The UC High Aquatics Program has been taken under the financial support of the UC Centurion Foundation (UCCF) for the 2015-16 school year, according to Varsity Water Polo Coach Daniel Ramirez.

    The Aquatics Program consists of  the UC High Water Polo Teams and Swim Teams for girls and boys, according to its website (ucaquatics.com).

     The aquatics program previously received funding support from the Golden Triangle Aquatics Foundation (GTAF), according to Vice Principal Mike Paredes. However, GTAF dissolved, and UCCF took over the UC High aquatics teams, according to Varsity Water Polo Player Jack Harper.

    The UCCF provides support to all sports at UC High and is ensuring that the UC High aquatics teams have a means to fundraise and get enough donations in order to maintain their teams, according to Harper. According to Paredes, the UC High aquatics program needs “to raise approximately 30,000 dollars (nearly 10,000 dollars for each seasonal sport) in addition to the funding received from the school (which is approximately 7500 dollars for each seasonal sport) for equipment and pool rental costs.”   According to Harper, for the upcoming season, the UCCF’s primary goal is to fund the equipment the aquatic sports need in order to be successful. The UCCF plans on doing this by reaching out to parents and people in the community for donations as well as having the teams fundraise for their sports. Varsity Water Polo Player Noah Graciani said that the UCCF is helping teams fundraise by giving the aquatic sports players items such as coupon books to sell.

    “In my opinion, it’s a great program to raise money, because in the past years, we haven’t really had many fundraising methods to help our aquatics [teams],” said Graciani.

   “Now that we’re separated from the Golden Triangle Foundation, we’ll be able to take it [fundraising] from the ground up and start all over again,” said Harper.

   “We are in a far better position this year, as we have made more effort to fundraise, and the school has increased their support. This team has a bright future as a result of the support received from the school, parents and community members,” said Ramirez.