Koko Butcher
Koko Butcher (junior) had a standout performance at the Convergence water polo Tournament March 1 in wins against UC Merced and Penn State Behrend, totaling eight goals and four assists.
“At the end of the game against UC Merced, there was five seconds left, and we got the ball while the game was tied 8-8,” Butcher said. “One of our seniors, Marisa Lipari, shot it from over halfway into an open cage and scored and won. It was such a turning moment in this season because we really needed that confidence going into our second game. I scored five goals and I’ve never done that before. All credit to my team. I had great support and the only reason I’m able to score is because of other people.”
According to Butcher, they dealt with a concussion earlier in the season which prevented them from playing. They said that this break from playing has made them enthusiastic to be back with the team.
“I was concussed for the first big tournament when the team traveled to Minnesota,” Butcher said. “So, I didn’t get to go and it was really sad. I was really excited that I got to play this past weekend and finally get back into it without being injured. We won both games on Friday which was really exciting, and we are seeing improvement in every game. Even though the games on Saturday were against harder teams, we played really well.”
Emma Wilderman (first year) said she began playing water polo five years ago and has found Koko to be a driven and multifaceted leader on the team.
“I would say that Koko is a really good team player and will do whatever needs to be done,” Wilderman said. “Koko will play as center guard, so they will be like the main defender but then also they’ll go and be an attacker and then also help assist. Koko’s been really great and if I ever have any questions I can go ask them. If someone needs to correct me, Koko will help point out these things in a constructive way that helps fix what I need to work on.”
Interim head coach Joe Cox ’22 is in his first season as head coach of both water polo team’s after leading the men’s team as a three-year captain from 2019-2022. According to Cox, Koko is one of the team’s most valuable players.
“Koko is a leader, someone that leads by example every day and someone that I know when I ask them to do something, they’re going to do it at 100 percent,” Cox said. “It’s not often that you see someone this talented who works quite as hard, but Koko is definitely that type of player. The success that they have had so far is not surprising because it is just a product of the work that they put in every single day.”
Nico Morales
Nico Morales (junior) placed first in the javelin competition at the recent SCIAC Multi-Dual March 2. Despite the rain that plagued the meet all morning, his top throw was 38.70 meters. He also placed third in the men’s triple jump, with a jump of 11.27 meters.
“Javelin is very technical and the technique is very hard to get down,” Morales said. “But I found it came much more naturally than jumping, and I still love it. I do triple jump as well and it’s hard because you have to jump off the same foot twice and then jump off the other foot It’s not my top event, I definitely prefer javelin in part because I’m better at it.”
Assistant coach Katie Reichert joined the track and field program last October and is a four-time NCAA Division II All-American in the javelin. Reichert said she has enjoyed becoming a part of the Occidental community and that Morales has been improving each week.
“Nico is definitely very driven,” Reichert said. “If you give him something to work on, he’ll work on it in practice and after practice. He takes the reps in and out of the practice and is constantly trying to improve. It’s been really cool to watch him grow over the short few months I’ve been here and I’m really looking forward to how everything will round out as the rest of the season goes.”
Morales said that Reichert has helped him improve his javelin-throwing technique.
“This year we got Katie, and she’s been great,” Morales said. “She’s helped me fix a lot of things that I was doing wrong. It was rainy, terrible conditions and I still got first and that’s just pretty impressive. That’s not just on me, it’s on her too. She put me in the spot to do that.”
Evan Lieber (sophomore), one of Morales’ teammates, started throwing javelin during his first year at Occidental.
“Nico’s work ethic is just next level,” Lieber said. “He’s always super encouraging. I’m a sophomore and in my first year he was really the person that helped me learn javelin. He’s always been a mentor and I learn a lot from watching his technique. He is a great leader and has really helped me develop as a thrower. Not only has he developed himself, but he’s helped others develop too.”
Morales said being a part of the track and field team has improved his experience at Occidental by having teammates that he knows will stand up for him.
“All the guys are just so welcoming and the girls team is great,” Morales said. “I have some best friends on both teams, and everybody is really close. Every time we break after practice we say, ‘Tigers on three, family on six’ and we really are like a family.”
Contact Theo Wilton at twilton@oxy.edu
