Athlete’s Corner: Aidan Wattson commits to USC for Division 1 Water Polo

Senior Aidan Wattson committed to the University of Southern California to play water polo for the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA. Wattson’s water polo career started when he was ten practicing with Palos Verdes Water Polo Club. 

At 13, Wattson made the Olympic Development Program team and the following year he was named captain of the USA Cadet National team, where he traveled to Montenegro and Serbia to compete in tournaments, placing 3rd in the Darko Cukic Cup in Belgrade. Wattson spent the next three years of high school competing on the PVHS Varsity water polo team. 

Whether it is in the classroom or in the pool, “If he decides to do something, he is going to put his all into it,” PV High Varsity water polo head coach Patrick O’Brien said. 

O’Brien has known Wattson since he first started playing, and coached him all the way through high school.

Wattson’s dedicated work ethic in and out of the pool has propelled himself to the point where “there is basically nothing in the pool we can’t ask him to do,” O’Brien said. 

“Going into my last high school season, we are hoping to win D1 CIF,” Wattson said.

Even from a young age, Wattson always knew he wanted to play a sport in college. At 12 years old, “[Water polo] was a real possibility, and something I knew I’d want to do.”

Wattson’s first experiences with USC started when he attended the USC Water Polo Summer Camps, where he first spoke with the coaches and players.

“The [coaches] have been super-helpful, especially when it came to choosing which college. Knowing the players on the team, seeing the facilities, made it an easy decision for me.”

Luckily for Wattson, he was able to go on an official visit right before the pandemic struck. 

“It was very nice to be able to see the campus, talk to the coaching staff, talk to the athletic director,” Wattson said. 

“After COVID-19 hit, it was a lot of Zooms talking to the coaches, talking to other schools to figure out what was the right fit.“ 

Eventually Wattson chose USC as his future college.

In order to best prepare and stay in shape for the upcoming high school season during a global pandemic, Wattson had to get creative. 

“I lifted 5 to 6 times a week and used a swim machine in my garage,” Wattson said. 

“Whether it be a neighbor‘s pool, or a small indoor pool, anytime spent in the water was valuable.” 

Wattson, with the help of his dad and brother, built a whole water polo goal out of PVC pipes, a boogie board, and a few rolls of duct tape, and floated it out at RAT Beach in order to practice his shooting.

Being able to persevere through obstacles like the closing of pools and consistently work on improving himself and the team “is one of his best traits,” O’Brien said. 

“Whether it is a big game or a morning practice, I know he is going to be there everyday and he is going to be giving his maximum effort, and that is all you can ask for as a coach.”

For most high school seniors, college is a looming fog of stress and anxiety, but committing to USC has been a “huge weight lifted off my shoulders, I am very happy and excited to be knowing where I’m going for the next four years,” Wattson said.

“[My goals] for USC are to excel as much in the classroom, and to do whatever I can to help my team win a championship,” Wattson said.