It was a dream come true for Wilson senior Brooke Gruneisen a few weeks ago, as the stud girls’ water polo player committed to her dream school, UCLA.
“It’s been my dream school since I was a little kid growing up around the sport,” she said. “I just love everything there, the tradition of the program, Westwood. When I was in like eighth grade I just decided to put all my eggs in that basket, I’m so glad it’s worked out.”
A star player from a young age, Gruneisen was the Moore League’s Player of the Year as a freshman. Last year as a junior she helped lead the team to the Bruins’ first CIF-SS championship in history, earning CIF Player of the Year honors as well as every local accolade imaginable. Her recruitment was heating up this year, and after a lot of interest from Michigan, UCLA came on strong and closed the deal.
“Brooke has been a great high school player and she’s got a chance to go up there and compete really hard and become a great college player,” said Wilson coach Barry O’Dea.
Gruneisen is part of a Long Beach family with deep aquatic roots. Her father, Matt, played at Wilson and Long Beach State.
The Bruins just beat Poly to take a firm hold on first place in the Moore League and will try to complete that title run as well as make a move in the CIF-SS Division ½ bracket after the holiday break.
