Alexander chasing Olympic dream
By Wayne Bean Special to The Acorn

BUSY GUY- In addition to trying to earn a spot on the USA Men's Water Polo Team, Brian Alexander also coaches girls' water polo at Westlake High.

Brian Alexander is an aspiring Olympian who coached girls' water polo at Westlake High last season, his first with the Warriors.

The 25-year-old Alexander, a fan of surfing, cycling and the movie "The Big Lebowski," played water polo at Foothill High in Santa Ana before attending UC Santa Barbara, where he was an AllAmerican, leading UCSB in scoring two consecutive years, with 70 goals in 2003 and 64 goals in 2004.

In addition to his athletic achievements at UCSB, Alexander graduated with a degree in psychology. In the not-to-distant future, he plans on pursuing a master's degree in sports psychology.

Currently, Alexander, a 6foot3, 220-pound driver, is one of 25 athletes training with the USA Men's Water Polo Team, of which only 13 players will make the final cut in June.

The team trains six days per week, approximately six hours per day, at both Oaks Christian and Cal Lutheran.

Alexander said his lifelong dream is to compete in the Olympic Games, preferably this year in Beijing.

Despite his busy training schedule, The Acorn recently caught up with Alexander for a question-and-answer session.

Q: Talk about the pressures of trying to make the USA team.

A: Compete in every practice as if it were a game. I know that the coaching staff is always evaluating, but I try and just play and not think about it.

Q: How do you prepare mentally?

A: I stay mentally positive about my play and think in the moment. I also use visualization to see myself and the team winning the gold.

Q: What would it mean to you to make the team?

A: It would be a dream come true. I would enjoy the feeling for a day, and then move back to trying to focus on winning a medal.

Q: What is the most satisfying experience you've had playing nationally or internationally?

A: The best feeling is knowing that I am playing against the very best in my sport. The places I have seen have also been a great group of experiences.

Q: What is your favorite part of the game?

A: I love completely dominating someone on defense. I also enjoy making a great pass for someone's goal.

Q: What is the most challenging part of the game?

A: The mental side of the game is difficult. It's tough to anticipate where to be ahead of time and what will happen.

Q: What is your greatest achievement?

A: My greatest achievement was participating in two World Championships.

Q: What is the most difficult fundamental for you to master?

A: One of the most difficult is remembering to set my legs before I receive a cross pass in order to look like a shooter or actually take a shot.

Q: How did you get started playing water polo?

A: When I was 10 years old I saw an advertisement for a club team in my area. I signed up with my parents.

Q: What do you enjoy about representing the U.S.?

A: I love the feeling when the entire team is standing at presentations before a game in our robes and we are listening to the National Anthem.

Q: What don't you like about representing the U.S.?

A: Nothing really. A lot of other countries look at us as a "big bad wolf" because of political reasons, but I love that extra excitement they get to play USA.

Q: How do you balance being coach of the Westlake High girls' water polo team and the pressures of trying to make the Beijing team?

A: Coaching is over for now, but when I did it was tough. I wouldn't have time between national team practices to nap, so I drank a lot of smoothies and recovery drinks.

Q: When do you have time for surfing and cycling?

A: I haven't had much time; however, I will. I've surfed maybe three times in the past year.

Q: What other hobbies do you have?

A: I am a huge sports fan, especially the Los Angeles Angels, so I follow them often. I also like to read and play my (Nintendo) Wii.