Coach Bios:
Devin Hurst- Head Coach
"Water Polo has been a part of my life for over 30 years. As a player, I was fortunate enough to become an All-American and attend Pepperdine University on a water polo scholarship. In 1994, after being selected for the Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, my team went undefeated for the gold medal. After hanging up the suit, there has been continued success. I have had the great fortune to have coached Royal HS girls teams to 3 CIF titles games (2004, 2015, and 2016), with 2 of them resulting in a CIF Championship. I was honored with CIF Coach of the Year for all 3 of these successful seasons. There has been success on the boy’s side of things as well. This past season, I assisted Jack Kocur with the Oaks Christian boys’ team and it concluded with another CIF Championship. Back in the day, I also assisted Coach Kocur to a National Championship with the Waves Water Polo Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1997." Contact Coach Hurst: [email protected]
Joyce Abarta- Varsity Assistant, JV, Frosh coach
Joyce played water polo for Royal High School, but had to play on the boys team since there was not a girls team. She also helped start the first girls team on Simi Water polo club team. As captain she went on to garner four All Tournament selections as well as MVP. Travelling to Hawaii where the team competed against such teams as the Australian National team in the 18&U open division. Joyce has coached for several club teams since 2007. Most recently coaching for Rose Bowl Water Polo Club traveling to coach in Spain, Greece, and this year, Italy. She was selected to coach at the Colorado Spring Olympic training center with the Olympic Development Pipeline. Joyce has been coaching girls at Royal High School since 2009 for all three levels, wining several tournaments and earning back-to-back CIF Championships. She also concurrently coaches the boys teams at Oaks Christian High School, who most recently earned another CIF title. Contact Coach Abarta: [email protected]
Ramiro Saldain- Varsity Assistant
Born in Argentina, Buenos Aires. Played water polo at Royal High School from 1998-2001 named League MVP and high school All-American. USA Youth National Men’s Water Polo Team 2000 and 2001. Went to play at the UC Santa Barbara from 2001-2005 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Played a season in the Argentinean league (River Plate) and played a season in the Australian league (Sydney Lions). I’m currently living in Simi Valley and coaching the girls Royal High School water polo team.
Larry Wiksell - Strength Coach
Coach Wiksell attended the University of Alabama on a basketball scholarship. He graduated with a degree in history and criminal justice and has been teaching US History and Physical Education for 26 years. He has coached basketball and baseball and his honors have included All-American honors and Ventura County Basketball Coach of the Year.
Devin Hurst- Head Coach
"Water Polo has been a part of my life for over 30 years. As a player, I was fortunate enough to become an All-American and attend Pepperdine University on a water polo scholarship. In 1994, after being selected for the Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, my team went undefeated for the gold medal. After hanging up the suit, there has been continued success. I have had the great fortune to have coached Royal HS girls teams to 3 CIF titles games (2004, 2015, and 2016), with 2 of them resulting in a CIF Championship. I was honored with CIF Coach of the Year for all 3 of these successful seasons. There has been success on the boy’s side of things as well. This past season, I assisted Jack Kocur with the Oaks Christian boys’ team and it concluded with another CIF Championship. Back in the day, I also assisted Coach Kocur to a National Championship with the Waves Water Polo Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1997." Contact Coach Hurst: [email protected]
Joyce Abarta- Varsity Assistant, JV, Frosh coach
Joyce played water polo for Royal High School, but had to play on the boys team since there was not a girls team. She also helped start the first girls team on Simi Water polo club team. As captain she went on to garner four All Tournament selections as well as MVP. Travelling to Hawaii where the team competed against such teams as the Australian National team in the 18&U open division. Joyce has coached for several club teams since 2007. Most recently coaching for Rose Bowl Water Polo Club traveling to coach in Spain, Greece, and this year, Italy. She was selected to coach at the Colorado Spring Olympic training center with the Olympic Development Pipeline. Joyce has been coaching girls at Royal High School since 2009 for all three levels, wining several tournaments and earning back-to-back CIF Championships. She also concurrently coaches the boys teams at Oaks Christian High School, who most recently earned another CIF title. Contact Coach Abarta: [email protected]
Ramiro Saldain- Varsity Assistant
Born in Argentina, Buenos Aires. Played water polo at Royal High School from 1998-2001 named League MVP and high school All-American. USA Youth National Men’s Water Polo Team 2000 and 2001. Went to play at the UC Santa Barbara from 2001-2005 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Played a season in the Argentinean league (River Plate) and played a season in the Australian league (Sydney Lions). I’m currently living in Simi Valley and coaching the girls Royal High School water polo team.
Larry Wiksell - Strength Coach
Coach Wiksell attended the University of Alabama on a basketball scholarship. He graduated with a degree in history and criminal justice and has been teaching US History and Physical Education for 26 years. He has coached basketball and baseball and his honors have included All-American honors and Ventura County Basketball Coach of the Year.