By: Dominic Hwang 

Sports Editor

Water polo standout athlete Richard Runge is ready to lead his team on one last charge before heading to UC Davis to play Division 1. As a captain on the LGHS Boys’ Water Polo Team and a leader on his club team Stanford Water Polo, Runge is consistently growing as both a player and leader while preparing to play at the highest level. 

Runge started playing water polo exceptionally early, beginning in fifth grade. Although the onset of COVID-19 slowed his development in his middle school years, he quickly made up for the lost time as he grew older. Runge recalled, “After COVID, I would go to every practice available and ask coaches all over the state on how I could improve.” This dedication reflects how his work ethic and affinity for the intricacies of the game helped him develop into a key player on every team he plays for. 

On LGHS water polo, Runge has proven to be a crucial asset for all four years in the pool. As a freshman, crowds frequently regaled him with chants of “He’s a freshman” with each one of his goals, while his playmaking, defense, and physical play improved with each game. This year, although he is chasing the school record of 125 goals, Runge is more focused on the new challenge of being the team’s captain. When asked about the strongest parts of his game, Runge pointed to his “defense first mindset, and quick decision making” that garnered the attention of seventh-ranked UC Davis. 

Runge’s strong showings for Los Gatos and Stanford inevitably set him on the recruiting path. According to Runge, the process has been “hectic, but worth it. I had always dreamed of both playing D1 and studying engineering at the highest level, and I am incredibly grateful that I found a school like Davis. It has an awesome community, coaching staff, and engineering program, and I’m really excited to grow there for the next four years.” Alongside the strain of playing Division 1 water polo, Runge will pursue a career in bioengineering. 

Runge’s household has been huge in his journey, with his parents and two younger siblings always showing up for him. He emphasized the importance of his support system, recalling “My family, including my grandparents from Germany, have come to so many games over the course of my career, always there to support me.” Beyond his family, Runge’s support system of coaches, teachers, and friends has pushed him to achieve everything he has dreamed of. He particularly appreciates his club coach Will Grant, saying, “He was my 16u coach and always believed in my capabilities as a player, under his guidance I’ve grown not only as an athlete but also a person, not to say other coaches haven’t had a similar impact on my life.” Runge is ready for the next four years at UC Davis, but for now, he remains a shining example of what is possible for a student-athlete while continuing to strive for excellence as an athlete, as a leader, and as a student.