An NCAA National Champion, NCAA All-Tournament First Team, and U.S. senior national team member, Kaleigh Gilchrist, a senior two-meter on the USC Women's Water Polo squad, has an overflowing trophy cabinet that showcases her wide success. But not only does she balance being a full-time varsity athlete at USC, Gilchrist also has been a successful surfer since her teen years and has won the U.S. Surfing Championship twice in a row. Even though she seems to have accomplished everything, however, Gilchrist is far from slowing down. Before bidding farewell to her college life, she wants to do one more thing—win the national championship in front of a home crowd. It's opportunity she'll be provided when USC hosts the Championships this time next month. “I want to win it, and I want it bad.”

Love For Waves

Born in a family of Olympic swimmers, aquatic sports came rather naturally to Gilchrist. Under her father’s influence, she began swimming at the age of five in Newport Beach. Then, in third grade, her interest diverged to water polo which was, to her, more fitting.

“I fell in love with water polo because I have never been the greatest swimmer,” Gilchrist said jokingly. “I loved the competitiveness of water polo and the idea that everybody is fighting for a common goal.”

Around the same time, Gilchrist was introduced another aquatic sport—surfing. “I did my first surf camp when I was eight, but I didn’t like it at first,” she recalled. Ironically, two years later, the sport that she disliked at first became one of the most integral parts of her life. “I picked up surfing again when my buddies started surfing,” Gilchrist said. “Once we started surfing on weekends, it became like a lifestyle.”

Ever since she picked up surfing, it has been her ideal way to spend her leisure time. Whenever she is free, she will head over to the beach to catch some waves. It helps her rest, relax, and focus on pure fun.

Gifted with stunning coordination in the water, it wasn’t long until Gilchrist stood out and became one of the best amateur surfers in her age group. At 12, she was competing against the boys and would often make it to finals. When she turned 14, she was selected to be a member of USA Surf Team and to compete abroad in the ISA World Junior Championship. “I’m up to what…14 countries now?” she said, casually laughing it off like it is not a big deal. “I will be back surfing in France and Spain this summer, if it works out with my schedule,” she said with a big smile. “Can’t complain.”

Overcoming Hardship

Life rarely runs smoothly. Gilchrist’s is no exception. Looking back, Gilchrist admits going through a rough transition period in her first semester at USC. As a freshman, she wasn’t getting enough water polo game time and wasn’t able to play up to her expectations. Above all, with water polo practices and school work, she no longer had time to catch the waves. “I was watching the girls that I grew up [surfing] with competing and winning games in World Tours,” Gilchrist said. “I was torn whether it was the right decision to come to play polo at USC.”

Gilchrist’s father John, also known as “Sandy”, recalls the rough time as well. “Kaleigh’s first semester was difficult,” he spoke in retrospect. “She didn’t think she loved water polo, she missed home, and especially missed surfing.”

Watching his daughter struggle to cope with the pressure as a dual-sport athlete, Sandy tried to be there for her as much as possible. He drove up to see her even if she didn’t have any matches. “Her mother and I came to USC a lot,” Sandy remembered. “I would share my experiences and tell her that USC was the best four years of my life.”

In hindsight, Gilchrist believes that the support she received from her family was one of the most crucial factors that allowed her to overcome tough times. “Win or lose, my family was there for me no matter what.”

In the end, it was all about seeing the bigger picture and setting her priorities straight. A water polo player’s career is short, and most female players contemplate retirement after hitting their late 20’s. Professional surfers, nevertheless, enjoy careers that can easily span into their 30’s. The average age of the world’s top ten surfers is 27.5, closely following that of PGA golfers. Right now, her goal is crystal clear—water polo comes first, and surfing later.

Dreaming Big

Sandy was a two-time Olympian representing Canada, and was the captain of USC's swimming squad in 1967. Almost 47 years later, Kaleigh finds herself in a similar position. But unlike her father, she is the captain of USC women’s water polo leading the team on a journey to defend the National Championship title.

“Once you get that [winning] feeling, you never want to let it go,” Gilchrist said, “it is all about winning.”

Gilchrist’s vision does not stop there. This summer, after graduation, she may have a chance to compete against the world’s finest in the FINA Water Polo World Cup as a member of the U.S national water polo team. Gilchrist looks to take this opportunity as a learning experience that will raise her status in the national team.

She hopes to see herself competing in the 2016 Olympics. At least one thing is certain for now— the support from her family will always be there. “It’s really hard not to support her when her goal is so clearly defined,” Sandy chuckled. “I want her to experience the overwhelming feeling at the Olympics as well!”

Gilchrist’s biggest dream in life is to be a gold-medalist Olympian and the World Champion in surfing. It's n undeniably difficult goal to accomplish, but for the girl who has accomplished so much, it is definitely worth a shot.

Regardless of the outcome, she is living by her father’s favorite quote- “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next-best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

For Gilchrist, something is already being done, and this is only the start.

Follow Executive Producer Taiu Kunimoto on Twitter