JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers DOES IT ALL—Prior to joining the Newbury Park High girls' water polo squad a few years ago, senior Carley McKee earned a black belt in karate. She was first-team All-Marmonte last season. When Carley McKee was in the fifth grade she earned a black belt in karate. Having gone as far as she could in one sport, she looked to start another one. Thankfully for Newbury Park High, she chose water polo.

Although water polo gives no belts to the best athletes, you can be assured that McKee, now a senior, is playing at the highest level.

Coming off a season in which she was named to the AllMarmonte League first team, McKee is once again a force in the pool as NPHS is 12-5 overall, 4-2 in league. One of the biggest reasons for Newbury Park's success has been McKee.

"She is extremely vital to this team," head coach Dave Gleisberg said.

"She's the best player on the team, and she's always one of the best players at all the tournaments we compete in. Every time we play in a tournament, I get a couple of coaches that tell me how good she is."

McKee said she decided to become a water polo player because of her older sister, Bridget.

"I had competed in karate and ballet as a kid, but I was ready to try a team sport," McKee said.

"My older sister and I did a lot of the same things growing up, and after watching her play water polo, I thought I'd give it a try with the Golden Bay Water Polo Club."

McKee said she enjoyed the sport immediately, but it didn't come as easy to her as it does now.

"Playing water polo was intimidating and scary at first because there weren't too many girls going out for the team, and I didn't know any of them," McKee said. "Learning the game wasn't that bad once you understand the linguistics, but it took a while for me to become a good player."

Gradually, McKee began to improve her skills in the pool, so much that in her first year at NPHS she made the varsity squad.

"My freshman year is still my favorite year because everything was new and exciting," McKee said. "It was also the only year I got to play with my sister.

"As far as (Bridget) taking me under her wing, she did and she didn't. She helped me a lot, but she also shielded me from some things she didn't want me getting into. She didn't let me hang with the big girls."

By the time Gleisberg took over the girls' program in 2008, McKee was one of the best players in the Marmonte. After missing the playoffs during her sophomore year, McKee helped guide the Panthers back to the postseason as a junior, where they lost in the first round.

During McKee's junior year, she also began to find herself drawing double coverage by opposing teams. Gleisberg said McKee has handled the transition well.

"She doesn't let the doubleteams get to her," Gleisberg said. "She never gets angry about it. She has a great outlook on life and she always has a smile on her face.

"If anything, I believe the team needs to do a better job of finding a way to get her the ball. She's a playmaker, and when she has the ball, good things happen for our team," the coach said.

Senior Jenayl Peters said McKee's positive influence rubs off on the rest of the squad.

"I've known (McKee) for four years now, and she's once of the nicest people I know," Peters said. "She's a great person and great leader. She's always positive, and she doesn't have to say much to anyone to get them playing better."

With a 4-2 record in the Marmonte, the Panthers are on pace to return to the postseason. Although McKee admits that the top team in the league is still Agoura, she believes Newbury Park should be mentioned in the same breath as the Chargers and other quality teams like Royal.

"We're hugely underappreciated when it comes to teams in this league," McKee said. "Agoura and Royal are good, but we gave them both a run for their money the first time we played each of them. Hopefully, the second time around we can play even better and get a win."

McKee has received many high school accolades, but she isn't sure if she'll play water polo in college.

"If I do play water polo, I'd rather play Division III than Division I," McKee said. "I'm not burnt out on the sport yet, but I really want to enjoy college for the school and my studies rather than just playing sports."