When Orange Lutheran senior Ella Treglia was introduced to water polo at age 12, she was hesitant to play. But once she got in the pool, her nerves subsided, and she quickly grew to love the game.
Now a four-year varsity player at OLu, Treglia plays attacker for the Lancers, and she has found a close-knit community of strong teammates and lifelong friends.
"I love the team at OLu so much, and that's carried over in such a good way," says Treglia. "Everybody on the team is really close, and they're all my best friends. Even if it's a hard practice, just being able to have a good team environment helps."
One of Treglia's favorite memories with OLu water polo is being part of the undefeated 2024 championship team, and her goals for this season align with the program's standard each year: winning a CIF championship. She believes that success starts with consistently doing the small things each day.
"That's a big team goal, but I want to make sure we take little goals and have little wins to get there," says Treglia. "Making sure everybody's showing up for practice and everybody's giving 100%."
As a senior leader, Treglia invests in the program's younger teammates, making sure they feel supported as equals and confident in their roles.
"Ella has been a staple in our program, known not only for her incredible skill in the pool but for the way she brings people together through her Christ-like character," says OLu girls water polo head coach Melissa Seidemann. "Her confidence, calm presence and quiet strength have shaped the heart of our team. Ella leads by example, always determined to improve, always steady and always encouraging those around her with grace and humility. She's the kind of athlete every coach hopes to have, one who lifts others up, reflects God's love and makes everyone around her better."
Treglia appreciates the culture at OLu, a place where she is both challenged and supported by her teammates.
"Being competitive is a good thing," says the 18-year old. "It's taught me to know how to be competitive and compare myself to others in ways that can help me. I feel like that's carried over to the classroom. Even though we are different in many ways, being competitive with peers helps us sharpen each other in and outside of the pool."
Treglia credits much of her growth to the training, guidance and inspiration she has received from her coaches over the years, including Seidemann, OLu head of sports performance Bubba Reynolds and former OLu girls water polo head coach Brenda Villa.
Their support has helped her reach the next level in her athletic career with her commitment to play water polo at her longtime dream school, UC Santa Barbara.
As she wraps up her final high school season and prepares for the next step, Treglia is grateful for the opportunity to compete for a program that keeps Christ at the center.
"Saying a prayer before each game has been a really nice aspect to all of it, knowing that we're playing to honor and glorify God," says Treglia. "Just that we can recognize that God has given us the ability to play and to perform at such high levels, and he's the one who's kept us safe the past four years so that we can play and perform. That helps keep us centered and reminds us that we're doing something bigger than ourselves."
