BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern High School District Board of Trustees voted on Monday, Jan. 6 to add water polo as a California Interscholastic Federation sport. Previously, Garces Memorial High School and Bakersfield Christian High School, which are not a part of KHSD, were the only local schools to have programs.

At a meeting held in Dec. 2019, Catherine Lugo who oversees the Aquatic Center Program argued these points for the addition of the sport:

• Nine to 10 schools would be open to joining by fall 2020.
• Fall would have water polo while spring would continue with swimming and diving.
• Four to five other schools were interested but want to wait to see how games and logistics are handled.
• They'd start promoting now during swim meets and swim season.
• There would be a Summer League held at the new Kern Aquatics Complex next to Independence High School. The league would host training for players, coaches and officials.
• New aquatics complex could host up to eight teams during the Fall season.
• If at least four high schools join it would create their own league to cut down on travel and expenses.