CANYONS WOMEN'S WATER POLO THROWN IN DEEP END; TEAM STRUGGLES TO FIND PLAYERS.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

What is the state of the College of the Canyons women's water polo team, which is about embark on its inaugural season?

``I've been embarrassing to my children,'' coach Diana Stanich said. ``I've literally been going up to people and saying, `Hi, I'm Diana Stanich and if you know of anyone interested in playing water polo. . . .'

``I just don't know what else to do.''

Strange circumstances surround the program, which, along with golf is the second women's sport to be added to COC's athletic program this year.

Stanich's goal for her first season is simply to field a team for the entire season, which is not as easy as it may seem. Rules only allow Stanich to recruit players from the four high schools in Santa Clarita. But - and here's the problem - none offer water polo.

It is a violation for Stanich to recruit players from any other high school unless they contact her first.

``We're asking anybody to come out; looking in supermarkets for any local high school students,'' said Stanich, who has coached the COC swim team for 15 years but has never played water polo. ``We could get some moms out here who are good swimmers.''

Stanich is hoping to get at least 10 water polo players out of her swim team, which had 18 women last season. Many of them have water polo experience from their high schools outside Santa Clarita.

She is not looking to ``steal'' water polo players from her swim team, thus weakening it. In fact, offering water polo is going to strengthen her swim program.

``(High school) swimmers have been telling me they were going to go to Valley, Pierce or Ventura because they want to play water polo, too,'' Stanich said. ``A lot of swimmers want to do both.''

Tiffani Roesler understands. Having completed high school through a proficiency (similar to a G.E.D.) at 16 in 1991, Roesler embarked on her college career at COC and joined the swim team.

College life proved to be too challenging for Roesler, so she left the school. She returned last year and found that her times in swimming were better than they were her first year at COC. But she only had that one year of eligibility left.

Roesler, a lifeguard for the city of Santa Clarita, played water polo for the first time in a game between lifeguards and excelled immediately.

``I got right in the pool and picked it up really quick. After a few months of training . . .,'' Roesler said. ``This is going to be a total mystery to me. Who knows what's going to happen.''

As awkward a situation as it is at COC for the women's water polo program, Stanich is unfazed. Nervous about attracting enough players, yes. But not apprehensive.

After all, Stanich's high school swimming career was spent in Yugoslavia, where her father was a coach.

``We swam in the Adriatic Sea,'' she recalled. ``They roped off pool areas in the sea.''

What about the frigid water temperatures?

``We swam fast,'' she joked.

Seriously, Stanich, who said it is a ``fun time'' for women in sports, will try to make the most of the program even though experienced players will be difficult to find.

Because it's a less established sport, Stanich said college water polo scholarships will be easier to get than ones in swimming. At the very least, more scholarships are available.

``We're trying to provide what the students want and need,'' she said. ``It's a fun time for me, with the women's World Cup. The time is fun for girls and the more we can add, the better.''