Passionate goalie Ruby Contreras and new head coach Hillary Boos share a deep friendship that transcends the confines of The Fresno City College women’s water polo team.

Both Boos and Contreras agreed that Contreras wasn’t always into swimming. Contreras was inspired by Boos, one of her close family friends, to try the water polo team at Sanger High School as a
freshman.

“She very much encouraged me to come out and try and see if I liked it and I did. At the time she was the head varsity coach for water polo and swim at Sanger High and I was on JV but I did have some influence from her,” Contreras said.

During this time Contreras managed to win the scholar athlete award for maintaining a 4.33 GPA throughout high school. Even as a beginner in the sport, she still strived to reach her potential and the water polo club was one of the things that helped her break out of her shell.

“So that kind of beginner-esque water polo club really drove my wants and like needs to get better, especially playing a specialty position such as goalkeeper. It really allowed me to really take those baby steps into growing as the player that I am now,” Contreras said.

She found herself in the sport and it helped her pave the way to a future college career.

“Honestly it started off as kind of like oh yeah, let’s see if we like this work and now it’s more of like let’s see if we can play for a good like a good UC college,” Contreras said.

To become an amazing player in such a physically demanding team sport such as water polo players must also have a can-do attitude. When speaking to Contreras her smile was infectious as she gushed about her love for the sport, her team and her utmost respect for Boos.

Boos describes Contreras as “An all around great kid willing to help with anything…She wants everybody to have a good day and be happy. She’s an all around good person”.

Boos spent 17 years in education and over 20 in coaching.  During their game on Wednesday, Sept. 18 against previous water polo FCC alumni, Boos was very gentle yet vocal with all of her players throughout the game. Contreras thinks highly of Boo’s teaching style. She praised her, touching on how she blends encouragement and constructive feedback which fuels her and fellow players’
love for the game and drive to win.

“I absolutely do think Hillary Boos is very beginner-friendly but she will build with you …and that she has a good competitive and really technical style of playing and teaching,” Contreras said.

Boos’ journey with helping and guiding Contreras to a starting position was with her not being able to make it across the pool. Now she is described by her teammates and coach as a great goalkeeper, essential player and a force to be reckoned with.

“It’s like night and day. Now she is doing 4000 yard swim sets and you know 2 hour workouts and an hour in the morning. Her hard work has paid off and to make it to this level is amazing. It’s a huge accomplishment,” Boos said.

Contreras was not always as loud and outgoing. Once Boos introduced her to water polo and began nurturing and encouraging Contreras’ love for the sport, she found her
voice.

“If I didn’t do water polo I think I would’ve been a lot more closed off and reserved. I also think I would’ve been way more focused on my arts and music maybe in marching band playing trombone…” Contreras said.

Contreras blossomed with the sense of team spirit and confidence found from her teammates and coach.

All Coach Boos wants for her team is to be successful in whatever they decide to do. Whether they choose to continue their water polo career or not. Boos had made it clear that she is not only
invested in her team as players but also as people. Her rather inspiring coaching style many of Boo’s players including Contreras want to keep her updated and involved in their lives long after the
season ends.

“I’m going to be keeping Hillary in contact…I’ll ask her questions if I need any help regarding playing styles…and I know that I’ll be coming back to her as kind of like a person that I want to keep updated on my achievements and my goals,” Contreras stated.