Nov. 12, 2015
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's water polo head coach Carin Crawford announced the signing of Maddy Parenteau, Delaney Parks, Shelby Kraft and Paige Miller to National Letters of Intent on Thursday.
Hailing from Lake Forest, Parenteau has enjoyed a stellar career thus far at El Toro High School. A three-year letterwinner, Parenteau led the Chargers to their most successful season in school history (2015). As a junior, the attacker/utility helped ETHS to its first CIF Southern Section Division II championship after she guided the Chargers to the South Coast League (SCL) title. Individually, she was an all-CIF Southern Section Division II and all-South Coast League first-team performer. A three-time Orange County Register Top-10 Player to Watch and two-time all-SCL first-team honoree, Parenteau led ETHS in scoring in the 2015 postseason, while also leading the Chargers in scoring, sprinting and steals. Additionally, she is a three-year varsity swim team member.
At the club level, Parenteau has played eight years with SET Water Polo Club. In 2014, she participated in the ODP Selection Camp and was on the first-place Junior Olympics 16U squad for the second straight season.
"Maddy Parenteau possesses speed, quickness and excellent pool vision," Crawford said. "She is an explosive attacker who never stops moving. She will immediately contribute to our aggressive attacking style of play, especially in transition. She comes from a championship-caliber high school and club program, so she is ready to make an impact for us right away."
Parks will head south from her hometown of Rancho Cucamonga following her graduation from Los Osos High School. In her three varsity seasons, Parks has helped Los Osos to three consecutive Baseline League championships and a pair of CIF Southern Section Division III titles (2013, 2014). She has earned a spot on the all-Baseline League first team and the all-CIF squad all three years, picking up first-team honors in 2014 (second team in 2013, 2015). Last season, the 2014 Honorable Mention All-American was Los Osos' team captain, while earning scholar-athlete accolades.
On the club circuit, Parks, an attacker, has played with Foothill Club Water Polo. She has two top-6 efforts at the Junior Olympics and U.S. Club Championships, and most recently was on the fourth-place 18U squad at the 2015 Cal Cup Championships.
"Delaney Parks is an experienced attacker with a keen understanding of the game and an accurate outside shot," Crawford said. "She has great fundamentals and a strong competitive drive. As one of the top prospects from Foothill Water Polo Club, Delaney will bring size and experience to our program."
Kraft will join her Los Osos teammate, Parks, at San Diego State next season as well. As a junior last year, she was the Baseline League MVP and picked up her third straight all-CIF award, including her second consecutive first-team appointment. Following her sophomore campaign, the team captain was voted to the All-America seventh team.
A three-time all-Baseline League performer, Kraft played with Parks on the Foothill Club Water Polo team. She was also a 2015 Youth NTSC participant.
"A tall, long 2-meter defender, Shelby possesses speed and size," Crawford said. "We expect that Shelby will develop into a force at 2-meter defense with the length and positioning ability to deny the ball at center and limit quality shot attempts. She is also working on developing her game at the offensive end, and we are excited about Shelby's potential on both sides of the ball."
Miller signs with the Aztecs out of Orinda and Miramonte High School. A goalkeeper, Miller was named Miramonte's team captain prior to her senior year (2015). To date, Miller has helped MHS to a 21-5 record and the school's first Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DFAL) championship in a decade. This weekend, Miller and Miramonte will play for the North Coast Section (NCS) title. Miller has 158 saves to go with 15 assists, 14 steals and four goals. At the completion of the league season, Miller was named the top goalie/defensive MVP of the DFAL. In 2014, she helped the Lady Matadors to a North Coast Section runner-up effort as a junior.
Miller, who went on a national trip to Italy in 2014, plays club water polo with Diablo Water Polo Club, the same club that produced current Aztec goalkeeper and All-American Rachel Mitchell. Miller is the starting keeper for the Diablo WPC 18U team and earned the starting nod for the Junior Olympics A team from 2010-15.
"Paige is an experienced goalie with tremendous upside," Crawford said. "Coached by Maureen O'Toole from Diablo Water Polo Club, Paige brings strong fundamentals to the goalie position. She is especially strong in the passing game, so she will help us continue our tradition of being a strong defensive team, and leading the transition to offense.
"This is an exceptionally talented recruiting class," Crawford added. "These are quality student-athletes who I am excited to have the opportunity to coach through their collegiate water polo careers. They will help us continue our tradition of success."
Before the quartet arrives, San Diego State is set to return four All-Americans in 2016, and the group will look to continue SDSU's dominance in the Golden Coast as the Aztecs have posted a 12-0 GCC record in the league's two years of existence, while winning back-to-back regular-season titles.