🥉 Our 12U Girls finished
3rd in the nation
at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.
The Coaching Staff
Twenty-two collegiate seasons. One Olympian produced. 70+ collegiate NCAA athletes. The Back Bay staff have built and coached at the levels they prepare athletes for.
Jesse runs the girls-side program and the broader operations of Back Bay. As University High School’s head coach since 2017, he has built one of the most consistent CIF programs in Southern California while developing athletes who go on to win at every collegiate level.
The goal is not just to win a Junior Olympic title. The goal is to build athletes who win in college and in life. The titles follow.Jesse Briggs
For Free Practice Week inquiries or program questions, contact Jesse directly at 949-872-0867.
Age-Group Coaches
Full Name: Ariah Martinez
Coach Ariah has 7 years of playing experience. She grew up in Murrieta/ Temecula , playing at Chapparal High School and played club for CHAWP. There she earned CIF player of the year.
She currently is the captain of her collegiate water polo team at Orange Coast College. She wishes to continue her playing career after OCC in a Division 1 level next year.
Coach Ariah brings a great energy to the pool and always has a big smile on her face coaching her team.
Ariah has two years of coaching experience with her team in Murrieta.
Coach Ariah brings a great energy to the pool and always has a big smile on her face coaching her team.
I enjoy helping young players develop their skills, confidence, and their love of the game.
Full Name: Bob McDonald
Coach Bob has been with Back Bay for 10+ years coaching teams such as:10u Coed, 12u Boys, 12u Girls, 14u Boys, 14u Girls, 10u Girls. He brings a lot of player and coach experience to the pool deck.
College and Coaching:
2010 - 2015 Varsity athlete at UCI MWP
2015 - 2018 Assistant Water Polo Coach @ CUI for Men & Women
2018 -2021 Assistant Men's Water Polo Coach UCI
2023-2026 Nashville Water Polo Club Director & Coach for HS.
Awards:2015 Junior Olympic Platinum Division Gold Medal finish for 10u Girls 2013 NCAA Scholar Athlete 2025 Tennessee State Championship Water Polo Title
Education:B.A. Economics @ UCIMinors in Math - EducationMBA @ CUI
Personal Life:I like to play sports and be active. I play water polo, soccer, basketball, and pickleball. I live with my fiance and our 4 cats at home.
Full Name: Oscar Garcia Blombäck
From: Europe, specifically Spain/Sweden
Playing experience: 5 years of Collegiate waterpolo @ Concordia University Irvine
Awards: 2025 WWPA Conference Championship
Major: Kinesiology
Coaching Exerience:
Back Bay 2025- present
University High school: 2026
It’s very rewarding to see kids develop athletically and enjoy playing a sport that I love.
Full Name: Lyric Roddenbery
Coach Lyric is from Oceanside, California, where she played water polo at El Camino HighSchool and for Seaside Water Polo Club.
She began her collegiate career at Orange Coast College, where she played for two years andserved as team captain during her second season. During her time at OCC, Lyric earned both All-American and All-Conference honors. She then continued her playing career at ChapmanUniversity, where she currently competes for the women’s water polo team.
Lyric has been coaching with Back Bay Water Polo Club since 2023 and has worked with avariety of age groups, with a primary focus on 14U and high school athletes.Coach Lyric brings a competitive but supportive approach to coaching. She enjoys helpingathletes improve their skills, better understand the game, and grow into confident players andteammates.
“I value the relationships I build with my players and the opportunity to make a positivedifference in their lives. My goal is to help them expand their knowledge, develop theirskills, and create a lasting love for the sport.”
Full Name: Tanner Harrington
Born and raised in Newport Beach,
Tanner played water polo starting with Back Bay at age 9,and went on to play through his high school years at Mater Dei.
Backed by 7 years of experience coaching 10-and-under athletes, he focuses on instilling strong fundamentals while helping young players discover a genuine love for the game, work hard, and grow with confidence.
Full Name: Sarah Lute
Sarah is a water polo player and coach. She has been playing water polo for 11 years and has both experience in the pool and on the coaching side.
She was a volunteer coach at ZV De Aalscholver in the Netherlands for three years, working with younger players and helping them get to know the sport and develop their skills in the water.
After that, Sarah played for one year on the women’s competitive team at ZPC Amersfoort and now she is in her second year playing water polo at Orange Coast College.
Full Name: Yaneth Gonzalez
Yaneth is from Bakersfield California.
She grew up playing on the Kern Premier water polo club.
Yeneth is an experienced water polo player and coach with over eight years of involvement in the sport. For the past three years, she has dedicated herself to coaching helping athletes identify their strengths, build confidence, and build skills with a specialized focus on developing center position players.
Currently competing at Orange Coast College, Yaneth combines her first hand experience in high-level collegiate competition with a passion for athlete development.
Register now, or come try one practice at no charge.
Or email backbaywaterpolo@gmail.com.
