SCU Women’s Water Polo Inks Two Outstanding Recruits

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University's women's water polo Head Coach Keith Wilbur has received commitments from two top high school water polo players. Julia Peters (Presentation HS/San Jose) and Jessica Shusko (Laguna Beach HS/Laguna Beach) have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the university and play for the Broncos in 2011-12.   
 
Peters, a senior at Presentation High School, is one of the most accomplished players at the prep level.  She was named First Team All-Central Coast Section (CCS) as a junior in 2009 and was recently named the San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year. She is coming off extended experience playing with the USA Junior National Team, helping Team USA win silver medals at the 2008 Junior Pan-Am Games in Brazil and the 2010 games in Florida.
 
"Julia is a dominant two meter player, and I think she will continue to be a force at that position in college," said Wilbur.  "She also benefits from experience at the highest levels both with Stanford Club and the Junior National Team.  She will be a great addition to our team, and we are really looking forward to Julia's arrival at Santa Clara."

Peters comes from a long legacy of SCU alumni. Her grandfather, Frank Fiscalini, graduated from Santa Clara in 1948 and was inducted into the Santa Clara Athletics Hall of Fame, having starred on the Bronco baseball team. Other relatives who have attended SCU, include: Lisa Fiscalini Hausle '76, Dave Garnett '98, Julianne Hausle Garnett '00, Chris Fiscalini '04 and former water polo player Alison Stover '05.

Shusko was named a 2009-10 First Team All-CIF performer as a junior last season at Laguna Beach High School. She was also honored as an All-Southern California Water Polo selection, helping Laguna reach the 2010 CIF Division II Finals.  Shusko also plays for SET which has consistently been one of the top club programs in the country.   

"Jessica has had exposure to a lot of high-level water polo, both on her high school and club teams," said Wilbur. "She is an excellent defender, and I think she is especially good as a two meter guard.  She also has a high water polo IQ, and she really makes the players around her better.  I expect that Jessica will be an impact player as a freshmen, and we are very excited that she has decided to come to Santa Clara."
 
A four-year varsity letter-winner, Shusko is serving as co-captain of the Laguna Beach team this spring. She was named the team's co-Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.