ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Hard Work Pays Off in the End
F
By Scott Ball
or senior water polo player Marin Balarin, the old adage “hard work plays off” certainly rings true in the summation of his career at Cal. Considered the heart and soul of the 2012 squad by head coach Kirk Everist, Balarin earned the 2013 Jake Gimbel Prize as the best example of the true Golden Bear spirit among this year’s class.
High, Balarin had to work his way up the ranks on the Bears’ water polo team to see any playing time. After scoring two goals as a redshirt freshman and competing in 11 matches as a sophomore, he had a breakout year as a junior, totaling 19 goals with Perhaps making the award more special 28 ejections earned and was the recipient of the Peter J. Cutino is the fact that Balarin’s nomination came Award as the team’s most improved player. from freshman teammate Colin MulcaThen as a senior captain, Balarin became one of the top playhy, a rare instance when the vast majori- ers in the MPSF and a third-team All-American. He was selectty of recommendations are submitted by ed to the MPSF All-Tournament Team after helping Cal win sevcoaches or academic advisors. The Gimbel en of its last eight matches, including upending No. 2-ranked Prize, which has been presented since the UCLA, 12-9, in the conference tournament semifinal. Balarin 1930s, recognizes a graduating male stu- finished the 2012 campaign leading the team with 51 ejecMarin Balarin dent-athlete for successful integration of tions earned and third in goals with 41. He concluded his Cal academic and athletic pursuits. career with 68 goals, and was selected national and conference “The Jake Gimbel Award is just a fantastic honor for Marin,” All-Academic three straight years. Everist said. “He tried every position except goalie and was “It was wonderful to be recognized by my team,” said Balarin. always been willing to battle for a spot and learn. For him to “I knew coming to Cal that I didn’t have as much experience as become a starting player and the other guys who had played team captain as a senior was for the U.S. National Team or in so great to watch. He is a leader Europe, but I knew that Cal had and someone whom I am very a great combination of athletic proud to have coached.” and academic excellence that Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Balarwould help me grow. There in moved to Berkeley as a onewere moments when I felt like year-old when his father, Felice, giving up because water polo is was earning his doctorate at an ultra-competitive sport, but Cal. After attending Berkeley I kept on pushing and working High School, where he was one on making sure the coaches of the Yellow Jackets all-time knew that I wanted this more top water polo players with a than anything. And the coaches school-record 210 goals, Balarkept their promise that if I kept in chose to attend Cal and major on working hard I would get an in applied mathematics. opportunity. It all worked out The Balarin family on Senior Day (from left): father, Felice; Marin; Despite being a star at Berkeley sister, Zanna; and mother, Vera well for me.” 36
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