With unparalleled skill and unwavering commitment, Cal High junior Aiden Berry has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the realm of high school sports.
His exceptional talent and determination have not only led the school to victory but he’s also drawing national attention.
Water polo is often described as a sport where the strategy of soccer and basketball, the speed of swimming, and the physicality of wrestling are all mixed together.
Most water polo players, like Berry, are very versatile and can play many different positions on both defense and offense. But Berry mostly prefers to play as a driver when they’re attacking.
Berry loves representing Cal and has been doing so at a high level since joining the Grizzlies’ varsity team his freshman year.
“I really like the culture of the [Cal High] team, and playing for it,” Berry said.
Last year, Berry and Cal’s team made NCS playoffs for the first time in four years. Berry was the team’s highest scorer for Cal and the league’s second highest with 86 goals in 28 games.
This season, Berry finished the season with 61 goals. Cal High finished the season fourth in EBAL with a 5-3 record and reached the postseason once again.
“[Berry] is very adaptable and brings a lot of energy whenever he plays,” head coach Patrick O’Brien said.
Berry has been playing water polo since he was eight years old. His brother, Owen, pulled him into playing the sport.
“My motivation is to be better than my brother,” Berry said.
Berry decided to play at a local club, the 680 Drivers, which he’s still playing for. He’s created great chemistry with the same teammates he’s been playing with for the past eight seasons.
With this team, he’s attended to the National Junior Olympics finals three times in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Junior Olympics for water polo is the biggest tournament for American clubs with teams coming from all across the country. Unfortunately, his team placed second each time.
Berry has also played for the Regional Pacific Zone ODP program since he was 10. This year, he earned second in the National All Stars tournament.
“Aiden is an extremely determined individual,” Justin Hill, Berry’s coach on the 680 and ODP team, said. ”He’s very goal oriented and willing to put in a great amount of work to achieve that.”
Berry practices eight hours and plays one game every week during the high school season.
During the year-round club seasons, Berry practices six to 12 hours every week depending on the season and amount of games each week.
Most of his practices consist of a bit of swimming first and then passing work. Afterwards, Berry and his team practice their shooting.
To end it off, the practices finish with a scrimmage or specialized drills.
