Auriel Bill continues to add to her list of accolades while playing collegiate water polo in California.
The Estevan native won two prestigious awards this year. She was named the Female Athlete of the Year for the Hayward-based California State University East Bay Pioneers, thanks to her accomplishments in the pool. And she was named the co-player of the year for the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).
Bill won the latter award for the second straight year, although she shared it with Chanel Schilling of the University of California San Diego.
The award is picked by the coaches in the conference.
While Bill and Schilling play for rival schools, Bill noted that Schilling was a very deserving recipient.
Bill plays driver, which is an offensive position, for the Pioneers, and led the team in points with 90, thanks to 44 goals and 46 assists. Her point and assist totals ranked in the top three in the association. In addition, she was named to the first all-star team for the third straight year.
She credits her teammates for the success she has enjoyed in university.
“I have a phenomenal coaching staff,” said Bill. “The athletics staff in general are just great people.”
Her teammates have been fantastic, and a big part of her success.
And she said she couldn’t have been here without the support of her parents, Brian and Gloria.
“They’re out here supporting me as much as they can, but whenever they can’t be here, they’re watching on the livestream or whatever the case.”
Bill credits her time in Estevan and the Sharks program for the success she has been able to enjoy. Her father helped her find her love of the sport.
“He was there on deck every Tuesday and Thursday … and he always kept it cool. He just loved the sport, and was looking to learn, even though he never played it. My time with the Estevan Sharks was such a good starting point, and the developmental skills are far better now than they were when I was little.
“Just that team community was always really great, and there were the exciting trips when you get to travel to Regina with all your best friends. It was definitely the foundation for where I am now.”
If she wasn’t part of the Sharks, she wouldn’t have been able to move on to Team Saskatchewan. And without Team Saskatchewan, she wouldn’t be playing water polo in California.
Bill also doubts she would have had this much success, or this much fun, in an individual sport.
“Just being involved in a team sports, it’s made all of the difference.”
New for this year is her work as a coach for a California high school’s boys and girls teams.
“I think having the coaching perspective really changed the way I played this year, changed the way I talked to my teammates and supported them, and helped them learn the new plays and everything,” said Bill.
She wants everyone to have fun and love playing the sport.
The Pioneers finished third in the conference final this year, which wasn’t what they wanted, but they still ended on a good note, knowing that they did play well and they played together.
Expectations will be high for next season, thanks to the talent they have returning. Adrien Van Dyke of Regina is among the players expected to return to the Pioneers next season.
“Next year we’re going to want to go for the finals. We’re going to want to win the WWPA championship more than ever. And next year will be the year to do it, for sure. We’re going to have a phenomenal team next year.”
