W. Water Polo: Former All-American part of Hawaii team

Katherine Gabayeron (second row, middle) was a member of the University of Hawaii water polo team
Katherine Gabayeron (second row, middle) was a member of the University of Hawaii water polo team

Former Cerritos College All-American women's water polo player Katherine Gabayeron, who was also a 10-time All-American swimmer, was a part of the University of Hawaii Big West Championship team over the weekend. The Rainbow Wahine, ranked #8 in the country, defeated #5 UC Irvine, 9-8 in overtime on Sunday to win the championship. The win sends Hawaii (18-8) into the NCAA Championships, which will take place at Stanford University on May 8-10.

Although she's a seldom-used player, Gabayeron earned her way onto the team with her speed and hard work. She's only appeared in a handful of games and has scored one goal, after amassing 138 goals for the Falcons from 2011-12.

While with Cerritos, Gabayeron was named All-American, 2nd Team All-State and was a 1st Team All-South Coast Conference as a sophomore after leading the team with 91 goals, along with 14 assists and 44 steals. Her 91 goals were the fourth most in a single season, while her 138 career goals also ranked fourth in school history. At the conclusion of her freshmen season, Gabayeron was voted the college's Freshman Athlete of the Year. She was named 2nd Team All-Southern California and 1st Team All-South Coast Conference as a freshman on the water polo team.

As a member of the Falcon swimming team, Gabayeron earned All-American honors by coming in second place at the State Championships in the 500-yard freestyle, sixth in the 200-yard IM and ninth in the 200-yard freestyle. She won the South Coast Conference championship in all three events, while setting new school records in the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.64), 1000-yard freestyle (10:59.22), 1650-yard freestyle (18:28.42) and 200-yard IM (2:13.07), as well as swimming a leg of the school-record setting 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relay teams.

Her brother PJ was a swimmer on the University of Hawaii team from 2012-13 after earning multiple All-American honors in swimming and post-season accolades for the Falcons in water polo.