Lexi Atwell’s middle name – Utahna – is also her mother’s and her grandmother’s first name, taken from a princess in a Ute Indian legend. There are multiple versions of the Native American tale, but in some of them, Utahna has the courage to sacrifice herself for her people. Sometimes, she is the one who nurses Red Eagle, a warrior shown to be mortal, back to health. Atwell, a strong defender in water polo who plays well in La Jolla High School’s team offense, shows the heart and dedication to contribute to her team’s success through sacrifice of her individual skills. The junior three-year starter also expresses a desire to serve people, as Utahna cares for the injured Red Eagle, in a future career she pictures after college. The 16-year-old packs in a compressed schedule of religious classes before school, in addition to 6 a.m. practice for new head coach Keller Felt’s varsity, two mornings a week on top of daily afternoon team workouts at Coggan Family Pool. She is a two-sport star, competing in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle for the Viking swim team in the spring. In addition, she lifeguards in her free time and instructing Katie Johnson, 6, and other children in swim lessons. “Hopefully, I’m a nice, outgoing, friendly person,” says Atwell. She says others who know her would call her “adventurous, very relaxed, mellow and funny.” Her father, boys head coach Tom Atwell (also assistant coach to Felt on the girls team), shows obvious pride in his daughter, saying, “(Teammate) Addie Seale is kind of the senior leader. Lexi, a junior, is a quiet driving force. She gets an assist or a goal every game and plays good defense.” In fact, the younger Atwell is helping lead a Teens for a Cure event June 5 for the American Cancer Society. Both her parents are cancer survivors, Tom of a sarcoma, her mother Utahna of breast cancer. Recently, Atwell has been presenting an anti-bullying PowerPoint presentation developed by school counselors in classes to raise awareness of bullying in general (cyberbullying in particular) as well as discrimination and racism. Fighting discrimination and using social media for positive ends are two themes Atwell would like her generation to continue to emphasize. In water polo, she lines up on the Vikings’ offense on the “4-5 side,” the right side facing the goal, with Seale, a lefthander, closer to the goal. Seale can shoot from the right corner because she is a southpaw. Atwell is farther out from the goal, so she can shoot with her right hand with no difficulty. “I remember being little and learning to swim,” Atwell says as she teaches Katie Johnson, 6, to swim. She communicates a calm, sincere interest and concern for others. Alongside her academic schedule of five AP classes, she says, “I love the beach. I work here at the pool a lot.” Of classes, she says, “I really like psychology. I’m looking into a major of philanthropy – traveling the world, helping people.” South America interests her as a destination, even though she has only traveled outside of the United States one time, in the third grade. “My parents have traveled a lot,” she says, providing the inspiration for wanderlust. But she says her international service would involve “nothing medical,” maybe working in an orphanage. These would not necessarily involve service through her church. “It’s strange that I’ve been in water polo so long,” he dad says, “and now Lexi is playing. She’s talking to colleges. We’re going to visit Harvard in the spring (regarding playing water polo there).” There are “pros and cons” of being a coach’s daughter, she says. “The pros: a lot of perks, my dad’s classroom right there, food. I know other teachers. All the coaching advice. Cons: There are a lot of eyes on me to make sure I don’t mess up. Expectations. I’ve started all three years (so some complain of favoritism). “It’s probably better that my dad is assistant coach,” she says. “That works better for both of us.” Felt, the new girls coach, is an alumna of the Viking water polo program and played at the University of Michigan on a water polo scholarship. She has come back to the area following college and works as a therapist, according to the senior Atwell.