As a demanding and oftentimes exhausting sport, water polo will only gather the best. Boys Water Polo Team Captain Senior Makani Lee is one of these. His level-headed attitude, balanced ferocity and jovial respect for his teammates earns him his reputation and the title of UC High’s Male Athlete of Month.
Like many athletes, Lee’s journey began long before high school. “I’ve been playing water polo for almost nine years. I started when I was nine years old and I’ve just been playing ever since. I played casually at the Clairemont pool for around two years, and then I joined a club [Shores] and I played with them for awhile, and I decided to move to a smaller club [Sunset], then COVID-19 hit and the club kind of went to the ground so now I’ve been with La Jolla United for three years,” said Lee.
Coach Jackson Ziegler looked back on his first experiences with Lee. Ziegler said, “Makani was the only new recruit for the Water Polo Team during the COVID-19 season, proving his dedication and desire to play the sport. Over the years, he has proven that dedication time and again. Nothing seems to faze him, and he brings the same toughness, determination, and passion for the game every season.”
In athletics and competition, things can often get very competitive to the point of overbearing hostility, but Lee views his competitive nature in a different way. He said, “I’m competitive in the sense that I want my team to win and need them to have an urge to dominate. That is how I channel my competitiveness.”
His teammates have much admiration for him. Senior Andrew Kuritz, a long-time friend of Lee and co-captain of the team, said, “[Lee] is super nice. As an athlete, he’s a pretty smart guy with a very can-do attitude. He’s pretty zoned in but not too zoned in to the point where he’s kind of a buzzkill. He’s the perfect combination.” Ziegler agreed. He said, “Makani… will never back down from an assignment or a big moment, and gives 100 percent effort every game. He holds himself to a high standard, always pushing himself to be better.”
Being captain can be challenging to many, but Lee has the experience and skill to be a leader. “I’ve been here forever, I know a lot about water polo. I took up that leadership role sort of early,” said Lee.
Lee’s balance of level-headedness in a competitive environment shines in the eyes of his coaches. Ziegler said, “Makani is a natural leader. He is vocal, assertive, and expects the best from his teammates, all while remaining humble and fun-loving. He welcomes new players and always brings a positive attitude to practices and games.”
“I would describe him as very determined. He does not enjoy getting subbed out at all and likes to keep going the whole game even though he has possibly the most exhausting position [middle], so he’s got a lot of drive,” said Kuritz.
Outside of athletics, Lee doesn’t consider himself to be excelling with academics: “I’m in the middle with grades. Usually my grades won’t dip below a C. It’s mostly just As and Bs, nothing crazy.” Outside of academics, Lee takes an interest in popular entertainment: “I play a lot of video games, watch a lot of TV shows and anime, and I read manga and comics.”
Despite the physical demand of the sport, Lee’s persistence makes him a formidable opponent in the pool. A strong and fierce competitor, he is an essential piece of the Boys Water Polo Team and a friend to all who know him.