Orange Lutheran senior Griffin Lagsdin played soccer for most of his life before switching to water polo at age 14. Although it was an unexpected path in his athletic journey, Lagsdin has embraced the sport.
 
"I like the teamwork and how everyone pushes each other," says Lagsdin. "It gets you fired up for games, so that aspect of the sport and how it works really excites me."
 
Also unexpected for Lagsdin is his position as goalkeeper. After coming in as a substitute for a sick teammate while on the Lancers JV team, he excelled at the high-pressure role in net and is now a significant contributor to the team's success. The 18-year old serves as a senior leader and strives to hold his teammates accountable, whether it's on campus, in the weight room or on the pool deck.
 
"As our starting goalie, Griffin has shown that he is the backbone of our defense and that we can rely on him to come up with big stops in pivotal moments," says OLu boys water polo head coach Joe Molina. "Griffin's competitive nature makes him a natural fit for the goalkeeper position, as he is not only anchoring our defense in games, but also pushing his teammates in practice to get better. Griffin helps lead his team by example, always ready for training, games and the next defensive assignment."
 
Learning a new sport later than his peers was a difficult adjustment for Lagsdin, but his commitment and work ethic have translated that challenge into confidence and consistency. What he has learned the most from water polo is to focus on discipline.
 
"Our coaches are always on us about discipline, like showing up to practice and making sure we're doing well in school," says the three-year varsity player. "I can apply that outside of school, just by making sure that I'm everywhere early, getting my homework done and helping people out."
 
Lagsdin's goals for after graduation include playing water polo at the collegiate level alongside studying business. He is thankful to his father for being a consistent role model and for instilling a strong work ethic. He also credits his faith for helping him maintain the right perspective while competing.
 
"Playing for God influences me and pushes me through the hardships," says Lagsdin. "Playing for him really helps me keep that perspective."