Pioneers boys varsity · Visalia, California · 2026
Your 2026 Pioneers
The players behind the caps, and the coaches beside them.
Get to know the boys through their answers about life in and out of the pool. Open their interviews below, including new answers from Zayden and Phillip. More are on the way.
Cap 1Sherbrook gives Whitney the confidence to play aggressively, with a steady presence in the cage behind the defense. His saves give teammates the chance to reset, recover and go back on the attack.
Casey’s pregame rituals are highly classified, often asking the crowd to turn their heads while he performs them. He also goes through episodes of vows of silence, which makes pregame rituals difficult because part of a Jonas Brothers song finds its way into it.
Cap 1AKendig gives Whitney another option in the cage and has shown he can step in when the team needs him. As a freshman goalkeeper, he is gaining varsity experience while contributing alongside the older boys.
I get ready by showing my shoulders. That usually does the trick.
Cap 2Radmacher brings speed that can turn a change of possession into a scoring chance at the other end. He pairs that counterattack threat with finishing, passing and defensive work that keep him involved throughout the pool.
When I go on a counterattack, I look to see if I have an open shot against the goalie or the defender. If not, then I’ll look for a pass.
“Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles.
When I was younger, I believed that toys came alive when you weren’t looking, like in Toy Story.
Cap 3Piper brings a left-handed shot, an eye for the open teammate and a willingness to take on difficult defensive assignments. As a freshman, he is already finding ways to influence possessions beyond the final shot.
Zane likes long walks on the beach, is sort of shy and will one day aspire to read a book cover to cover. And not just the usual picture books, but one of those books that only has the occasional picture.
Cap 5Ramirez helps Whitney get the ball and get moving, whether he is racing for a sprint or taking possession away on defense. He brings a threat at both ends of the pool, helping create chances and joining the attack.
Ruben’s favorite foods are lukewarm celery sticks and plain white rice. His favorite quote is “I will absolutely get that to you by Tuesday.”
Cap 6O’Dell works in the crowded, physical 2 Meter area, fighting for position against defenders who are often older than he is. The sophomore creates scoring opportunities and draws exclusions through work that can be easy to miss from the stands.
Micah is a pioneer in the sport, famously trying to patent the 'underwater whisper' to communicate plays to his teammates. When he isn’t in the pool, he enjoys memorizing the nutritional facts on the back of cereal boxes and has a deep, unspoken rivalry with the neighborhood mailman.
Cap 7Soria’s return from injury brought another teammate back into Whitney’s rotation. Having him in the water gives the Pioneers more options as they share the work of a demanding season.
A talent that has no practical use would probably be being able to whistle. I have always tried, and I never could. I think this would be pretty useful, though, in some situations. When I was talking to this girl and I saw her walking in school, I always thought about whistling at her, but I never could.
Cap 8McLennan’s powerful arm makes him a threat whenever he has room to shoot, but his value reaches beyond that shot. He is willing to take on demanding defensive assignments and use his passing to put teammates in position to finish.
The moment I pick up the ball with my grip, aligning my fingers in parallel lines. And especially when they leave me open just for a second.
The most often thing that I do is the laugh from Gecko Moria from One Piece, and I didn’t realize it until my coach Tim pointed it out. It goes like “kishishishi.”
Probably how I act around people and about girls. Yeah, it seems funny, but I never had a relationship until my junior year after being friend-zoned by the girl I liked. There goes my ego (still got the number though).
Cap 9Hernandez is part of the senior group on Whitney’s varsity team. He helps keep the team connected through communication on defense.
One thing I do in a game is being able to communicate with my team on defense.
My act in a talent show would be juggling.
The best advice someone my age has given me is to just do what has to be done and not overthink it.
Cap 10DeBock contributes at both ends of the pool, looking for chances to finish while helping Whitney win back possession. His contributions include the defensive work and care with the ball that help keep an attack moving.
Alex prepares for matches by listening exclusively to elevator music at double speed. His ultimate life goal is to successfully parallel park a minivan on the first try. He claims he can tell the temperature of the water just by looking at it, though he is wrong 100% of the time. He enjoys collecting smooth rocks that look vaguely like historical figures.
Cap 11Brown brings a work ethic his teammates recognize and support. The sophomore is building confidence in his own shot while continuing to put in the work that earns that trust.
Shooting the ball.
I will do water polo the rest of high school.
I want to go on a cruise.
Chapman helps the boys understand their roles and play together, making adjustments as the game unfolds. He asks them to trust one another, share the ball and do the work that helps the whole team succeed.
Van Scyoc works alongside head coach Steven Chapman on Whitney’s coaching staff.
The intricacies of the plays that are ran so you don’t see the individual but the team work and build through the play.
My first job was working in receiving at Sportsman’s Warehouse so I would unload the trucks with new inventory. A story I still tell is when a truck was packed wrong once and there had been items shipped to the store that were non-CA compliant like collapsible batons and everyone from receiving had to meet with the store manager and sign paperwork stating we did not take anything or handle the batons because they are not to be sold or handled in CA with out a specific license.
Water Polo is the hardest sport in the world. I have done a lot of different sports in my life and none of them compared to water polo.
Part of the coaching staff supporting Whitney’s boys varsity team.
Part of the coaching staff supporting Whitney’s boys varsity team.
