Hungarian native Bence Valics is an athlete undaunted by a challenge. The pressure of competition is what gets him going because he knows that life, in and out the pool, is about working hard to overcome challenges and become a stronger person.
On top of being the goalie of the nationally ranked men’s water polo team at Pepperdine, Valics has displayed courage by overcoming language and cultural barriers while handling the course load of this prestigious university.
Just as Valics stands ready to defend the Pepperdine goal, fending off shots while maneuvering within the resistance of the water, he also has learned to step up to personal obstacles and succeed with his zealous determination.
“Back home, when I had a bad day or game, it was easier to deal with those problems because my family and friends were there,” Valics said. “Now it is harder because those people aren’t here.
“So, I deal with these [problems] on my own, and it makes me stronger.”
Valics added: “I know what I want. I know my goals, and I do everything to achieve them.”
One of Valics’ first goals was to pursue an education and play the sport he loved simultaneously. When he realized that this was not an option in his home country of Hungary, he looked toward the U.S.
“When I was in high school, I knew that I wanted to study at a university,” Valics said.
Back home in Eger, Hungary, Valics had been playing with the senior water polo team for two years. However, he knew that he would not be able to play professional water polo while being a university student, an unalterable rule in Hungary. He faced a major dilemma, having to choose one or the other, or he could find an alternative.
Valics admits, “I like to give myself options in life.”
Valics decided to take matters into his own hands and expand his realm of opportunity by emailing the Pepperdine water polo coach expressing desire to play for the team, despite the fact that he was more than 6,000 miles away.
“I believe I made a rational decision,” Valics said.
This was not the first time Valics stood up to obstacles and embraced every opportunity in spite of a seemingly fearful outcome. When he was 16 years old, Valics spent a season practicing and playing as both a goalie and a field player.
As a left-handed player, Valics has a notable “advantage” as a field player, but instead, he challenges himself to take on the pressure-filled role as goalie, where his left-handedness provides no advantage at all.
“The coaches wanted to give me time to decide what I really wanted,” said Valics. “And I enjoyed being goalie more, despite the responsibility.
“I like being under pressure. I can connect it to life,” Valics added. “Dealing in the pool with pressure makes me stronger as a person. As a goalie, I can change the game and I have a huge influence on the rest of the team.”
Teammate Chad Farnan says Valics’ role as goalie is important. “He’s the backbone of our defense. He decides what kind of defense we run, whether we press or go into a zone.”
Reaching and exceeding at such a prestigious level of play is not easy. Valics notes that when he started to play in Hungary, he was exposed to a unique opportunity and took it as a blessing and source of motivation.
“My team and I got better and better and at practice, we would see those guys up there,” Valics said. “They were from the Hungarian National Team, some of the top water polo players in the world.
“The thing that I wanted was right in front of me — I’d just have to work hard for it.”
Valics now ranks as a top water polo goalie. He has made 199 saves in 19.5 games played this season, an improvement from his performance last year where as a true freshman he stopped 170 shots in 21 games, earning him an honorable mention title by the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Whenever he is not in the pool, Valics makes time to study opposing teams’ players.
“I always need to watch other players to learn how they shoot because everyone finds his own style of shooting,” Valics said. “I have to spend more time with details.”
This technique does take more time out of Valics’ day, but he finds it valuable in assisting in his growth as a goalie.
In the world of academia, Valics has gone above and beyond to overcome the disadvantage of reading and writing in his non-native language. As an international student, Valics confesses he often has to spend more time studying than his teammates. However, he acknowledges that he always gets the job done.
Valics’ love for water polo and an education is what lead him to Pepperdine University.
“My parents were my motivation to play water polo… I just want to do what they did,” said Valics. Both of his parents played professional volleyball in Hungary. At the age of 10, his parents suggested that Valics pursue water polo.
“At the time, water polo was not that big,” Valics said. Soon, however, the program received sponsorship and the sport skyrocketed in popularity in Hungary.
The first two years of Valics’ water polo training involved solely swimming. He began playing games at the age of 12 and went on to become one of Hungary’s great water polo players.
Between the ages of 15 and 18, Valics and his team won three Hungarian Junior Championships in a row. Today, Valics has traveled thousands of miles away from home to continue developing as a water polo player, while also continuing to learn.
“This is the best thing you get to experience as a person, doing things on your own,” said Valics. “Real life started for me when I decided to come here.”
The weekly routine is challenging. He is in class from 8 a.m. to noon and heads straight to water polo practice until 3:30 p.m., leaving 30 minutes to stretch.
“After that, I am so tired, I get food and take a nap, so I can wake up and study.”
Valics believes that taking care of his health and body now will not only keep him in shape and ready for water polo, but will also be a significant benefit to him in the future.
““I am very health-conscious. I am trying to avoid fast food,” said Valics, something the average college student dare not say.
The health watch seems to be working out, given that Valics works extremely hard every day in practice to keep in shape, and reaps the benefits. This physicality is an important contributor to Valics’ performance as he not only resists the power of the water, but also fends off the lightning bolt shots thrown his way.
Valics is currently enjoying a good mix of education and his love for playing water polo.
“If he’s not training hard in the pool then he is most likely studying hard in the library,” teammate Farnan said.
As far as Valics’ future, he is again happy to have options. One of his options is to go to graduate school in the U.S. He is also contemplating returning to Hungary to further pursue his water polo career.
“I will have a degree,” said Valics, knowing that will certainly help him in the long run. His diverse cultural experience will also come in handy.
Valics is starting to note that he is thinking and dreaming in English, proving just how drastic his last two years here have been.
“I think it’s pretty cool, a unique experience,” Valics said.
