UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue V

Junior Water Polo Star is an MVP In and Out of the Water

SPORTS

By Andrew Mitchell Junior Jacqueline Azevedo has always had a positive outlook on life, a strong work ethic, and perseverance. at’s why when she stepped foot on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2021, she was already looking for as many ways as possible to give back to UC Merced and leave a legacy. Almost three years have gone by, and Azevedo has found herself contributing even more than she thought in her UC Merced journey. Azevedo is wrapping up her second year as an attacker on UC Merced’s women’s water polo team. e Hilmar native, who had never played water polo before college but was heavily involved in high school sports and was a swimmer, attended an open tryout in the fall of 2022 and earned a spot on the program’s rst roster. “I’ve always been an active person. I realized that it is possible to do anything you want when you realize that you are capable of more than you think,” Azevedo said. “Becoming a student athlete at UC Merced was not on my bucket list, but I knew it was possible when I realized I was eager to learn more about water polo and that I had a team and coaches who were willing to teach me the game.” Azevedo has been a key contributor to the team and was named an All-Sierra Paci c “B” Division First Team member in the 2023 inaugural season. She also helped lead the Bobcats to a third-place nish in the NAIA Water Polo Finals, and earlier this year played a role in the Bobcats beating their rst NCAA opponent when they earned a 13-2 win over Caltech on March 2. From learning how to eggbeater for the rst time (a fundamental of the sport) to winning games, Azevedo’s water polo journey has been thrilling, enriching, and a journey of resilience and personal growth.

Jacqueline Azevedo

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