Now, with last year’s head coach Ms. Jackie Puccino moving on to an assistant position at Harvard University, Miss Reid steps up as the new leader.

“I love coaching, working with athletes and helping them reach their goals its a real passion of mine,” Miss Reid said. “We are a young team with a lot of talent, and I am excited to be a part of their growth and high school experience.”