YUCAIPA, Calif. --- Tasked with fielding a full roster for a first-year program, Head Coach Rick Nordell set his sights on players who do two things: build a strong foundation of talent while helping the program navigate the "firsts" that the Eagles would face as a new team. Goalie Mitchell Carpenter fits that two-part bill perfectly and brings a decorated resume that befits a building block for a program striving for immediate success.

"I am thrilled to have Mitchell Carpenter on the inaugural Biola Men's Water Polo team in 2021. I have no doubt that the success he has had at the high school level will continue on here at Biola," said Coach Nordell. "Mitchell's size, skill, focus and determination will enable him to become a top-notch collegiate goalie and contribute greatly as we build Biola MWP into a competitive force in the WWPA league. And his strong character and academic abilities make him a great fit for Biola."

Although Carpenter's senior season was called off due to COVID-19 restrictions, the goalie squeezed a lot of accomplishments into two varsity seasons with the Yucaipa Thunderbirds. The future Eagles was handed a starting role as a sophomore after an All-CIF goalie graduated ahead of him and Carpenter stepped up immediately. The Thunderbirds matched their win total from the year prior and returned to CIF play with Carpenter on varsity. Then Yucaipa boys water polo won their CIF first round game in both 2018 and 2019 as their goalie recorded 689 saves between the two seasons.

Carpenter was also part of a U16 Thunderbirds team that won a USA Junior Olympic Water Polo Championship after winning five-straight contests and grabbed several personal recognitions for himself along the way. He was named to All-Citrus Belt and All-CIF Division IV teams in back-to-back years while cracking the CIF Southern Section's top-10 leaderboard for saves in a single season during his junior year. 

Carpenter also earned all-league recognition in basketball for the 7.4 points per game he contributed to another Yucaipa team that qualified for CIF play. He played varsity basketball for three years while also serving as ASB Vice President and he appeared on the honor roll all four years he's been in high school. 

As it pertains to his college choice, Carpenter quickly said the opportunity to leave a lasting impact was something he couldn't pass up.

"I chose Biola because of the opportunities that Biola presented that other schools could not," said Carpenter. "I am thrilled to be able to help start the Biola Water Polo program, form new traditions and be a part of setting it on a positive trajectory."

Carpenter plans to major in economics at Biola and is considering a career as a teacher. He'll move to La Mirada ahead of the Fall 2021 season after being involved in several leadership committees at his church and will join Nordell's team alongside high school teammate Luke Franklin. 

More information on the rest of the student-athletes that will join Mitchell Carpenter at Biola in 2021-22 can be found on the Committed Athletes page.