Warde, Tran commit

Both Edison High seniors demand attention in the water, and now both have made plans for when their time as a Charger ends.

Danielle Warde has committed to UC Irvine for women’s water polo and Chargers swim teammate Cindy Tran has committed to UC Berkeley for swimming.

Warde stands out more in water polo and Tran is strictly a swimmer, but both helped lead Edison to its first ever CIF title in any aquatics sport last May. The Chargers girls captured the CIF Southern Section Division I crown at Mt. San Antonio College.

Warde, a driver, had 83 goals, 68 steals and 39 assists last year for the Chargers girls’ water polo team. She was a first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I selection.

“The coach, Dan Klatt, is awesome,” said Warde, who was also considering UCLA and Cal, of her decision to play for UCI. “The girls made me feel at home. I felt like it was the place for me.”

Warde, whose father, Tom, also played water polo at UCI, said she is excited to be part of the Anteaters’ improving program. Last year, UCI won the inaugural Big West championship.

Edison Coach Diggy Riley, who also played at UCI for two years as well as at USC, said he is very proud of Warde.

“That’s a huge, huge land for UCI,” he said. “She’s arguably one of the top five players in the nation.”

Tran, also a standout club swimmer for Golden West, won the 100-yard butterfly at the Division I finals last spring and she defended her title in the 100 back.

Tran, Sarah Moss, Ellie Morrissey and Kierstin Colesen also set a meet record in the 200 medley relay (1:43.60).

She’s going to a program that last year won its first NCAA swimming title.

“[Cal] is going to get a great addition,” Riley said. “As we have seen over the last three years, she’s so versatile. She’ll fit in so well.”

Tran, who specializes in the backstroke but said she’d also love to swim the fly and relays in college, said she was also considering Arizona and Texas.

But in the end, she said Cal was just the best fit.

“The school, the area, the girls, the team and the coach,” Tran said, listing the reasons why she decided to join the Golden Bears.

“It’s such an interesting place. It’s so unique. I can’t wait to get there and explore it.”