Over 5,000 miles and nine time zones separate America’s Finest City from the Spanish capital. Four years ago, attacker Claudia Valdes made the trek, leaving her hometown of Madrid to play NCAA Division I water polo for the Scarlet and Black. 

“In Spain, we don’t have this; it’s very easy to balance high-level sports and education here,” Valdes said. “In Spain, it’s pretty much you focus on your sport and you give up the academics part. When I heard this is something I could do, come here with a scholarship and play high-level water polo, I thought it was a good opportunity to keep getting better, both in the water and out of the water.”

Valdes, in her four seasons, was a force against opposing defenses. She netted 247 goals and tallied 190 assists, placing her fourth and second in program history. Additionally, her sophomore and senior seasons earned her First-Team All-Golden Coast Conference honors.  

“What they [records and accolades] don’t show is all the hard work that goes into it,” Valdes said. “It’s wonderful to have these titles and to be recognized by both the conference and the university. But above all, the work and training behind it all involves a lot of time in the pool and studying outside of it.”

At a young age, Valdes was placed in the water, but picking up the golden ball took some time. 

“I used to take her to a sports center to learn how to swim,” Valdes’s mother, Maribel Martin said. “I just wanted her to learn how to swim. I wasn’t interested in her taking up the same sport I did. At first, water polo didn’t really appeal to her.”

In Spain, water polo is more popular amongst men, which initially deterred Valdes, but she ultimately found her way into the sport after a female friend encouraged her to give it a try.

“There are always more boys playing water polo than girls,” Martin said. “So, a friend from swimming wanted to try water polo but didn’t want to go alone at age nine with the boys. She convinced her [Valdes] to try out, and I thought she wouldn’t like it. [Valdes] loved it, she quit rhythmic gymnastics and competed in swimming until she was 14.”

Reflecting on the journey, Valdes shared that her younger self would be proud of her accomplishments throughout her career and, eventually, at SDSU. 

“I think she would be very proud,” Valdes said. “It’s definitely an accomplishment playing four years in a different country, different continent and speaking a different language. Coming here and not knowing anyone, it was hard at first, [but] I think she would definitely be proud because this has always been a dream of mine.”

At the time of Valdes’ recruitment, current head coach Dana Ochsner was an assistant coach. Ochsner was promoted to head coach in 2023, which was also Valdes’s freshman season. 

“I got to watch Claudia’s film, but I was not part of the initial [recruiting] process,” Ochsner said. “When we were looking, Claudia has size, from her film she has a good shot and she played at a high-level in Spain. All those things boasted the fact that she would have success here.”

Dominating at the Division-I level is no easy task and neither is completing an undergraduate degree in microbiology. Valdes is doing both simultaneously.

“I saw it [SDSU water polo program] could get so much better and it definitely did,” Valdes said on why she chose SDSU. “I thought it was the perfect balance between having a good team culture, as well [with] good academics. Especially for my major, which is really lab-focused, the research and the labs at SDSU are really good.” 

After graduation, the next chapter for Valdes is to head back those 5,000 miles to continue studying and playing the game she loves. 

“I’m looking to play professionally in Spain,” Valdes said. “I don’t know where I’ll end up, Madrid, Barcelona, or somewhere else. I’ll be pursuing a master’s degree while playing professionally until my body tells me to stop. Hopefully, I’ll win titles with whatever team I’m on and secure a spot in the league with the team I play for.”