The Tigers' Nathan Olson signs with Fresno Pacific to play water polo

Olson, along with Mom Heather and Dad Nathan Sr. were on hand in the Lemoore High Event Center as Nathan signed with the Sunbirds. Mom, Pop and Nathan all sported Fresno Pacific shirts for the occasion. Also on hand were friends and other family members, as well as Lemoore Athletic Director Brady Holaday and Nathan’s water polo coach Josh Acosta.

Nathan Olson scores in a match against El Diamante earlier this season.

It was Acosta who introduced Nathan to water polo in the sixth grade, long before Acosta found himself as the Tigers head water polo coach.

Olson has done a bit of traveling in his career, starting his high school career in Lemoore as a freshman and then moving to Turlock for his sophomore and junior season. The family returned to Lemoore this past year when Nathan Sr. got a job as the City of Lemoore’s Public Works Director.

Nathan was a physical force on the offensive and defensive side of the pool. The Tigers, despite some fine play from a solid lineup that include Olson, finished third in the WYL with a 7-5 record.

Olson said he’s been in the pool since he was 5-years old. The 18-year-old plans to earn a degree and obtain a teaching credential. He wants to teach high school and coach.

The longtime water polo player loves the game. “I like the physicality of the sport,” said Olson, “and the level of competition.”

Olson will play for Sunbird Coach Bryan Suhovy, currently in his ninth season at Fresno Pacific. The Sunbirds struggled this past season, compiling an overall 10-17 mark while playing in Division II. The Sunbirds were no slouches when it came to competition. They took on several Division I schools, including San Jose State, UC San Diego, California Berkeley, Air Force, Harvard and others.