The whistle blows for a timeout. The San Jose Express age 12 and under (12U) girls’ water polo team has twenty seconds to debrief and plan for the next play, tensions running high as they prepare to reenter the fight for every point in a neck-and-neck game. Senior Sofie Marino, the team’s coach, grabs the attention of player Michaela and gives her a quick critique. Too soon, the referee calls the team back in, and moments later, Michaela scores. Sofie recalls this moment fondly, a reminder of why she coaches: seeing young athletes rise to the challenge.

“I was really proud of her, and honestly, I was proud of myself,” Sofie said. “I was able to articulate my advice in a way that she could just do it. It just made me feel very appreciative that I could be a coach, and I really just love my team.”

Sofie began playing water polo at age seven, starting at the same time as a few of her friends. Though she enjoyed the sport, after suffering two back-to-back concussions, Sofie stopped playing in junior year due to the potential risk of more head injuries.

Before she stopped playing water polo, Sofie worked at Harker summer camp. There, she discovered her love of caring for children. That is why, when her playing career came to an end, Sofie found it an easy decision to join San Jose Express, the same club she played in, as a coach. With her experience as a junior counselor, Sofie was able to quickly form a bond with the team.

“The kids really trust me and I’m relatable to them because I am younger,” Sofie said. “When they make jokes, I usually get it, and so they include me in those jokes. Honestly, I built a really strong bond with the kids that I coached, which I think helped them trust me and take my advice as a coach.”

Although the hours were difficult to maintain while being in school, Sofie continued to coach because of her unique connection to the kids. Victor Adler, the coach who introduced her to water polo and offered her the coaching position on San Jose Express, appreciates Sofie’s caring attitude and her understanding of the game.

“She has a very good sense of the mentality of kids, despite the fact that she’s no longer playing,” Dr. Adler said. “It’s that ability to understand and connect with the kids that makes her really good as a youth instructor.”

Before coaching, she described her relationship with the game as “unhealthy.” In her mind, the only sign of success was winning. But the kids on Sofie’s 12U team changed her point of view, showing her that joy is more important than victory.

“They showed me that you don’t have to be amazing at something to enjoy it,” Sofie said. “You don’t always have to be winning something. You don’t have to be competing against someone else to prove that you’re good at something. They just showed me how to have fun.”

Just as Sofie cherishes the children she works with, she also values her relationships with friends and family. Close friend senior Sophia Roufas particularly appreciates Sofie’s unwavering support.

“She made me more confident,” Sophia said. “Before meeting her, I was really shy and nervous, and I’m still really shy and nervous, but I’m less so now because she’s made me feel better.”

Although life can be busy as a Harker student, Sofie prioritizes making herself available when her friends need her. Senior Angelina Burrows, Sofie’s close friend since first grade, admires her caring personality and how it manifests in their friendship.

“One of her strengths is how perceptive of people she is,” Angelina said. “She can very easily tell when somebody feels down, or if something is wrong, and then she’ll check in with that person and ask them how they are doing. Even when you don’t want to or you’re trying to hide how upset you are, she’s still able to see it, and then she’s there to help you out.”

Sofie uses her attentive nature to encourage others in all aspects of life. With her friends, she is always in tune with how they are doing, unafraid to step in to offer her help. With the kids she works with, Sofie puts immense effort into preserving their love of water polo. In all her interactions, Sofie continually supports others in whatever way they need.

“It’s very important to make sure the people in your life know they’re important to you,” Sofie said. “Whether that’s doing small acts of kindness or just being there whenever they need you, having a really strong support system is what gets you through life, and it’s a really valuable life skill to have.”

This story was originally published on Harker Aquila on November 9, 2024.