Brittany Fullen

Steve Virgen

While growing up in Corona del Mar, Brittany Fullen attempted to find

a sport she would thoroughly enjoy.

She had always had swimming since she was in diapers, but she

wanted more. She dabbled with softball and played volleyball, but

nothing could compare to the feeling she experienced with water polo

when she was 12.

In water polo, she could use her skills as a swimmer and her

height was definitely an advantage. She was set to become a field

player, most likely a two-meter set, but something happened in the

eighth grade that has changed her life.

Because of her height, she was and is 6-foot, Fullen was moved to

goalie by her youth instructor, Ted Bandaruk. Ever since, Fullen has

been improving as a goalie, while setting her own standards higher.

Last year, she helped lead the Corona del Mar High girls water

polo team to a CIF Southern Section Division II championship. This

season, she has been making a name for herself and impressing

opposing coaches, while aiding the Sea Kings, who have been

establishing a new identity.

“She has to be the best in CIF [Division II],” Santa Barbara Coach

Mark Walsh said of Fullen. “She’s tough.”

Fullen was rather solid for the Sea Kings last year, but she has

reached a higher level this season, CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said.

Brilliant. Great. Spectacular. Those are words to describe her now.

“She has improved a lot in her confidence and in her skills,”

Chaney said. “She is better in her game awareness. She’s one step

ahead of where she was last year in knowing where the shot is going.”

Chaney helped Fullen elevate her game by putting in her touch with

a special instructor during the off-season. Fullen trained with

Nicolle Payne, a goalie for the U.S. women’s national team, and took

advantage of the opportunity.

“That did help me,” Fullen said. “It was nice to have feedback

from another goalie. It was nice to get a goalie’s perspective. I got

to see her style of blocking and she gave me some tips. It helped a

lot.”

Having a year of varsity experience also provided confidence for

Fullen, a junior. She does not feel as much pressure as she did last

year, her first as the starting goalie.

“This year I feel a lot more confident; it’s not as scary,” the

Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week said. “Against any team, our team, as

a whole, builds confidence. We have warm-ups that we do that pump us

up ... I look at a team as any other team.”

Last week, Fullen’s confidence and skill led the Sea Kings to a

fourth-place finish in the Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar Holiday Cup,

a 16-team tournament. She recorded eight saves in a 14-4 quarterfinal

win over Poway Dec. 26. Then, she kept CdM in the game with 14 saves

in a 4-2 semifinal loss to Foothill. She also had seven saves in an

8-5 loss to Newport to cap the tourney.

Her performance against Foothill not only fueled her reputation,

but it also provided her teammates with the belief that they belong

among the elite in high school water polo.

“She’s one of the best in Orange County,” said Foothill Coach Dave

Mikesell, who knows a thing or two about coaching goalies, having

worked with Emily Feher.

Feher, who helped lead the Knights to an undefeated season and a

CIF Division I title, is now at UCLA and is a member of the junior

national team.

“For him to say that, I’m just flattered,” said Fullen who credits

her devotion to training as one of the reasons for her success. “I

always worked hard at what ever I do. It’s not that big of a deal to

me if people notice. I just do the best I can.”

Fullen said she will continue to work hard in order to best help

her teammates, as well as pursue a Division I scholarship.