Coach Ray Castillo, a senior currently studying at the University of La Verne studying biology, will be joining the boys (JV/Var) water polo coaching staff this season. Castillo is excited to be coaching again, after a three-year apparatus he took in order to focus on college. In high school, he was a player-coach for two years.
Castillo’s main goal for the season is to ensure that each player reaches their full potential. In addition, He plans to teach the players many tips and tricks he has learned throughout his personal water polo career.
“At the end of the year, I want to have seen them progress throughout the year…I would love to see them succeed,” Castillo said.
Castillo also says he will bring a certain aggressiveness in the way he wants his players to perform against this year’s opposition. Specifically, he wants the players to focus on being technical and to attack the defense. They manage to keep their structure, as well as their heads in the game for all four quarters. Castillo feels this team responds well to good coaching, and they give their all when they can. He is happy about their effort, and dedication to win games. He says that he prefers players to fit his image but is not afraid of letting them take control, and be creative with their play.
“I just want to have the best season we can,” Castillo said. “I want to have a historical season for all the kids, and to create momentum for the next couple of seasons.”
Aside from coaching, Castillo enjoys the swim and surf of the ocean, as well as playing water polo. He has played an array of positions, including shooter, driver, and hole-set/center. He has been playing water polo since he was nine, and played all four years of high school as well as swimming for the swim team. During his last years in high school, Castillo placed in the top 16 for swimmers in the CIF Central Coast Section, and he also made it to semi-finals his last two years for water polo.
After his coaching days are over, Castillo plans to go into the medical field but still has to decide which school and which field. He says he’s leaning towards Physician Assistant School, but nothing has been set in stone.
Castillo will be a valued and productive piece of the water polo machine. It appears the added force in the coaching staff will no doubt transform the water polo teams into a formidable force this season.