It’s not often a water polo player can make jaws drop, but that’s exactly what San Benito High senior Daniel Reimer did in the Haybalers’ 14-12 loss to Robert Louis Stevenson on Oct. 6. Simply put, Reimer put on a show that those in attendance won’t soon forget.
A foreign-exchange student from Germany, Reimer had several highlight-reel goals that you rarely see at the high school level. Then again, Reimer did play on Germany’s junior national team this past summer, and at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he’s literally a man among boys in the pool.
“He’s the type of athlete you wish you had five more of,” Balers coach Brendan Sigourney said. “He’s a big-time competitor, and he’s been a huge asset to the team. We’re grateful to have him, lucky to have him and he’s fit in well with the team.”
Playing the hole-set position, Reimer usually positions himself in front of the opponent’s goal and gets to work. Against Stevenson, Reimer had four you had to see it to believe it goals. Early in the second period, Reimer literally pounded the ball into the RLS backstop, scoring on a putback after teammate Eric De La Torre hit the post on a 6-on-5 advantage.
Reimer’s shot was delivered with such ferocity the ball made a loud thumping sound as it went into the backstop. Despite the RLS coach shouting, ‘Stay on No. 11, stay on No. 11,’ Reimer shook loose from the defender before gaining possession of the ball and burying the shot.
Late in the third period, Reimer scored what had to be the easiest goal of his life when an RLS player lobbed the ball straight to him as everyone was swimming the other way toward the San Benito goal. Then Reimer turned things up a notch on the spectacular scale when off a reset he unleashed a blind backhand shot from 6 meters away and buried it into the backstop.
But, in typical fashion of all elite athletes, Reimer saved the best for last. With 48 seconds remaining, Reimer scored a goal as he was battling for position on his back, tipping in a one-timer as his face was facing up at the sky.
“Yeah, that was something else,” Sigourney said.
Even though the Balers lost to RLS for the second time in as many games, there’s a chance the two teams can meet again in the league playoffs in three weeks. That contest would have bigger ramifications, as a Central Coast Section playoff berth could be at stake.
There’s no love-lost between the teams, as players and even coaches exchanged some nice pleasantries. San Benito received another solid performance from Jake Last, who scored both of his goals in the first period before fouling out in the third. Zander Bonnet scored two times and Cole Walker also got in the scoring column. How far the Balers advance this season will depend not so much on their physical skills—they’ve got plenty of talent—but on their mental toughness.
Against an evenly-matched RLS team, San Benito lost its cool on a couple of occasions, committed untimely fouls and suffered defensive breakdowns at crucial points.
“I told our guys life doesn’t always give you fair calls, but you have to roll with the punches and make the best of it,” Sigourney said. “You have to pick yourself up even if you don’t get a call and make things happen by overcoming them.”
Reimer is studying abroad for just one school year; he’ll be back at home in Germany by next summer. Reimer has only been playing water polo for six or seven years, but his learning curve was accelerated after he started training with a highly competitive city club.
Reimer said the team conducts eight practice sessions from Monday through Friday, with each practice lasting three to four hours. By training with intensity and learning from elite coaches, Reimer has become a force at a young age. Reimer won’t turn 17 until next month, and his goal is to make Germany’s 18-and-under national team for the World Men’s Youth Championships next summer.
For the time being, Reimer hopes to lead the Balers to a league playoff title and berth into the CCS playoffs. He’s enjoying life in Hollister—“I like the weather here,” he said—and Super Taqueria has become one of his favorite food destinations.
“The people here are really friendly and there’s a lot of fast food I like,” Reimer said.
