Former Falcon swimmer named water polo coach at Biola University

Sarah Orozco named women's water polo coach at Biola University
Sarah Orozco named women's water polo coach at Biola University

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Starting in the 2021-22 season, Biola University will be fielding their first women's water polo team. They will be led by former Cerritos College swimmer Sarah Orozco, who spent the 2016 season with the Falcons. Prior to attending Cerritos, Orozco spent 2008-12 as a member of the UCLA water polo team and won a National Championship in 2008. A graduate of Montebello High, Orozco was coached in swimming at Cerritos by Sergio Macias, who was also her high school coach.

"I am looking forward to being able to make an impact in the lives of student-athletes relationally, physically, emotionally, and most importantly spiritually," Orozco stated on the Biola website. "My hope is that I can prepare student-athletes through the sport of water polo with the same skills that we will use to champion life ahead. I'm excited for the opportunity to coach water polo at the collegiate level, to hold and break records, and Lord-willing to take the program to heights beyond its limits."

Orozco was a member of the UCLA National Championship team Orozco, who did not swim at UCLA, had eligibility remaining in the sport and agreed to come swim for the Falcons and her high school coach. She did well and placed third in the 200-yard freestyle (2:08.00) at the South Coast Conference Championships, while she also finished sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:16.30. In her third event, she competed in the consolation finals in the 500-yard freestyle and placed ninth, while her time of 5:44.21 would have put her in fifth place in the championship finals.

For the last four seasons, Orozco spent as an assistant water polo coach at Azusa Pacific University, where the Cougars won 53 matches and had their best conference finish in program history. In 2019, she helped Azusa Pacific to a 19-14 overall record, which is the most wins in a single season in their 11-year program history. She helped the team finish its 2019 season off with a pair of wins at the Golden Coast Conference Tournament. The Cougars beat Concordia Irvine 12-5 and California Baptist 11-7 to end up in fifth-place in the extremely competitive NCAA Division I/NCAA Division II conference.

While playing water polo at UCLA, Orozco earned All-MPSF Freshman Team honors and led the team with 41 exclusions as a freshman, which also included 17 goals. She followed that with 21 goals and 25 exclusions her sophomore year, while recording 18 goals as a junior and finished second on the team with 28 goals her senior season.

During her four seasons with the Bruins, Orozco scored 84 goals, recorded 23 assists and added 38 steals. Most of her impact was felt in her ability to set up 6-on-5 situations for her team. Over the course of her collegiate career, Orozco drew over 100 exclusions from her opponents. During her senior season, she earned a spot on the All-NCAA tournament team, leading the team in goals during the tournament (8) as the Bruins finished third in the nation. During three of her four seasons at UCLA Orozco had the chance to play alongside her sister, Priscilla Orozco.

While at Montebello High, under the tutelage of Macias, Orozco was a four-year varsity water polo and swimming letter winner. She earned All-Almont League 1st Team honors in each of her four seasons and captured Almont League MVP and Montebello team MVP honors in 2008. She was a standout in the state, earning All-CIF Division I honors as a sophomore, junior and senior and MVP honors at the 2008 All-San Gabriel Valley All-Star Game. Her team won the Almont League Championship all four seasons and made it to the CIF Division I title match in 2006 and 2007.

Sarah Orozco swimming for the Falcons Orozco (left, swimming for the Falcons) also had a decorated club career, competing for the Commerce Club Team. She helped lead Commerce to four national Junior Olympic Club Championships and was a four-time Junior Olympics All-America selection. She twice earned national Junior Olympics MVP honors and two Commerce Club Water Polo Club MVP awards. Notably, she also served as a member of the U.S. Youth National Team in 2005 and 2007.

Following her time in Westwood, Orozco played professionally from 2012-14. She was a US Open Water Polo Champion with the New York Athletic Club and also played in the top leagues in Australia and Spain with Drummoyne Water Polo Club and Club Natacio Sant Andreu. She also participated in the 2011 Pan American Games as a member of the Mexican Senior National Team.

In 2015, Orozco was inducted into the City of Commerce Hall of Champions. The purpose of the City of Commerce Athletic Hall of Champions is to recognize and honor those Commerce athletes who excelled in their respective sports who helped to bring honor, recognition, distinction and excellence to the City of Commerce by their conduct both on and off the field, court, swimming pool or other venue of competition.