Makenzie Fischer created many fond memories during the girls water polo season, but one makes her burst with laughter on almost every word as she recounts the tale.
Laguna Beach, the story goes, went bowling during a team-bonding excursion while in the Santa Barbara area.
Fischer and Taylor Julson drew the slight ire of Coach Ethan Damato with their high-jinks, but it wasn’t until Fischer fell that the consequences arrived.
“I slipped … and fell down the lane,” Fischer said while giggling. “So then he didn’t let us bowl anymore. … It was just our lane. Our teammates got to keep going.”
It might have been Fischer’s only blunder of the season, but it became memorable because she was with friends.
In the pool, the junior delivered the type of dominance that placed her on the U.S. national team in December. Her play and growing leadership skills powered Laguna Beach to new heights, and for her efforts Fischer is the Register’s Player of the Year.
“It was one of the most … dominant efforts I’ve seen at the high school level,” Damato said. “The way she played defense, 5-on-6, 6-on-5, countered. … She did everything, and did it the right way.”
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Fischer pushed Laguna Beach (30-1) to its first CIF-SS Division 1 title by leading the team in goals (130 in 27 games) and steals (75). The attacker/defender finished third on the team with 46 assists, showing the Breakers, which included her sister, Aria, had embraced the team concept.
“It’s definitely a lot more satisfying with getting everyone on the scoreboard,” Fischer said.
When the Breakers needed Fischer to take control, she delivered. She scored five goals in each of Laguna Beach’s four championship matches. The stretch included the Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, Irvine Southern California Championships and the Division 1 final.
“She brought the best when the best was needed,” Damato said of Fischer, the unanimous pick by coaches for Division 1 player of the year.
While known for being shy and playing with a stoic expression, Fischer also became more of a vocal leader. The 16-year-old talked to her team before games, stressing strong starts and during the playoffs of “finishing out” a stellar campaign.
“I need to work on my communicating verbally, but I think I lead by actions more,” Fischer said. “I’m not very vocal in the pool unless I’m really angry. I didn’t have much to be angry about (this season).”
Fischer is training with other high school players under U.S. national coach Adam Krikorian, who has called her a candidate to make the United States’ 2016 Olympic team. In May, she will train with the senior team.
But the Laguna Beach team always remains close to her heart.
“I want high school season to start again,” she said recently. “Your best friends are at your practice every day and you become really close to each other.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
