Cuesta Women's Water Polo earned its fourth straight trip to the post-season under Coach Rachel Gruetzmacher after finishing 2nd place in the Western State Conference. The trip marked the Cougars 7th straight post-season berth, not counting the canceled Covid year, when they were 2nd in the State out of three teams, or the suspended 2021 campaign. On the year, the Poloists posted their second straight 20- win season, at 22-11 overall, record and reached the second round of the CCCAA Regional Playoffs for the second straight season, after earning a free pass to the second round, when Palomar forfeited the contest. The Cougars lost to the eventual 3rd Place Orange Coast Pirates in the next round. Cuesta's roster was well represented on the all-Western State Conference teams with all seven Cuesta starters and one reserve earning honors. The honorees were led by a pair of All Americans- Annika Pauschek (Santa Margarita: Atascadero HS, pict-L) and Amelia Braun (La Mesa, pict-R)
All American
Annika Pauschek continues to pile up the accolades as she collected her third All American honor for Cuesta College. Paushcek, who was tabbed as an All American in both water polo and swimming during her freshman year, enjoyed another elite season in the tank. She was second on the team with 53 goals but also earned a place on the Cougars' Top 10 lists in other statistical categories. She led Cuesta in steals (102), fouls drawn (43), and field blocks (16). She currently ranks 4th on Cuesta's single season steal list and tied herself and two other players and herself after drawing 43 fouls for the second straight year. Over her career, Pauschek ranks 2nd all-time at Cuesta with 86 fouls drawn, 3rd in steals (160) and cracked the Top 20, at #18, with 102 goals. Pauschek is only the fourth two-time All American for Cuesta Women's Water Polo and this Spring she can join 1998 Cuesta Athlete of the Year
Chris Lund as the Cougars' only other aquatics athlete recognized as a four-time All American.
All American
Amelia Braun jumped from the all-WSC Second Team as a freshman to the all-WSC First Team and all-American accolades. Braun was an offensive juggernaut for the Cougars and accounted for nearly one-third of the Cougars' goals. Braun led the Cougars with both 58 goals scored and 46 assists, while finishing right behind Pauschek with 60 steals on defense.
Sophomore
Grace Kloberdanz (Bountiful, UT) and Freshman
Tristen Bettencourt (Arroyo Grande HS) were also named to the 2025 All-WSC First Team. Kloberdanz returned to the team after four four-year layoff. Kloberdanz originally played for the Cougars in 2021, but the season was shut down after the first weekend. Her four-year break did not diminish her skills, and she immediately became a focus of the Cougars' offense. Kloberdanz scored 44 goals and was second on the team with 27 fouls drawn. Bettencourt was the only Cuesta played to start and play in every game. She scored 16 goals on the season, while also dishing out 35 assists and swiping 42 steals.
Freshmen
Mia Quintana (Arroyo Grande HS) and
Raylee Anderson (Salinas HS)
were both selected to the 2025 all-WSC Second Team. Quintana was instant-offense for the Cougars and was one of four Cougars to tally 40 goals on offense and added 41 steals on defense. Anderson started 29 games in the nets for the Cougars and pulled down 182 saves, while posting an 18-10 record.
Freshmen
Evangeline Brown (Atascadero HS) and
Maleigha Schroder (Hanford HS) were both accorded Western State Conference Honorable Mention for their all-around play. Brown finished the season with 15 goals, 13 assists and 30 steals, while Schroder tallied 35 goals, while also giving out 38 assists on offense.
Cuesta Awards
Annika Pauschek- All American, All-Regional First Team, All-Conference First Team
Amelia Braun- All American, All-Regional First Team, All-Conference First Team
*In water polo, thirty all-Americans are selected statewide, but only 10 come from the North Region, while the larger South gets 20. Both regions also have two 15-player all-Region teams, so half of those players earn All American honors. All fifteen members of the South's All-Region First Team, the first 10 members of the North's all Region First Team, and the five highest vote getters of the South's 15-person all-region second team are accorded All-America honors. 16 of the 20 All American spots are allotted by regional playoff finish, however the coaches vote players into the few at-large All American spots and those at-large positions are reserved for players on their respective all-conference first teams.
