YUCAIPA, Calif. --- Biola left an impression on Luke Franklin when he attended week-long summer camps on campus with his high school youth group. And now Franklin is looking to return the favor in his eagerness to make a positive imprint on Biola Men's Water Polo.

A center who will join Head Coach Rick Nordell's program with high school teammate Mitchell Carpenter, Franklin was another key contributor to the Yucaipa Thunderbirds' recent success in the pool. Franklin was part of the same sophomore class alongside Carpenter that helped Yucaipa qualify for CIF postseason play in their first year on varsity. The Thunderbirds accomplished the same feat the next year and won first round games in both tournaments. 

But Franklin's noticeable individual improvements can't be lost amidst his team's collective triumphs. The center took a big step forward as a junior, and he has the stats to show for it.

The future Eagle was the second-leading scorer for Yucaipa in his most recent high school season, recording 101 goals in 31 games to finish one tick behind Jacob Stuart's 102. Franklin garnered first team All-Citrus Belt recognition as a result after landing on the second team as a sophomore. And he also added a USA Junior Olympic gold medal to his trophy case outside of those two fall seasons.

Franklin, Carpenter and several other Thunderbirds formed a U16 team that won five-straight games in their copper bracket to take home a USA Junior Olympic Water Polo Championship two summers ago. At the time, the Yucaipa boys water polo coach said it was the best accomplishment the program had ever recorded. 

"I am very excited to have Luke Franklin as a member of the inaugural Biola Men's Water Polo team. Luke is an outstanding young man who brings a good mix of size, skill and work-ethic along with positive energy that will help launch this team in the right direction," said Coach Nordell. "Luke has been a top scorer in the Center position for his high school and club teams and I see him carrying that on at the collegiate level. I believe Biola is a great fit for him not only in the pool, but in academics and spiritual community as well."

When he isn't locked in on water polo, Franklin still has the bandwidth to excel in the classroom and serve as a commissioner of spirit on the Yucaipa Student Council. He has earned scholar athlete honors all for years at Yucaipa for maintaining a 3.5 GPA and has enjoyed his classes so much that he is considering a career as a high school history teacher. 

In the meantime, he's excited about the doors that will open to him at Biola and is itching to get started with his college team. 

"I chose Biola because I was excited to be part of something new and I'm thrilled to do so while continuing my walk with Christ at the same time. It was the best of both worlds," said Franklin. "I have also been to the Biola campus on previous occasions when Biola hosted CIY (Christ in Youth) camps for youth groups. I loved my experience then and I always kept Biola in the back of my mind for when it came time to apply."
 
Luke Franklin intends to major in history at Biola when he enrolls in Fall 2021. 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.